Realy Name: Wendy Richard
On Stage name : Mrs SHIRLEY BRAHMS

SHIRLEY BRAHMS is the assistant saleswoman whom Mrs Slocombe has taken under her wing. But the leggy Miss Brahms needs little protection: she can easily take care of herself, adroitly rebuking the advances of many would-be suitors, including Mr Lucas.

Shirley, once described by Rumbold as having a sunny friendly personality who shows plenty of promise, lives in a semi-detached home and has recurrent dreams of flying in the nude while her friends watch.

There was one phone call Wendy Richard longed for each year, and that was to
confirm that the BBC had commissioned another series of Are You Being Served? She always relished the chance to meet up with old friends on the show. Over the years the cast became so close they celebrated each other's birthdays.
'I'd organize the champagne and Mollie, who's a brilliant cook, would make a birthday cake,' says Wendy. 'The time of year we recorded the series always fell on someone's birthday, although never Mollie's or mine.

But one year we didn't start until July, and my birthday is the 20th and Mollie's the 21st. In the rehearsal room Mollie and I were standing behind our mock-up counter, and she said: "Wendy, it's going to be embarrassing this year because it's our birthdays; do I still make the cake and you get the champagne?" I said I'd go and ask. I walked over to John and Trevor, but before I could open my mouth, John said: "It's all under control, bugger off!" Now how did he know what
we were talking about? I sometimes thought we were telepathic.'

Wendy also enjoyed working for David Croft; she had such a strong affinity with the producer that she felt part of 'Croftey's family'. 'I've worked for him so often,' she says, 'beginning way back in the early Sixties with Hugh and a sitcom starring Hugh Lloyd, Terry Scott and Mollie Sugden.
'He remembers people and is very loyal. When something comes along that is suitable, he instinctively knows you're right for it.'

Wendy had appeared several times in Dad's Army, playing Private Walker's girlfriend, for David Croft before joining the staff of Grace Brothers. David knew he could trust Wendy's judgement and skill to develop the character of Miss Brahms, and she was left to decide how to play the role. ADavid casts so well, he's always confident the person he has chosen will deliver. I'm not a method actor, I do everything by instinct. Fortunately David was happy with the outcome.
Wendy was very fond of Shirley Brahms. ~She was brilliant, nor as daft as the others. Everyone else came up with crackpot ideas, hut Miss Brahms was always level-headed. She was also self-assured: both Mr Lucas and, later, Mr Spooner tried having their wicked way wirh her bur got nowhere.'

One of the show's strengths was the relationship between Miss Brahms and Mrs Slocombe, who used to mother her junior. This bond extended beyond the camera, as Wendy explains: Mollie was such a good sport, she's a wonderful person. But we all got on so well, thar's one reason the show clicked.

I'd worked with Frank in HMS Paradise back in 1964, with Trevor in Don't Turn Out the Lights for Granada, so it was like meeting up with old friends. And dear old Arthur Brough was lovely. He always called me ~that horrid child". I remember standing next to David Croft watching Arthur practising a scene. David turned to me and said:

~Wonderful, isn't he? The mouth starts moving four seconds before the voice comes out. It's a nightmare to edit."'

When the doors finally shut at Grace Brothers Wendy was devastated'. ~It had been such a joy to work on. In my view, we were one of the best comedy shows on TV~ All the jokes were self-cleaning, there was no bad language and we were never offensive or unkind to anyone; I watch some of the so-called ~comedy" shows today and wonder what I'm paying my licence for.'
Miss Brahms has always been a popular character, on both sides of the Atlantic, and Wendy holds fond memories of visiting the States to promote the show. ~I went to New York about five years ago to appear on a TV channel's telethon. Are You Being Served? was on three times a day, and I was treated extremely well~'

Two years ago she returned, but this time for a holiday with her partner, John. We visited LA and San Francisco, and it was amazing. I was wearing my holiday gear with no make-up and was recognized so often,' says Wendy. 'This woman grabbed hold of me, saying, "You're Miss Brahms." She called her husband over, and when he asked how she knew it was me, the woman replied, "By her smile She was so lovely.'

