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IMDbPro

Mollie Sugden(1922-2009)

  • Actress
  • Soundtrack
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Mollie Sugden
Watch 9Gem Promo Trailer
Play trailer0:31
As Time Goes By (1992–2005)
3 Videos
26 Photos
Best remembered as 'Mrs. Slocombe' on the British comedy "Are You Being Served?" Mollie Sugden was born in Keighley, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. She attended Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Her first television role came in 1962 with the series "Hugh and I," which ran for four seasons. In 1972, she won the role of the head of the ladies department at Grace Brothers Department Store, 'Mrs. Betty Slocombe,' on "Are You Being Served." Her character was known for her change in hair color, as well as her affection for her cat. The series ran between 1972 and 1985. She reprised the role in the 1990s for the short live revival, "Grace & Favour." After the initial run of "Are You Being Served" ended in 1985 she continued to work on television including the series "My Husband and I," in which she starred with real-life husband, William Moore. In 2002, she was honoured on her 80th birthday with the "Celebrating Mollie Sugden: An Are You Being Served? Special" Mollie Sugden died after a long illness at age 86, just months after her "Are You Being Served? co-star Wendy Richard.
BornJuly 21, 1922
DiedJuly 1, 2009(86)
BornJuly 21, 1922
DiedJuly 1, 2009(86)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank

Photos26

Mollie Sugden and Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served? Again! (1992)
Trevor Bannister, Mike Berry, Arthur Brough, Arthur English, John Inman, Wendy Richard, Nicholas Smith, Mollie Sugden, and Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served? (1972)
John Inman, Wendy Richard, Nicholas Smith, Mollie Sugden, and Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served? (1972)
Trevor Bannister, Arthur Brough, John Inman, Wendy Richard, Nicholas Smith, Mollie Sugden, and Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served? (1972)
Trevor Bannister, Arthur Brough, John Inman, Wendy Richard, Mollie Sugden, and Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served? (1972)
Trevor Bannister, Arthur Brough, John Inman, Wendy Richard, Nicholas Smith, Mollie Sugden, and Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served? (1972)
Trevor Bannister, Arthur Brough, John Inman, Wendy Richard, Mollie Sugden, and Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served? (1972)
Trevor Bannister, Arthur Brough, John Inman, Wendy Richard, Nicholas Smith, Mollie Sugden, and Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served? (1972)
Trevor Bannister, Arthur Brough, John Inman, Mollie Sugden, and Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served? (1972)
Trevor Bannister, Harold Bennett, John Inman, Mollie Sugden, and Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served? (1972)
Trevor Bannister, Arthur Brough, John Inman, Wendy Richard, Nicholas Smith, Mollie Sugden, and Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served? (1972)
Trevor Bannister, Arthur Brough, John Inman, Wendy Richard, and Mollie Sugden in Are You Being Served? (1972)

Known for

Trevor Bannister, Arthur Brough, John Inman, Wendy Richard, Mollie Sugden, and Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served? (1972)
Are You Being Served?
8.0
TV Series
  • Mrs. Slocombe
Joanne Heywood, John Inman, Wendy Richard, Nicholas Smith, Mollie Sugden, and Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served? Again! (1992)
Are You Being Served? Again!
7.7
TV Series
  • Mrs. Slocombe
Are You Being Served? (1977)
Are You Being Served?
6.1
  • Mrs. Slocombe
  • 1977
The Princess and the Goblin (1991)
The Princess and the Goblin
6.7
  • Looti(voice)
  • 1991

