children s programme the wombles. and his appearances in doctor who date back to the 19605 when the series began. 0ur media and arts correspondent david sillito looks back at his life. me, sir, i m perks! good wives and private soldiers should be ignorant. and i ll keep herfrom your instruction, i warrant you. bernard cribbins he was in everything. morning, tobermory. you look hot. from classical drama to the wombles. what about a nice drop of brandy in your tea? that s a very sound idea, lenny. two way stretch with peter sellers in 1960 was an early film role, but he d already been acting for 17 years. he d started out in rep in 0ldham when he was 1a. i m the new midshipman. poopdecker is my name albert poopdecker. in the 60s, he was appearing in the carry on films. # there i was, digging this hole.#
everything. the list is incredible, doctor who, the wombles, it is like a greatest hits of the most loved children s programmes over the last 60 years. i spoke to him on the 40th anniversary of the railway children and he talked about the fact that he had started work when he was 14 years old in 0ldham rep, and by the time he was in his midtwenties, he had done everything. he had been doing one show and then rehearsing for the next one, week after week after week, so he had this incredible bunch of skills, his great friend was eric sykes and they did variety together in the 1960s, which led him into his comedy music career if you re old enough to rememberjunior choice, it was on every week, even the adverts, so much stuff! busby, british telecom, you could not turn on the tv in 19705 you could not turn on the tv in 1970s and not hear his voice offers
he was so prolific but also really versatile, wasn t he? absolutely, and i think that is the skill you get from doing rep week after week after week. when he was taken on to do the wombles, they said, do we need another actor? he said no, no, i can do it all. 0k, need another actor? he said no, no, i can do it all. ok, that has saved us a lot of money! tufty club, the road safety adverts, he was the squirrel. you cannot overemphasise how much he was a part of life. but the thing was, was that there was no one role he was totally identified with, so, each time you saw him in something else, yes, it absolutely made sense. when he was a very officious guest in fawlty towers, with the hotel inspectors, you absolutely believed he was that guest. you absolutely believed he was that cuest. ., you absolutely believed he was that . uest. ., ., , you absolutely believed he was that uest. ., , . you absolutely believed he was that cuest. . , . ., , guest. that was such a good episode, wasn t it?
in the film adaptation of the railway children, was one of the most versatile and popular entertainers of his generation. he managed to be a favourite on children s tv while also starring in the bawdy carry on films. david sillito looks back on his life. good wives and private soldiers should be ignorant. and i ll keep it from your instruction, i warrant you. from classical theatre. morning, tobermory. you look hot. ..to the wombles, bernard cribbins seem to pop up everywhere. what about a nice drop of brandy in your tea? that s a very sound idea, lenny. when he appeared with peter sellers in two way stretch in 1960, he d already been acting for 16 years. he d started doing bit parts at 0ldham rep, aged 14. it was more fun than following his mum into the local mill. poopdecker is my name albert poopdecker.
and recording some very successful comic songs. one i must have and no offence, i know, day like this. haven t taken too great a liberty, have i, on a day like this? you know? but perhaps his best known film role was lovable mr perks in the railway children. oh, dear. we ll never manage by ourselves. and his voice was part of daily life, from the wombles. i never realised before what hard work cooking is. ..to buzby. .. is this thejiffy plumbing service? ..to tufty. mrs fluffytail is walking along the road with tufty. 0h, doctor, what about you now? who have you got? this appearance in doctor who was his second doctor, a0 years after his first spell in the tardis. still, that s fine. from perks to songs to jackanory to fawlty towers, bernard cribbins