Tanya Binning was born in New South Wales Australia in 1946. She was only 18 years old when she appeared in 'Carry On Cleo' as 'Virginia'. As well as a brief film career in the mid 1960's she was also a successful sports model, for surfing in particular.
In Summer 2020 Tanya shared with me her memories of her time working on 'Carry On Cleo' in 1964...
"I was not attracted to the smoke-filled rooms of the indoors - which meant theatre, but I met some very special and talented people through being in sports and feature films.
Flying to London from Sydney, Australia was very exciting. Then seeing Pinewood Studios and meeting Peter Rogers and the other actors was a wonderful experience. However, as an 18 year old, sadly I was unprofessional and ate some grapes which were props! A no no!
I have worked for a Marine Rescue Command Centre since 2003 and was boat crew for three years. A short time ago I was given my 15 year national medals for being a valued volunteer with a first responder organisation.
Keep loving films!It is wonderful to hear of your strong interest in these films and collecting items for history!"
Above (left): Tanya having a costume fitting on the set of 'Carry On Cleo' (1964).
Above (right): A signed note from Tanya on the back of my 'Carry On Cleo' film poster postcard.
Peter Jesson was born on 3rd March 1937 in London, England as Peter George Henry Jones. He starred in three of the 'Carry On' films; 'Carry On Cabby' (1963) as a Car Salesman, 'Carry On Cleo' (1964) as Seth, Horsa's Companion and in 'Carry On Follow That Camel' (1967) as Lawrence (of Arabia).
Unfortunately in 'Carry On Follow That Camel' he ended up on the cutting room floor as his scenes were deleted. He also starred in the Gerald Thomas and Peter Rogers film 'Twice Around the Daffodils' (1962) alongside Juliet Mills and Nanette Newman, playing the love interest of Nanette Newman's character. In Summer 2020 I had the pleasure of catching up with Peter and speaking with him about his memories of 'Carry On'...
"The interest in ‘Carry On’ films, by fans like yourself, never fails to amaze me.
My involvement in the movies of Peter Rogers and Gerry Thomas was sporadic and rarely involved more than a few day’s work, but, on reflection, there did seem to be some degree of continuity to it. My first ever appearance was in ‘Twice Around the Daffodils’ in which I played the boyfriend of Nanette Newman, driving a sports car, with Juliet Mill. Then followed ‘Carry On Cabby’ as a car salesman and then the driver of a Rolls Royce in ‘The Iron Maiden’. As I had never driven such a car, I asked the director if I could do | practice run, but he wanted to get the shot in one take.
Above: Peter in 'Carry On Cabby' (1963); Right: Peter adds his autograph to my 'Carry On Cabby' DVD.
Consequentially, when I turned into the driveway, I hit the gatepost with the back of the car leaving a sizeable dent in the rear wing. I didn’t seem to get cast as a car driver after that. I wonder why?
I did appear in a few more productions like ‘Carry On Cleo’ and ‘The Big Job’ but what was interesting was my part in ‘Carry On Follow that Camel’ in which I played ‘Lawrence of Arabia’. It was a gag that obviously didn’t work and I ended up on the cutting room floor. Some years ago my grandchildren bought a DVD and found a picture of me as ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ on it. Incidentally, Phil Silvers was probably the funniest man I ever met!”
Above: (Left); Peter adds his autograph (for completeness) to my 'Carry On Follow That Camel' DVD, (Centre); Peter as 'Lawrence of Arabia' in the deleted scene from 'Carry On Follow That Camel', (Right); Peter adds his autograph to my 'Carry On Cleo' DVD.
My sincere thanks to Peter and his family for all their help for this section of the website.
John Levene (born John Anthony Woods, 24 December 1941) is an English actor, producer, entertainer and singer. Although he has appeared in a large number of films and television series, Levene's best-known role is that of 'Sergeant Benton', of 'UNIT' in the science-fiction television series 'Doctor Who', a role he played from 1968 to 1975.
John has been a regular on the convention circuit for many years, where he remains very popular with sci-fi fans from all his years as 'Sergeant Benton' in 'Doctor Who' during the Pertwee years. However, amongst his many TV & film credits is a small contribution to 'Carry On' in the form of a small role in 'The Baron Outlook', an episode of the ATV television series 'Carry On Laughing' in 1975. In March 2022 I caught up with John to see how much he could remember of this minor role and whether he has ever worked with any of the 'Carry On' cast again...
CP: How did you become involved in ‘Carry On Laughing’?
JL: Like everything it was through my agent. The brief was that they wanted someone tall and very English with a sense of humour. I was a soldier with a horse and my line was to Barbara Windsor along the lines of “You, monsieur, are now a prisoner of the King. I think by our sudden attack we surprised your army?”. This horse kept dipping its head between Barbara and I. Well, after a while Barbara lost it and started laughing.
CP: What was it like working with Barbara?
JL: Barbara was adorable, and I felt like we had really got on. I got the impression she liked me. Not as in ‘fancied’ me but we just really got on. I then worried though and thought, oh God, I hope she doesn’t go home and tell the boyfriend that we had had a giggle together and got on well as she was seeing one of the gangster boys at the time!*
*This was Ronnie Knight.
Left: John soldiering on in 'Carry On Laughing' - 'The Baron Outlook' (1975).
CP: Although the episode ‘The Baron Outlook’ from the ‘Carry On Laughing’ TV series was your only ‘Carry On’ contribution, did you work with any of the team on other occasions?
JL: In fact, I did. Kenneth Williams did a show called ‘International Cabaret’ in Shepherds Bush. Kenneth could in fact get quite nervous with live performances and he liked to have someone in the audience in case he fluffed or dried. He wanted a friendly face in the audience, you know, someone he could look to if he needed a bit of reassurance. We got on well and so I used to sit in the audience, about five rows back, so he could see me as a ‘friendly face’ if he needed it. We did about six shows, I think.
CP: In the same year as the ‘Carry On Laughing’ episode you landed a small role in ‘Doctor Who’; a role that in fact would go on to become a much bigger role and a popular character – Sergeant Benton. This was during the years the great Jon Pertwee played the iconic role, another wonderful actor who had appeared in several of the ‘Carry On’ films. I understand that you had a good rapport with Jon?
JL: Yes, Sergeant Benton! I’m an action figure too you know? (laughs). Oh, it was more than a rapport with Jon. He took me onboard and he trusted me. We met in the TA rehearsal hall whilst rehearsing ‘Doctor Who’. I used to drive for Jon. I used to get the bus from Putney to Barnes, the big millionaire houses, to Jon’s. I would then drive us to Chiswick to pick up Katy Manning. ‘Doctor Who’ gave me the joy of working with the great man.
CP: Being an ‘80’s kid’ I adored ‘Worzel Gummidge’ and of course, Jon. Have you seen the remake that they did recently?
JL: Yes! What a f****** joke! It was AWFUL. You had Jon who was six foot four and played the part so well and then…this absolute s***?!
CP: What are you up to at present?
JL: I am actually working on a screenplay, which I am hoping is going to be a big thing. It is something that hasn’t been done before (at this point I am sworn to secrecy around the details and so I wish John all the best and we agree to meet for a longer chat and a cup of tea – maybe a slice of cake? – in the near future. A true English gent if ever I met one!)
Left: John as 'Sergeant Benton' alongside the late, great Jon Pertwee as 'Doctor Who'.
My sincere thanks to John for all his help for sharing his memories with me for this section of the website.
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