Wikipedia

Una Stubbs

Una Stubbs (1 May 1937 – 12 August 2021) was an English actress, television personality, and dancer who appeared on British television, in the theatre, and occasionally in films. She became known after appearing in the film Summer Holiday (1963) and later played Rita Rawlins in the BBC sitcoms Till Death Us Do Part (1965–1975) and In Sickness and in Health (1985–1992). Her other television roles include Aunt Sally in Worzel Gummidge (1979–1981) and Miss Bat in The Worst Witch (1998–2001). She also appeared as Sherlock Holmes's landlady Mrs. Hudson in the BAFTA-winning television series Sherlock (2010–2017) where she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Crime Thriller Awards.

Una Stubbs
Stubbs in 2015, while filming Sherlock
Born(1937-05-01)1 May 1937
Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England
Died12 August 2021(2021-08-12) (aged 84)
Edinburgh, Scotland
OccupationsActress, dancer, TV presenter
Years active1956–2017
Spouses
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(m. 1958; div. 1969)​
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(m. 1969; div. 1975)​
Children3; including Christian Henson
RelativesEbenezer Howard (great-grandfather)
Geoffrey Howard (uncle)

Early life

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Stubbs was born in 1937 in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire,[1] the daughter of Angela K. Rawlinson and Clarence Reginald Stubbs.[2] Stubbs was a great-granddaughter of Sir Ebenezer Howard, the founder of the garden city movement, who was the driving force in the creation of Letchworth Garden City and Welwyn Garden City, both in Hertfordshire.[3]

She grew up in Hinckley, Leicestershire,[4] and was sent to La Roche dancing school in Slough by her mother.[5] As a 16-year-old, in 1953, she danced in a Folies Bergère-style musical revue, "Pardon My French", at the Prince of Wales Theatre, alongside Frankie Howerd and the pianist Winifred Atwell. She first appeared on television as one of the Dougie Squires Dancers on the British television music show Cool for Cats (ITV) in 1956.[6][7] She also appeared as a dancer at the London Palladium[5] and worked in cabaret, clubs and revues in London, and was in Lionel Blair's dance ensemble.[2]

During 1958–59, Stubbs was the "cover girl" of Dairy Box chocolates, produced by Rowntree.[8] She referred to herself as the "Rowntree's Chocolate Girl", when describing a visit she made to the Rowntree's factory in York (where unknown to her, her grandfather had worked).[9]

Acting career

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In 1963, Stubbs joined the cast of a new charades-based gameshow, Don't Say a Word (ITV), a forerunner of Give Us a Clue.[5] Her first screen role was in the Cliff Richard film Summer Holiday (1963). She also appeared in Richard's next film, Wonderful Life (1964). Soon afterward, she made her breakthrough in television comedy, playing Rita, the married daughter of Alf Garnett in the BBC sitcom Till Death Us Do Part (1966–1975). In 1968, as a direct spin-off from the sitcom, she appeared alongside Warren Mitchell in a series of television adverts for Findus frozen products.[10]

She also appeared in the short-lived sitcom Till Death... (1981), again playing Rita.[11] She played Rita a third time in a few episodes of the BBC sitcom In Sickness and in Health (1985–1992).[12] During 1970–71, Stubbs teamed again with Cliff Richard to appear each week on his BBC1 TV series, It's Cliff Richard![12] When she did not take part in the next series, as it was broadcast shortly after she had had a baby, her TV "mother", Dandy Nichols from Till Death Us Do Part, took her place.[13]

Stubbs featured in the Fawlty Towers episode "The Anniversary" in 1979.[14] From 1979 to 1981, she played Aunt Sally in the ITV children's series Worzel Gummidge opposite Jon Pertwee and Barbara Windsor,[15] and was for several years a team captain in the weekly game show Give Us a Clue in the 1980s, reuniting her with Lionel Blair, the other team captain.[7]

She appeared in the shows Midsomer Murders, Heartbeat, Casualty, Keeping Up Appearances, Born and Bred and The Worst Witch.[14][16] In recent years, Stubbs also appeared in Victoria Wood's We'd Quite Like to Apologise, The Catherine Tate Show, Agatha Christie's Marple, EastEnders, Benidorm and, from 2010, Sherlock as Mrs. Hudson where she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Crime Thriller Awards.[14][17][18] She appeared in an episode of Call the Midwife in 2015.[14]

Stubbs was on the West End stage in Noël Coward's Star Quality with Penelope Keith in 2001 and Friedrich Schiller's Don Carlos with Derek Jacobi in 2005.[19][7] Her other theatre credits included La Cage Aux Folles at the Menier Chocolate Factory, Pygmalion at the Theatre Royal, Bath and Old Vic and The Family Reunion at the Donmar Warehouse. She was in the original cast of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at the National Theatre in 2012.[7]

In 2015 she co-presented The Big Painting Challenge on BBC One alongside Richard Bacon.[7]