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actress

  • Matt Lucas and David Walliams in Little Britain (2003)
    Little Britain
    • Mollie Sugden
    • TV Series
    • 2003
  • Colin Blumenau, Nula Conwell, Peter Ellis, Trudie Goodwin, Jon Iles, Gary Olsen, Eric Richard, John Salthouse, Tony Scannell, Jeff Stewart, Mark Wingett, and Delia Swan in The Bill (1984)
    The Bill
    • Lally
    • TV Series
    • 2003
  • Revolver (2001)
    Revolver
    • Mother
    • Mother (Series 1) (2001)
    • TV Series
    • 2001
  • Romuald the Reindeer (1996)
    Romuald the Reindeer
    • Knitting Teacher (voice)
    • TV Series
    • 1996
  • Nerys Hughes and Polly James in The Liver Birds (1969)
    The Liver Birds
    • Mrs. Hutchinson
    • TV Series
    • 1971–1996
  • Kerry Shale and Richard Pearce in Dennis the Menace (1996)
    Dennis the Menace
    • Vilhemina Slop Bucket (voice, as Molly Sugden)
    • TV Series
    • 1996
  • Just William (1994)
    Just William
    • Great Aunt Florence
    • TV Series
    • 1995
  • Oliver's Travels (1995)
    Oliver's Travels
    • Mrs. Robson
    • TV Mini Series
    • 1995
  • Joanne Heywood, John Inman, Wendy Richard, Nicholas Smith, Mollie Sugden, and Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served? Again! (1992)
    Are You Being Served? Again!
    • Mrs. Slocombe
    • TV Series
    • 1992–1993
  • The Princess and the Goblin (1991)
    The Princess and the Goblin
    • Looti (voice)
    • 1991
  • Kate O'Mara, Ian Lavender, Derek Nimmo, David Robb, Joan Sims, and Toyah Willcox in Cluedo (1990)
    Cluedo
    • Mrs. White
    • TV Series
    • 1991
  • The BFG (1989)
    The BFG
    • Mary (voice)
    • 1989
  • Tickle on the Tum (1984)
    Tickle on the Tum
    • Bessie Bagwash
    • TV Series
    • 1986–1988
  • William Moore and Mollie Sugden in My Husband and I (1987)
    My Husband and I
    • Nora Powers
    • TV Series
    • 1987–1988
  • That's My Boy (1981)
    That's My Boy
    • Ida Willis
    • TV Series
    • 1981–1986

Soundtrack

  • Joanne Heywood, John Inman, Wendy Richard, Nicholas Smith, Mollie Sugden, and Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served? Again! (1992)
    Are You Being Served? Again!
    • performer: "Duetto de l'âne" ("The Donkey Song") (uncredited)
    • TV Series
    • 1993
  • Trevor Bannister, Arthur Brough, John Inman, Wendy Richard, Mollie Sugden, and Frank Thornton in Are You Being Served? (1972)
    Are You Being Served?
    • performer: "Chanson D'Amour" (1958)
    • performer: "Mighty Like A Rose"
    • performer: "For He's A Jolly Good Fellow" (uncredited) ...
    • TV Series
    • 1973–1985

Videos3

That's My Boy: The Complete First Series
Clip 2:08
That's My Boy: The Complete First Series
Trailer
Trailer 2:33
Trailer
9Gem Promo Trailer
Trailer 0:31
9Gem Promo Trailer

Personal details

Edit
  • Official site
    • British Entertainment History Project interview
  • Alternative names
    • Nelly Harvey
  • Height
    • 5′ 3″ (1.60 m)
  • Born
    • July 21, 1922
    • Keighley, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, UK
  • Died
    • July 1, 2009
    • Guildford, Surrey, England, UK(heart failure)
  • Spouse
    • William MooreMarch 29, 1958 - April 24, 2000 (his death, 2 children)
  • Other works
    She acted in Walter Greenwood's play, "Saturday Night at the Crown," at the Grand Theatre in Blackpool, England with Thora Hird, Richard Dare, and John Jarvis in the cast. Walter Greenwood was also director.
  • Publicity listings
    • 5 Articles
    • 1 Magazine Cover Photo

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    After the first episode of of Are You Being Served? (1972), she decided her hair was too plain for the outrageous personality of Mrs. Slocombe, so she bleached it white, then dying it a different colour for each subsequent episode in the first season. Unfortunately, the ends of bleached hair become "spongy," causing the dyes never to entirely wash out. Her twin 10 year old boys didn't appreciate being picked up from school "by a mother with multi-coloured ends." So, after the first season, when she saw the show was a hit, she asked the BBC to supply her with wigs instead of dying her hair a different colour every week.
  • Quotes
    [on her Are You Being Served? (1972) character] I've always been very fond of her - she is so vulnerable and silly. But she's got absolutely no sense of humor. That's why the most daring of double meanings in the show are delivered deadpan. I must say, sometimes I've got as far as the dress rehearsal before I've realised the double meanings myself!
  • Trademark
      The role of Mrs Slocombe, which incorporated the catchphrase "And I am unanimous in this!", continual references to her "pussy", and frequently changing, exotic hair colors.

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