Richard Webber - The Complete A–Z of Everything Carry On

Seen in Constable, the old lady has just diced with death and managed to cross a busy main road when along comes interfering PC Benson who shepherds her back across, much to her annoyance.

DEAN

Played by Donald Hewlett

The Dean of the University of Kidburn is seen in Behind . He informs Professor Crump that he’ll be assisted on the archaeological dig by Professor Vooshka.

DEARLOVE MODEL LAUNDRY (DRY CLEANING)

One of their vans is seen chugging into Heathercrest National Service Depot in Sergeant carrying an extra piece of cargo in the shape of Mary Sage, the newlywed who wants to be near her hubby, who was called up on their wedding day.

DEBRA

Played by Sally Geeson

With her enormous specs, Debra is Cecil Gaybody’s assistant on the television programme, Women’s Things . Seen in Girls when the TV crew arrive at the Palace Hotel in Fircombe to film the beauty contest.

DEIRDRE

Played by Valerie Leon

Deirdre Philkington-Battermore is employed as Dr Nookey’s secretary in Again Doctor. With her short, low-cut dresses she’s obviously willing to satisfy her boss in every conceivable way.

DELLING, HELEN

Played by Carol Shelley

Mr Delling’s wife is seen in Regardless. She returns to the family house unexpectedly, just as her husband has arranged for Delia King, from Helping Hands, to model some new clothes, including underwear, he wanted to buy his wife as a surprise anniversary present. Helen has quite a shock when she hangs her coat up in the bedroom cupboard only to find Delia, disguised as a workman, clambering out.

DELLING, MR

Played by Jimmy Thompson

Appears in Regardless. A smart, dark-haired man who hires Delia King to model a set of outfits he’s bought his wife as a surprise anniversary present. When his beloved, Helen, arrives home early, Mr Delling panics and pushes Delia into the cupboard.

DEMPSEY, MISS

Played by Patsy Rowlands

For years, the dowdy Miss Dempsey has been Mr Snooper’s housekeeper, taking care of his every need, so she’s understandably jealous when Sophie Bliss appears on the scene, albeit temporarily. Seen in Loving , she makes sure Sophie doesn’t get her claws into Mr Snooper by dressing seductively – or as seductive as Miss Dempsey can be – and coming out with plenty of outrageous comments about her relationship with her boss.

DEMPSTER, JEREMY

Role: Recruit in Sergeant

DENBY, EILEEN

Played by Laraine Humphrys

One of the beauty contestants eager to win the Miss Fircombe crown in Girls.

DENE, CARMEN

Roles: Mexican Girl in Cowboy and Hospitality Girl in Up The Khyber

Between the mid-1960s and early 70s, Carmen Dene was offered small parts in a handful of films, such as Genghis Khan, Cuckoo Patrol and Subterfuge , as well as television shows including The Avengers and The Benny Hill Show.

DENTON, NURSE DOROTHY

Played by Shirley Eaton

A staff nurse at the Haven Hospital who’s infatuated with Dr Stephens. Seen in Nurse, she carries out her job efficiently and effectively, but when she realises her chances of romance with Stephens, who seems to like every young and pretty nurse in the entire hospital, are slim, she considers applying for a job in America. Her plans change, however, when she falls for journalist Ted York.

DERNLEY, DOREEN

Continuity on Camping

She began working in films in the 1950s and established a list of credits which included such pictures as Shadow of a Man, Dracula, Cairo, Up the Junction, Get Carter, On the Buses and one of the sequels, Mutiny on the Buses.

DESIREE, MADAME

Played by Joan Sims

In Dick, Madame Desiree tours the country with a group of girls entertaining at pubs, like the Old Cock Inn, as Madame Desiree et ses Oiseaux des Paradis, or Birds of Paradise. A cockney by birth, she’s adopted a French accent over the years to go with her act.

DESK SERGEANT

Played by Frank Forsyth

Seen in Screaming! telling Detective Sergeant Sidney Bung that he’s wanted when Albert Potter causes mayhem at a milliner’s.

DESMONDE, JERRY

Role: Martin Paul in Regardless

Born in Middlesbrough in 1908, Jerry Desmonde was always cast as the straight man, including a long-standing relationship alongside Sid Field and, later, Norman Wisdom in his films of the 1950s.

Adroit at playing haughty roles, such as Major Willoughby in Wisdom’s Up in the World , Desmonde’s other film credits included The Perfect Woman, The Malta Story, Ramsbottom Rides Again, A Kind of Loving and Gonks Go Beat. On television he was a regular panellist on What’s My Line.

He died in 1967, aged fifty-eight, after committing suicide.

DEVEREAUX, ED

Roles: Sergeant Russell in Sergeant , Alec Lawrence in Nurse , Mr Panting in Regardless , Young Officer in Cruising and Hook in Jack

Born in Sydney, Australia, in 1925, Ed Devereaux’s greatest screen success was playing Matt Hammond, a park ranger in the television series , Skippy , about a pet kangaroo, which sold around the world.

Prior to this success, he was a regular face in British films during the 1950s and ’60s, appearing in such pictures as The Captain’s Table, Watch Your Stern, Man in the Moon, Very Important Person, The Bargee and Money Movers. He was also regularly seen on television.

After leaving school he undertook a succession of jobs, including taxi-driving, before breaking into radio and films in Australia. He moved to England in the early 1950s and began appearing on the stage. An accomplished singer, he had starring roles in musicals such as Guys and Dolls, West Side Story, Damn Yankees, Pyjama Game as well as Variety and cabaret acts.

He returned Down Under in 1964 but contined appearing on British screens, including an appearance in an episode of Absolutely Fabulous.

He died in 2003, aged seventy-eight.

DEVIS, JIMMY

Camera Operator on Don’t Lose Your Head , Abroad , Girls and Dick

Jimmy Devis, born in London in 1931, followed his brother into the film industry in 1946, joining Gaumont-British, based at Lime Grove, as a mail boy. He spent a short spell in the cutting room and, later, joined the camera department.

After the studios closed, Devis completed his National Service in the RAF, before returning home and, in 1952, working as a freelance clapper-loader. It wasn’t long until he was offered a contract at Pinewood, where he worked between 1952–60, before returning to a freelance status.

He retired in 2001, by which time he was working as a director of photography for second units and directing action units. His long list of credits include Return to Oz, Wild Geese II, Labyrinth, Christopher Columbus: The Discovery, Avalanche, Superman, For Your Eyes Only, Empire of the Sun and Daylight.

MEMORIES

‘The Carry On s were some of my favourite films to work on because they were humorous, there was no tension and they were organised. And what a wonderful crew and cast.

‘I was given my first chance as a camera operator on Don’t Lose Your Head and, fortunately, Alan Hume and Gerry Thomas were very patient. They liked to shoot within one or two takes and on my first shot, which was very difficult, I took about seven goes. There was a big crowd, and it turned out to be one of the most difficult I had to do for them. It was a scene set in Paris where people are queuing up at the guillotine while others arrive by cart. We had to pan them, then track back and look up at the guillotine. In the background there were other sets, which were very tall, that were going to be used for another film. Trying to keep them out of the picture, together with everything else, made it very difficult. I was really sweating but fortunately everything turned out well in the end.’