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His father Ken was born in Co Durham, and married Vera; together they took over her family's greengrocer's shop in Quick Road, Chiswick, London. He convinced her that the way forward was to convert the shop into a bookmaker's, and before long they'd moved to a semi-detached house. Mel was born in 1952 and educated at Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith. where at the age of 12 he played Falstaff. He was captain of the school rugby team from the second form to the sixth. In 1971 he won a place at New College, Oxford, where he studied experimental psychology and lodged at New College Lane which was where Edmund Halley (of Halley's comet fame) had his observatory. His attendance record was so bad that he was asked if he would get busy and do some work for his finals or spend all his time acting and directing; he chose the latter and in 1973 became assistant director at the Royal Court Theatre in London.

Through the mid-1970s he had assistant-director jobs around the country until he met actor Bob Goody; together they wrote and directed several productions including 'Have You Heard the One About Joey Baker' and 'The Gambler,' which was revived in London's West End. In 1979 they attracted the attention of a television sketch show which they joined, doing send-ups of shows such as 'Blue Peter,' then moved on to 'Not the Nine O'Clock News'. In 1981, Mel and Griff Rhys Jones formed Talk Back Productions, starting off with their series 'Alas Smith and Jones' plus such as 'I'm Alan Partridge', 'Never Mind the Buzzcocks', and 'They Think It's All Over'. Mel moved on to producing and directing films such as 'Radioland Murders', 'Bean, the Ultimate Disaster Movie', and 'The Tall Guy'.

Miriam Karlin was born on 23 June 1925 in Hampstead, London, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Children of Men (2006), A Clockwork Orange (1971) and So Haunt Me (1992). She died on 3 June 2011 in St John's Wood, London, England, UK.

Richard Warwick was born on 29 April 1945 in Longfield, Kent, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Romeo and Juliet (1968), Sebastiane (1976) and If.... (1968). He died on 16 December 1997 in St John's Wood, London, England, UK.

Brian McDermott was born on 23 July 1934 in Beckenham, Kent, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Zoe (2001), I Promised to Pay (1961) and Starr and Company (1958). He died on 5 November 2003 in St John's Wood, London, England, UK.

Sadie Corre was born on 31 May 1918 in Bognor Regis, Sussex, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983), The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) and The Dark Crystal (1982). She died on 26 August 2009 in St John's Wood, London, England, UK.

Natasha Collins was born on 7 July 1976 in Luton, Bedfordshire, England, UK. She was an actress, known for The 10th Kingdom (2000), Real Women (1998) and ChuckleVision (1987). She died on 3 January 2008 in St John's Wood, London, England, UK.

Edward Cast was born on 2 March 1925 in Hackney, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Danger Man (1960), Deadly Record (1959) and I Promised to Pay (1961). He died on 30 July 1994 in St John's Wood, London, England, UK.

Annie Esmond was born on 27 September 1873 in Croydon, Surrey, England, UK. She was an actress, known for The Good Companions (1933), Kipps (1921) and Mr. Pim Passes by (1921). She died on 4 January 1945 in St John's Wood, London, England, UK.

Tania Lieven was born on 8 August 1909 in St. Petersburg, Russia. She was a director and producer, known for BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950), The Two Mrs. Carrolls (1947) and Uncle Charles (1967). She was married to Miles Malleson and Albert Lieven. She died on 27 November 1978 in St John's Wood, London, England, UK.

Ethel O'Shea was born on 21 February 1891 in Cork, County Cork, Ireland. She was an actress, known for BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950), Theatre Royal (1952) and Katy's Love Affair (1947). She died on 17 August 1983 in St John's Wood, London, England, UK.

Cheryl Barrymore was born on 22 March 1950 in London, England, UK. She is known for Celebrity Rehab (2000) and The British Comedy Awards 1994 (1994). She was married to Michael Barrymore and Greg Smith. She died on 1 April 2005 in St John's Wood, London, England, UK.

Dorothy Summers was born in 1883 in Kings Norton, Birmingham, England, UK. She was an actress, known for It's That Man Again (1943), Educated Evans (1957) and A Christmas Carol (1950). She died on 13 January 1964 in St John's Wood, London, England, UK.

Jack Bligh was born on 31 December 1889 in Ramsgate, Kent, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Doctor Who (1963), Night of the Big Heat (1967) and Secret Agent (1964). He was married to Mary Holder. He died on 25 September 1967 in St John's Wood, London, England, UK.

Langford Reed was born on 11 November 1878 in Clapham, London, England, UK. He was a writer and director, known for Chase Me Charlie (1918), The Rival Anarchists (1914) and The Little God (1914). He died on 8 March 1954 in St John's Wood, London, England, UK.

Jack Marks was born on 12 March 1895 in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, UK. He was a writer and producer, known for Trail Blazers (1953), This Week of Grace (1933) and It's a King (1933). He was married to Iris Dilley. He died on 12 February 1987 in St John's Wood, London, England, UK.

Arthur Prince was born on 17 November 1878 in Hounslow, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Spiritualism Exposed (1926), Account Rendered (1932) and In Town Tonight (1935). He was married to Julie Hartley-Milburn and Julie ?. He died on 14 April 1948 in St John's Wood, London, England, UK.

Edna Kaye was born on 30 March 1920. He was an actor, known for Third Time Lucky (1949). He was married to Stanley Black. He died on 2 March 2013 in St Johns Wood, London, England, UK.

Christmas Humphreys was born on 15 February 1901 in Kensington, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Case of Charles Peace (1949), Traitor's Gate (1962) and Act of Rape (1977). He was married to Aileen Faulkner. He died on 13 April 1983 in St John's Wood, London, England, UK.

Frank Woolfe was born on 30 September 1876 in Marylebone, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Scourge (1922), The Vicar of Wakefield (1916) and The Prince and the Beggarmaid (1921). He was married to Betty Woolfe. He died on 20 March 1962 in St John's Wood, London, England, UK.

Doris Gilmore was born on 29 October 1902 in Hampstead, London, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Self Made Lady (1932), Three Spare Wives (1962) and One Way Out (1955). She died on 19 September 1986 in St John's Wood, London, England, UK.

Stephen Pushkin was born in 1939 in Stepney, London, England, UK. He was an assistant director and production manager, known for Sweeney 2 (1978), Sweeney! (1977) and Dick Turpin (1979). He died on 1 January 2015 in St Johns Wood, London, England, UK.

Gubby Allen was born on 31 July 1902 in Bellevue Hill, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He died on 29 November 1989 in St John's Wood, London, England, UK.

Victor Hely-Hutchinson was born on 26 December 1901 in Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa. Victor was a composer and writer, known for BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950), The Charcoal-Burner's Son (1939) and Teeth of Steel (1942). Victor died on 11 March 1947 in St John's Wood, London, England, UK.

Sam Wilkinson was born on 17 April 1884 in Kensington, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Man Who Won (1932), Lost Patrol (1929) and Gwyneth of the Welsh Hills (1921). He died on 25 November 1967 in St John's Wood, London, England, UK.

Nina Lyn was born on 14 July 1878 in Clapton, London, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Me and My Girl (1939), The Shopsoiled Girl (1915) and Queen of the Wicked (1916). She died on 16 March 1959 in St John's Wood, London, England, UK.