Carry On London
A new film, Carry On London, was announced in 2003 by producer Peter Rogers and producer James Black but remained in pre-production well into 2008. It would have been the 32nd Carry On.

The script was signed off by the production company in late March 2008, and 'centred on a limousine company ferrying celebrities to an awards show'. The film had several false starts, with the producers and cast changing extensively over time. Only the rather unknown Welsh actress Jynine James remained a consistent name from 2003 to 2008. Danniella Westbrook, Shaun Williamson and Burt Reynolds were also once attached to the project.

In May 2006 it was announced Vinnie Jones and Shane Richie were to star in the film, which was to be directed by Peter Richardson, though Ed Bye later replaced him as the named director. At the 50th anniversary party held at Pinewood Studios in March 2008, Peter Rogers confirmed that he was planning a series of Carry On films after London, subject to the success of the first* - see note below
In early 2009, Carry On London or Carry On Bananas was once again 'back on', with Charlie Higson attached as director, and a different more modern cast list involving Paul O'Grady (as the acidic Kenneth Williamsesque character), Jynine James, Lenny Henry, Justin Lee Collins, Jennifer Ellison (as the saucy Barbara Windsor type), Liza Tarbuck (with vibes of Hattie Jacques), Meera Syal, James Dreyfus, and Frank Skinner (apparently filling in the Sid James role). Despite new media interest and sets being constructed at Pinewood film studios, the film once again was put on hold, and the project was shelved after the death of Peter Rogers in April 2009.

*Note: I personally attended a special Carry On event at Pinewood Studios in 2007. It was there that Peter Rogers was questioned about the project and Peter was very adamant and positive that the film would go ahead.
Carry On London
Above: My Carry On London poster that I designed in 2017 as part of the 'Lost Carry Ons' series.
Below: My copy of the Carry On London press kit that was produced as part of the pre-production promotion of the film that never got made.
In 2017 I managed to acquire a full pre-production treatment for Carry On London. I have provided the first few pages below.
Carry On London

In Spring 2024 I was contacted by Tim Sanders and Jynine James, the Welsh actress and singer, who had been linked for many years to the original Carry On London project over 20 years ago.

 

Although the project and subsequent plans for a Carry On reboot have evolved further over the last two decades, they wanted to share their story about their involvement in the original Carry On London project in the early noughties. Tim had retained a lot of memorabilia from the time, including press announcements, newspaper coverage and photographs.

 

The idea to reboot the series has always been met with mixed reactions from fans and those associated with the series and in a day and age where society seems to be offended by all and everything the question of whether it could work is up for debate.


I see a flavour of Carry On in some modern comedy, such as the brilliant Benidorm, but is there still the appetite for the old-style comedy of the Carry On films? Well, my view has always been that they did it perfectly successfully with Bond and so perhaps with the right team of writers and cast behind it then there is every chance we could Carry On again one day...

For now, here is the two-part interview with Tim Sanders and Jynine James who were there from the germination of Carry On London over 20 years ago. They wanted to reflect on their involvement all those years ago and it was wonderful to learn more about the planned film.

 

Tim and Jynine were not paid for the interview but a donation was made to Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity close to their hearts, by way of thanks for this exclusive interview.


Special thanks to Paul Stephen for the video editing.

Carry On London Interview (2024)
Carry On London Interview (2024)
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