Personal life

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Stubbs was married to the actor Peter Gilmore from 1958 to 1969: they adopted a son, Jason. After their divorce in 1969, she married another actor, Nicky Henson. They divorced in 1975, after having two sons, but remained good friends. Their sons are the composer Christian Henson (born 25 December 1971), and the musician-composer Joe Henson (born 18 September 1973).[20]

For many years, Stubbs sketched vignettes of characters around London and held exhibitions of these near her London home.[21] On several occasions, paintings by Stubbs, submitted anonymously, were exhibited at the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition, most recently in 2020.[22]

Stubbs had known her Sherlock co-star Benedict Cumberbatch since he was four years old, as she had worked with his mother, Wanda Ventham.[23]

Stubbs was the subject of an episode of the BBC series Who Do You Think You Are?, broadcast on 24 July 2013. It discussed several of her ancestors.[3]

After several months of ill health, Stubbs died at her home in Edinburgh on 12 August 2021, at the age of 84.[24][failed verification]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
1963Summer HolidaySandy[14]
West 11Girl on Her Knees at PartyUncredited
1964The BargeeBridesmaidUncredited[18]
Wonderful LifeBarbara Tate[14]
1965Three Hats for LisaFlora[14]
1967Mister Ten Per CentLady Dorothea[14]
1969Till Death Us Do PartRita Garnett Rawlins[14]
1973Penny GoldAnna[14]
1974Bedtime with RosieRosie[14]
1978The Water BabiesVoice
2007AngelMiss Dawson[25]
2016National Theatre Live: Les Liaisons DangereusesMadame de Rosemond
Golden YearsShirley[14]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
1960The Strange World of Gurney SladeVacuum Cleaner Girl / Girl in Park2 episodes[14]
1966–1975Till Death Us Do PartRita Garnett Rawlins52 episodes[14]
1971The Rivals of Sherlock HolmesKatie HarrisEpisode: "The Woman in the Big Hat"[14]
1970–1972It's Cliff Richard!Herself33 episodes[14]
1978 Whodunnit? Herself – panellist TV game show
1979Fawlty TowersAliceEpisode: "The Anniversary"[14]
1979–1981Worzel GummidgeAunt Sally21 episodes[14]
1979–1986Give Us a ClueHerselfMultiple episodes[14]
1981Till Death...Rita Garnett Rawlins6 episodes[11]
1985–1986In Sickness and in HealthRita Garnett Rawlins9 episodes[12]
1987–1989Worzel Gummidge Down UnderAunt Sally22 episodes[26]
1989Victoria WoodUnaEpisode: "We'd Quite Like to Apologise"[17]
1989Tricky BusinessMrs. Breeze9 episodes[14]
1995Keeping Up AppearancesMrs. MoodyEpisode: "The Pageant"[14]
1995, 1997HeartbeatAnthea Cowley2 episodes[14]
1996Delta WaveGilly Pigeon4 episodes[14]
1998Midsomer MurdersSelina JenningsEpisode: "Written in Blood"[14]
2000CasualtyJoan BanvilleEpisode: "Not Waving but Drowning"[16]
1998–2000The Worst WitchMiss Davina Bat25 episodes[14]
2003Born and BredJoyEpisode: "A Very Ormston Christmas"[27]
2004Von TrappedKath MooganTV movie[18]
2005–2007The Catherine Tate ShowCarole-Ann & Ursula4 episodes[18]
2006EastEndersCaroline Bishop6 episodes[18]
2006Agatha Christie's MarpleEdith PagettEpisode: "Sleeping Murder"[18]
2007–2009Mist: Sheepdog TalesFern23 episodes[18]
2009BenidormDiana ArmstrongSeason 3 Episode 5[14]
2009IngeniousGranshaTV movie[14]
2010–2017SherlockMrs. Hudson13 episodes[14]
2011The Bleak Old Shop of StuffAunt Good SpellingEpisode: "Christmas Special"[28]
2012National Theatre LiveMrs. AlexanderEpisode: "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time"[29]
2013Who Do You Think You Are?HerselfSeries 10, Episode 1[30]
2013StarlingsMolly4 episodes[18]
2013Coming UpCynthiaEpisode: "Sink Or Swim"[14]
2013The Tractate MiddothMiss Chambers[18]
2015Midsomer MurdersAudrey BraylesfordEpisode 17.1 "The Dagger Club"[14]
2015The Big Painting ChallengeCo-PresenterSeries 1[31]
2015Call The MidwifeGert MillsEpisode #4.7[14]
2017The DurrellsMrs. HaddockSeries 2, Episode 4[14]
2017Murder on the Blackpool ExpressPeggyTV movie, final film role[32]

Audio dramas

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Year Title Role Ref
2007Doctor Who: Horror of Glam RockFlo[33]

