Pat Coombs: The Authorised Biography

by Andrew Ross

Pat Coombs was the unsung heroine of British comedy. With her distinctive looks and incredible array of funny voices she was instantly recognisable. A favourite ‘foil’ to many of Britain’s top entertainers, including Bob Monkhouse, Ted Ray and Dick Emery, her career spanned more than fifty years.A true Cockney, born within the sound of Bow Bells, Pat was a star on radio from the 1950s and went on to become a much-loved face on television with appearances in countless series, ranging from Beggar My Neighbour and Don’t Drink the Water to You’re Only Young Twice and EastEnders.Interspersed with a string of small screen hits were roles in the Carry On films and numerous appearances in television adverts and quiz shows (including Celebrity Squares and Blankety Blank) all of which made her a firm fixture in British entertainment.In this unashamedly affectionate biography, Andrew Ross draws upon Pat’s personal archive, as well as memories from family and colleagues and his own five-year friendship with ‘Patty’, to chart her life and remarkable career.“There can’t be anyone with anything bad to say about her,” said one of Pat’s friends. Indeed few actresses have been so loved, not only for their talent as a performer but also for the sweetness of their real-life personality.From her earliest days in wartime London to the final years of her life (when she stoically battled ill-health to continue working), this authorised biography is a tribute to an unforgettable lady who touched the lives of many generations.

255 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 21, 2021

About the author

Andrew Ross is Professor of Social and Cultural Analysis at New York University, and a social activist. A contributor to The Nation, the Village Voice, New York Times, and Artforum, he is the author of many books, including, most recently, Bird on Fire: Lessons from the World’s Least Sustainable City and Nice Work if You Can Get It: Life and Labor in Precarious Times.

Reviews

[Jason Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book about a great lady.

[Terry · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the British stalwarts of the comedy character actors of golden age of family TV. Pat was trooper who just loved working with no wishes for top billing or names in lights, she just wanted to entertain in her own gentle way and make people laugh in many ways as this comfortable armchair of a book does.