Carry On Girls

As with those other bastions of British popular culture, the James Bond films, the Hammer Horrors and The Benny Hill Show, the importance of the glamour girl to the eternal success of the Carry Ons can never be overvalued. This is their story. Whether it is the seaside postcard bubbly blondes of Barbara Windsor, the hysterically historical leading ladies of Joan Sims, the coquettish authoritarians of Hattie Jacques, or the statuesque confidence of Valerie Leon, the Carry On girls are stoic, sexy and fiercely independent. In this lavish celebration of a pioneering generation of comedy actresses who continue to radiate charm and contemporary relevance, a few home truths are revealed and some myths are debunked; but, above all, some of the best-loved icons of British entertainment are given fitting affection and respect. AUTHORS: Gemma Ross is the bestselling co-author of The Carry On Girls. She presents, writes and directs the podcast The Comedy Historian. She has also contributed to audio commentaries for British film comedy releases. Robert Ross is the leading authority on the history of British comedy. His sixteen books include The Carry On Companion, and official BBC celebrations of Fawlty Towers, Last of the Summer Wine and Steptoe and Son. His book, Forgotten Heroes of Comedy: An Encyclopedia of the Comedy Underdog, was published by Unbound in 2021. He is a frequent guest on radio, and his many television credits include interviews for What's A Carry On?, Top Ten: Comedy Records, Will the Real Basil Fawlty Please Stand Up?, What the Pythons Did Next, Richard & Judy and BBC News. 175 illustrations