Hylda Baker - Lancashire Comedienne

Hylda Baker was very tiny at 4ft11inches but had tremendous energy and she worked her way up the entertainment ladder via the Music Halls, where she played a fast-talking gossip, aided by her gormless on-stage 'stooge' Cynthia (always played by a man). She developed a string of catch-phrases such as 'She knows, you know', "You big girl's blouse' and 'Be soon', and she became a master of the malapropism and double entendre -- such as "I can say that without fear of contraception" and "You haven't had the pleasure of me yet".

In 1955 she made a very successful appearance on TV's 'The Good Old Days' and this took her on to greater heights, including a couple of serious film parts in 1960. In both 'Saturday Night and Sunday Morning' and 'Up The Junction', Hylda Baker played a back-street abortionist.
She had previously starred in an early BBC sitcom called 'Be Soon' but this had not been particularly successful. She put the record straight in 1968 when the TV series 'Nearest and Dearest' became a huge hit, running for seven series until 1973. Hylda's character Nellie Pledge, owner of a Pickled Onion factory, was ideally suited to her talents and she was cast opposite the skilled comedian Jimmy Jewel. At the age of 73 she made her final TV appearance - on BBC TV's 'Top of the Pops' -- duetting (in black leather gear and blonde wig) with another oldie, Cockney comedian Arthur Mullard. Their 1978 send-up of Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta's hit from Grease, 'You're The One That I Want', was a great success (reaching number 22 in the UK singles charts). FROM: prideofmanchester.com

[@Mrsmargaretrose60]

Talented lady. Hylda Baker was unique and it's so good that we can still enjoy watching her on KZbin.

[@gf1001]

My good friend Jean Fergusson wrote hyldas biography She Knows You Know. I saw Jean on stage as Hylda fabulous thanks for sharing.

[@levimacdonald5188]

are you friends with jean aka marina from lotsw..i am friends with her co star juliette kaplan aka pearl //x

[@junezetter1683]

I knew Hilda well and stayed at her mothers house in Bolton, more than once. I performed in her touring shows and she also stayed with my mother ,when we played Halifax. She was a hard worker and had no time for anyone who didn't work as hard. A small woman with the toughness of a miner. But then it was a tough job, the theatre.

[@stephenguppy3466]

If you knew her well, why can't you spell her name correctly?

[@ianmcnamara62]

Marvellous to see these priceless clips..thanks for sharing .

[@gf1001]

A very talented and funny lady, happy memories, thanks for sharing.

[@Mr1bigmick]

She was a very talented actress as well as a comic turn. There is a lot of nasty stuff written about her,probably because she would stick up for herself in a tough profession. There are wonderful stories about how she and Jimmy Jewell hated each other. Yet they combined so well in Nearest & Dearest and were professional enough to never let it show.

[@marthacochrane484]

I thought she was very funny until I worked with her!..........maybe dementia she was truly awful

[@chrstnclmn28]

I saw Hilda with Cynthia in the same costume she has on here at Blackpool Theatre, and she knows you know...brilliant.

[@ronaldgriffiths1524]

Thank God for Lancashire women.

[@mickbranner7823]

Well stated Ron !!!

[@BritishComedyUK69]

Fantastic memories

[@jacksugden8190]

Suffered from Dementia when working on Nearest & Dearest at Granada, sometimes forgetting her lines, caused friction with Jimmy Jewell with arguments behind the scenes, as Dementia was at that time an unknown decease.

[@ComptonLodgeStudios]

Wonderful !!! I remember Hylda playing the Villa Marina Douglas IOM when I was resident organist/entertainer for the season 1974. Thanks for posting - great stuff.

[@pendlelancashire]

*Evolution of comedy filmography.*

[@anneroberts9841]

Comedy genius

[@brianfaulkner7446]

a very funny lady , sadly missed .

[@angeladallimore8079]

Haha 😭

[@spmoran4703]

She influence Victoria Wood.