The Carry On Girls

by Gemma Ross, Robert Ross

Far more than mere eye candy, these in-control, hard-working, and pioneering ladies were an early and earnest manifestation of Girl Power in the British film industry. This book will provide an invaluable celebration of the highly talented and forever decorative screen sirens that bewitched Carry On heroes Sid James, Kenneth Connor, Leslie Phillips, Bernard Bresslaw, Jim Dale, Peter Butterworth and, yes, even, Kenneth Williams. Through never-before-seen publicity material, exclusive interviews with the girls themselves and affectionate biographies by Carry On historian Robert Ross, this will be the most thumbed coffee table book ever to hit your coffee table! Soap opera favourites Amanda Barrie (Alma in Coronation Street ) and Wendy Richard (Pauline Fowler in EastEnders ), Bond girls Margaret Nolan, Madeline Smith and the Goldfinger star herself, Shirley Eaton, as well as international glamour stars Elke Sommer and Dany Robin, will be featured in candid interviews and stunning portrait shots. This book will be a long overdue salute to dozens of beloved Carry On actresses, from the courageous Liz Fraser to the ill-fated Imogen Hassall, and from the national treasure Barbara Windsor to the unfairly forgotten Sally Douglas. Each with a poignant and personal memory from fellow Carry On legend Valerie Leon, who will provide her unique and exclusive commentary. The book will also investigate the continuing cult of the Carry On girl, from Daniella Westbrook’s Carry On London photographic sessions to Page 3 girl Malene Espensen paying tribute to the Carry On Camping bra-burst of Barbara Windsor. All done in the best possible taste, of course, with the affection and joy that still makes the Carry On films the eternal toast of ITV3 and BritBox. The book will feature a wealth of illustrations ranging from cheesecake shots for Tit-Bits to relaxed behind-the-scenes poses with Carry On filmmakers Peter Rogers and Gerald Thomas and comedy legends such as Phil Silvers, Harry H. Corbett, Bob Monkhouse and Bernard Cribbins. Full of intimate tales from the soundstages of Pinewood Studios, snapshots of a lost industry and oodles of laughs, this is the ultimate tribute to a fun-filled era when British crumpet was at its spiciest!

224 pages, Hardcover

Published January 12, 2024

Reviews

[Steve Nallon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book! Brilliant pictures I've not seen before, together with fascinating biographies of the many funny women who contributed so much to the CARRY ON series. A perfect gift for any CARRY ON fan!

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun blast through the Carry On years, but focussing on the women that graced the screens! I know the Carry On films really well, but there were some women in there which I'd either forgotten about or never knew! They're all in there from the most well known ones to some of the more unknowns! Each woman has a write up about them, showing which films they were in and who they played, and there are some fabulous photos to go along with them. This was a really interesting book, and a definite must for all Carry On fans!