Ruth Madoc

Actress

April 16, 1943 (79 years)

† December 9, 2022

Norwich, Norfolk, England, UK

Biography

Ruth Madoc ((born Margaret Ruth Llewellyn Baker; 16 April 1943 – 9 December 2022)) was an English-born, Welsh actress and singer. She was brought up in Llansamlet, near Swansea. She trained at RADA in London and was previously married to actor Philip Madoc. She was best known for her role as Gladys Pugh in the 1980s BBC television comedy series "Hi-de-Hi!". In 1971 Ruth Madoc played Fruma Sarah in the film version of the musical "Fiddler on the Roof," and in 1972 she appeared as Mrs Dai Bread…

Filmography

4.8

Doctors

Jean March

Set in the fictional Midlands town of Letherbridge, defined as being close to the city of Birmingham, this soap opera follows the staff and families of a doctor's surgery.

6.9

Beyond Paradise

Rosie Colbert

After leaving paradise and seeking a quieter life, Humphrey has taken a job as Detective Inspector in his fiancée Martha's hometown. But with the high crime rate, maybe things will be louder than expected.

7.6

Benidorm

Riannon

Set in the Solana all-inclusive Resort, Benidorm follows the antics of regulars and first-time holiday makers on their journeys abroad.

6.7

This Is Your Life

Self

This is Your Life is a British biographical television documentary, based on the 1952 American show of the same name. It was hosted by Eamonn Andrews from 1955 until 1964, and then from 1969 until his death in 1987 aged 64. Michael Aspel then took up the role of host until the show ended in 2003. It returned in 2007 as a one-off special presented by Trevor McDonald, which to date was its most recent airing. In the show the host surprises a special guest, before taking them through their life with the assistance of the 'big red book'. Both celebrities and non-celebrities have been 'victims' of the show. The show was originally broadcast live, and over its run it has alternated between being broadcast on the BBC and on ITV.

6.0

Celebrity Antiques Road Trip

Self - Participant

Antiques experts accompany celebrities on a road trip around the UK searching for treasures and competing to make the most money at auction

5.3

Blankety Blank

Blankety Blank is a British comedy game show based on the 1977–1979 Australian game show Blankety Blanks. The British version ran from 18 January 1979 to 12 March 1990 on BBC One, hosted first by Terry Wogan and later by Les Dawson. Regular members of the celebrity panel on this version included Kenny Everett, Lorraine Chase, Gareth Hunt, Gary Davies, and Cheryl Baker. A revival fronted by Lily Savage was produced by the BBC from 26 December 1997 to 28 December 1999, followed by ITV from 7 January 2001 to 10 August 2002. This version was produced by Grundy, then Thames.

7.0

Little Britain

Dafydd's Mother

A zany comedy show with Matt Lucas and David Walliams, featuring characters from all over Little Britain.

7.1

Hi-de-Hi!

Gladys Pugh

Hi-de-Hi! is a British sitcom set in Maplins, a fictional holiday camp, during 1959 and 1960, and was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, who also wrote Dad's Army and It Ain't Half Hot Mum amongst others. It aired on the BBC from 1980 to 1988. The series revolved around the lives of the camp's management and entertainers, most of them struggling actors or has-beens. The inspiration was the experience of writers Perry and Croft: after being demobilised from the army, Perry was a Redcoat at Butlin's, Pwllheli during the holiday season. The series gained large audiences and won a BAFTA as Best Comedy Series in 1984. In 2004, it came 40th in Britain's Best Sitcom and in a 2008 poll on Channel 4, 'Hi-de-Hi!" was voted the 35th most popular comedy catchphrase.

6.3

New Scotland Yard

DS Helen Bliss

New Scotland Yard is a police drama series produced by London Weekend Television for ITV from 1972 and 1974. It features the activities of two officers from the Criminal Investigations Department in the Metropolitan Police force headquarters at New Scotland Yard, as they dealt with the assorted villains of the day.

6.8

Cluedo

Miss Terry

Cluedo was a UK television game show based on the board game of the same name. Each week, a reenactment of the murder at the stately home Arlington Grange of a visiting guest was played and, through a combination of interrogating the suspects and deduction, celebrity guests had to discover who committed the murder, which of six weapons and in which room it was committed, whilst viewers were invited to play along at home.

5.7

Surprise, Surprise

Self

Surprise, Surprise is a British television programme originally hosted by Cilla Black and produced by London Weekend Television for ITV. It ran for 14 series from 6 May 1984 to 5 September 1997, after which four annual specials were produced between 1998 to 2001. In 2012, the show returned after a 11-year hiatus. The revived version is produced by ITV Studios and presented by Holly Willoughby. The show is currently in its second series.

7.7

The Paul Daniels Magic Show

Self

A British magic show and variety show that aired on BBC1 from 9 June 1979 to 18 June 1994. Daniels' assistant throughout the series was Debbie McGee, whom he married in 1988. At its peak in the 1980s, the show regularly attracted viewing figures of 15 million and was sold to 43 countries.

7.8

Fiddler on the Roof

Fruma Sarah

In a pre-revolutionary Russia, a poor Jewish milkman struggles with the challenges of a changing world as his daughters fall in love and antisemitism grows.

N/A

The Cannon & Ball Show

Self

A comedy variety show featuring the double act of Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball.

N/A

Hunters Walk

Betty Smith

Hunters Walk – devised by Dixon of Dock Green creator Ted Willis – was about crime on a smaller – but no less dramatic – scale, and featured a police force in the fictional Midlands town of Broadstone (the series was actually filmed in Rushden, Northants). Sharing several similarities with the classic 1950s police drama, in particular a small-town settingband storylines encompassing the more human aspects of police work, Hunters Walk offered a contrasting alternative to the 1970s more hard-hitting, action-led urban crime dramas. The small, idiosyncratic team of officers faced a typically broad spectrum of cases, from neighbours’ disputes and hooliganism to suspected murder.

8.0

Celebrity Naked Ambition

Self (archive footage)

Documentary looking at how nudity has been used in the movies, sometimes shrewdly and other times without thought.

6.1

The Prince and the Pauper

Moll

Tom Canty is a poor English boy who bears a remarkable resemblance to Edward, Prince of Wales and son of King Henry VIII. The two boys meet and decide to play a joke on the court by dressing in each other's clothes, but the plan goes awry when they're separated and each must live the other's life.

2.0

Big Top

Georgie

Big Top was a BBC television situation comedy series which first aired on 25 November 2009 and was set in and around a travelling circus, the show aired on BBC One and BBC HD simultaneously. The series revolved around the performers and backstage staff of Circus Maestro. The series consisted of six episodes, each thirty minutes in length. Big Top was not recommissioned for a second series and was formally cancelled by the BBC in February 2010.

8.0

Mine All Mine

Myrtle Jones

Mine All Mine is a British television drama produced by Red Production Company for ITV. It was written by Russell T Davies and stars Griff Rhys Jones as Max Vivaldi, who has always believed that he owns the town of Swansea, thanks to an ancient ancestral document that hangs on his wall. But instead of commanding respect, it's made him a laughingstock. Soon, Max discovers he's been right all along.

7.0

An Actor's Life for Me

Lynn

Robert Neilson has ambitions to play Hamlet but will do most acting work. His fiancée, Sue, and agent, Desmond, gently encourage his aspirations.