Such is the popularity of her character, Wendy still receives presents and cards from fans. 'I collect ornamental frogs and the stuff I get from the States is incredible. One fan even sends me a £20 note every so often, telling me to spend it on a nice drink

Proposals of marriage are not uncommon either; she received a letter from an admirer just the other day It was written on lined paper by someone with a very shaky hand. He said: "I've seen you on the telly a few times and think you're a bit of all right. At the moment I'm in hospital for my nerves, but I think we should meet." He signed his name and wrote as a PS: ~I'm considered to be very good-looking." I'll give that one a miss!'
When Wendy gets time to relax, she enjoys gardening, tapestry work and racing her dogs. ~When we were filming Grace and Favour I bought this beautiful blonde bitch from the daughter of someone working at the house. Her dog had just had a litter, andI couldn't resist a puppy. I've called her Shirley Brahms II. I also have two racing dogs:

Shirley Brahms and another I bought recently, which I've called Mrs Slocombe. We went to the dogs to see her last night and she ran like a rocket -I wish I'd put more money on.
Wendy is also an avid fan of the radio soap The Archers, and Sunday morning from 10 a.m., when the soap is repeated, is sacrosanct. ~Woe betide anyone who phones while it's on!' laughs Wendy.

Although she's spent most of her life in London, Wendy, 51, was born in Middlebrow ugh. She moved to the capital as a baby when her parents took over a pub in Mayfair. As a girl she harboured dreams of becoming an archaeologist, but never pursued her ambitions. Upon finishing her education, Wendy completed a course in shorthand and typing, and worked briefly as a sales assistant at Fortnum and Mason's before joining the Italia Conti stage school.
While she was studying she earned some money as a photographic model. ~I did some work for Woman's Own and other magazines,' she says. I even modelled the bras for Marks and Spencer!'
Wendy made her small-screen debut in the Six-ties, playing a runaway teenager in Dicon of Dock Green, followed quickly by an appearance with Sammy Davis Jnr in ATV's Sammy Davis Meets the Girls Other credits in a busy TV career include: On the Buses (1971) playing Doreen, the clippie; Please, Sir!; The Fenn Street Gang; a barmaid in lIW's Not On Your Nellie, with Hylda Baker; Up Pompeii!; Havers West One and Danger Man.
In the late Sixties she also spent three years as Joyce Harker in the popular BBC series The New-
comers, a role Wendy felt was crucial to her career.
never did any rep work and, for me, appearing as Joyce I mocked me into shape as an actress. The show went out live, so I knew I had to learn my lines and do my job well - it was a good training ground.'
On the big screen, Wendy made her debut with two lines in Doctor in Clover but has appeared in a handful of other movies, including Bless this House, Miss Willing in Carsy On Matron, Ida Downer in Carry On Girl' and MGM's No Blo of Grass, playing Clara, the young wife of a killer. But her first taste of the entertainment world came when she was only fifteen, appearing on Mike - Sarne's 1962 chart-topping hit single 'Come Out Side &, for which she was paid a flat fee of U5. I -- don't get a penny from it, even though it's still being played. And it took me years to shake off the image of the "Come Outsid&' girl.'

when asked whether she classes Are You Being - Served? as the highlight of her acting career, Wendy - replies emphatically. 'Most definitely. I've been in the business 38 years and it's the icing on the cake Of course, I am very grateful for EastEnders and Pauline, who's a wonderful character, but Are You Being Served? was special. 'Everyone was an established performer, so the were no egos fighting to take the lead - it was the same in all of David's shows.'

Wendy will always be grateful to David Croft for helping develop her career. 'When I appeared on David's This A Your Lift, I was in tears before even going on - I was so proud of him. I remember looking at all the actors sitting there and thinking:
"H&s made you all stars, you've got him to thank for your careers.