Theatre

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Year Title Playwright Director Role Venue Ref
1990She Stoops to ConquerOliver GoldsmithJames MaxwellMrs HardcastleRoyal Exchange, Manchester[34]
1992An Ideal HusbandOscar WildeJames MaxwellLady MarkbyRoyal Exchange, Manchester[7]
1996The Philadelphia StoryPhilip BarryJosephine AbadyMargaret LordRoyal Exchange, Manchester[35]
1997The Deep Blue SeaTerence RattiganMichael GrandageHester CollyerMercury Theatre, Colchester[36]
2001Star QualityNoël CowardChristopher LuscombeMarion BlakelyApollo Theatre, London[19]
2005Don CarlosFriedrich von SchillerMichael GrandageDuchess of OlivarezGielgud Theatre, London[7][37]

References

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  1. ↑ Barnett, Laura (14 January 2014). "Una Stubbs, actor – portrait of the artist". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Una Stubbs – Who Do You Think You Are – A regular in television and film for 50 years..." Thegenealogist.com. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Una Stubbs". Who Do You Think You Are?. Series 10. Episode 1. 24 July 2013. BBC Television. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  4. ↑ "Una Stubbs: My family values". The Guardian. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 "BFI Screenonline: Stubbs, Una (1937–) Biography". Screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  6. ↑ "Cool for Cats – Beginnings". Coolforcats.freeuk.com. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Coveney, Michael (12 August 2021). "Una Stubbs obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  8. ↑ "Nestlé archive shows the history of Rowntree's chocolate". York Press. York. 30 September 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2025. Alex points out a photo of Una Stubbs, who was used as the cover girl for Dairy Box.
  9. ↑ Who Do You Think You Are?, "Una Stubbs", Director Mary Cranitch, Producer Colette Flight, BBC, 2013, approx 26 minutes
  10. ↑ "StackPath". Hatads.org.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  11. 1 2 Jameson, Greg (10 February 2019). "Till Death… DVD review". entertainment-focus.com. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  12. 1 2 3 Flockhart, Gary (13 August 2021). "Veteran film and television actress Una Stubbs dies at home in Edinburgh aged 84". scotsman.com. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  13. ↑ Kieran Galpin (13 August 2021). "Sherlock star Una Stubbs dies aged 84 | JOE.co.uk". Joe. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 "Una Stubbs". BFI. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  15. ↑ Bagwell, Matt (12 August 2021). "Una Stubbs, Worzel Gummidge And EastEnders Actor, Has Died Aged 84". HuffPost UK. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  16. 1 2 "Casualty: Not Waving But Drowning". tvmaze.com. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  17. 1 2 "We'd Quite Like to Apologise (1989)". BFI. Archived from the original on 10 March 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Tribe, Steve (2014). Sherlock: Chronicles. Random House. p. 149. ISBN 9781448142262.
  19. 1 2 "Theatre review: Star Quality". The Guardian. 1 November 2001. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  20. ↑ Stubbs to join ex-husband in soap BBC News 23 May 2006
  21. ↑ "The Panter & Hall Gallery". 9 May 2012. Archived from the original on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  22. ↑ "801 – A NEW HAT by Una Stubbs". Se.royalacademy.org.uk. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  23. ↑ Margy Rochlin. "Q & A With Una Stubbs: The Joy of Victoria Sponges + Getting Sherlock Holmes to Eat". L.A. Weekly. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  24. ↑ "Actress Una Stubbs dies at 84". BBC News. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  25. ↑ Schilt, Thibaut (2011). Francois Ozon. University of Illinois Press. p. 173. ISBN 9780252093043.
  26. ↑ Geoff Herbert (13 August 2021). "Sherlock and Worzel Gummidge star Una Stubbs dies aged 84". Stuff. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  27. ↑ "Born and Bred (2002)". DVD Locker. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  28. ↑ "BBC Two – The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff, Christmas Episode". BBC. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  29. ↑ Coveney, Michael (4 August 2012). "First Night: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time". The Independent. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  30. ↑ "BBC One – Who Do You Think You Are?, Series 10, Una Stubbs". BBC. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  31. ↑ "BBC One – The Big Painting Challenge, Landscapes". BBC. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  32. ↑ Calderbank, Matthew (13 August 2021). "Johnny Vegas remembers Murder On The Blackpool Express co-star Una Stubbs as "an absolute light"". blackpoolgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  33. ↑ "1.3. HORROR OF GLAM ROCK". Big Finish Productions. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  34. ↑ "Production of She Stoops to Conquer". Theatricalia.com. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  35. ↑ "The Actress: 'My glasses flew and so did I'". Manchester Evening News. 15 February 2007.
  36. ↑ "Programme for 'The Deep Blue Sea' by Terence Rattigan". Mercurytheatre.co.uk.
  37. ↑ "Don Carlos London theatre stage show". Thisistheatre.com. 6 January 2020. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
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