Ian Carmichael on stage, screen and radio explained

The English actor and comedian Ian Carmichael OBE (1920–2010) performed in many mediums of light entertainment, including theatre, radio, television and film. His career spanned from 1939 until his death in 2010. According to Brian McFarlane, writing for The Encyclopedia of British Film, Carmichael "epitomises the good-natured, undemanding pleasures of '50s British cinema".

Carmichael made his professional stage debut in 1939 while he was studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art; his role was as a robot in the science fiction play R.U.R., which lasted for only a week. His studies were interrupted by the Second World War, and he was commissioned into the Royal Armoured Corps; he also joined an entertainment unit, 30 Corps Theatrical Pool, for which he produced twenty shows. At the end of the war he returned to professional acting, and in 1947 he took a role in She Wanted a Cream Front Door, which ran in the West End for nine months. He continued to perform in the theatre throughout the rest of his career, largely in the United Kingdom, but also in productions in Canada, South Africa and the United States. In 1947 Carmichael made his debut on television in the revue New Faces. He continued to work in television throughout his life and, according to McFarlane, achieved considerable success with P. G. Wodehouse's The World of Wooster in 1966–1967, in which he played Bertie Wooster, and as Lord Peter Wimsey between 1972 and 1975.

Carmichael made his radio debut in 1947 in the BBC Home Service's Saturday Night Theatre, and continued to appear throughout his career. Included in his output were dramatisations of the Wimsey novels and Wodehouse's works, this time as Galahad Threepwood in the Blandings Castle stories. In 1948 Carmichael made his cinematic debut in an uncredited role in Bond Street, and went on to establish a film career in the 1950s when he appeared in films by the Boulting brothers, including Private's Progress (1956), Lucky Jim (1957), Brothers in Law (1957), Happy Is the Bride (1958) and I'm All Right Jack (1959). On Carmichael's death in 2010 Dennis Barker, writing for The Guardian, observed that "what made Carmichael notable was that he could play fool parts in a way that did not cut the characters completely off from human sympathy: a certain dignity was always maintained."

Stage credits

Stage credits of Ian Carmichael

Production	Date	Theatre (London, unless stated)	Role	Notes
R.U.R.		People's Palace, Mile End	Robot	One week only
		Jerwood Vanbrugh Theatre, RADA		Two productions only
Julius Caesar		Embassy Theatre	Claudius
Nine Sharp	– August 1940	Touring	–	Ten-week tour
Springtime for Henry		Army theatre, Duncombe Park	–	Four performances; informal army production
Between Ourselves		–	–
She Wanted a Cream Front Door		Apollo Theatre
I Said To Myself		Mercury Theatre	Jean
Cupid and Mars		Arts Theatre		Four-week production
Out of the Frying Pan		Q Theatre
What Goes On		Players' Theatre	–	Revue
Tomorrow is a Lovely Day		Touring	–	Five-week tour
		Jolly Roger Theatre, Clacton	–	Revue
What Goes On		Players' Theatre	–	Revue
	– 9 September 1949	Touring	Norman	24-week tour
Wild Violets	– 27 May 1950	Stoll Theatre
	– 22 September 1951	Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith	–	Revue four-week pre-London tour; production transferred to the Globe Theatre from 26 September 1951 to 28 June 1952
	– 31 January 1953	Globe Theatre	–	Revue two-week tour prior to the Globe
High Spirits	– 29 August 1953	Hippodrome	–	Revue 16-week run
At the Lyric	– 15 May 1954	Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith	–	Revue
Going to Town	– 17 July 1954	St Martin's Theatre	–	Revue
Simon and Laura	– 28 May 1955	Strand Theatre
	– August 1958	Her Majesty's Theatre		Preceded by five-week provincial tour
	– October 1959	Manchester Opera House, Manchester		Transferred to the Piccadilly Theatre on 12 October 1959 for two weeks before closing
	– 28 January 1961	Savoy Theatre
Critic's Choice	– May 1962	Vaudeville Theatre
Devil May Care		Strand Theatre	Nicholas	Four-week tour preceded the Strand; ran at the Strand for nine weeks
Sunday in New York		Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon	–
March Hares		Touring
Boeing-Boeing		Cort Theatre, New York	Richard	Short tour of New Haven, CT and Boston, MA prior to New York; ran at the Cort for three weeks
Say Who You Are		Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford		Production transferred to Her Majesty's Theatre in October 1965
Getting Married		Strand Theatre		Five-week tour preceded the Strand
I Do! I Do!	– 24 August 1968	Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith	Michael
Birds on the Wing		O'Keefe Centre, Toronto	–
Darling I'm Home		Touring, South Africa	–
Springtime for Henry		Oxford Playhouse
Out on a Limb			Vaudeville Theatre	Graham
Overheard		Theatre Royal, Haymarket, London		Short run at Richmond Theatre before transferring to the Haymarket.
Pride and Prejudice	–88	Theatre Royal, York		Production went on a national tour after the Theatre Royal
	–90	Touring
		Chichester Festival Theatre

Radio broadcasts

Radio broadcasts of Ian Carmichael

Broadcast	Date	Role	Notes
Saturday Night Theatre "Mile Away Murder"
Saturday Night Theatre "Of Mice and Men"		Curley the Boss's son
Gordon Grantley, KC
Midday Music Hall		Compere
Radio Theatre: "Ring For Jeeves"
"The Art of Ian Carmichael"		Interviewee
Woman's Hour		Interviewee
Desert Island Discs		Interviewee
Eric Barker and Pearl Hackney are Hosts Gown at 'Barker's Folly		–
Evelyn Laye introduces 'On Stage, Everybody			–
Ian Carmichael says Everything Happens to Me and has the records to prove It	– 25 September 1961	–	Five episodes
London Mirror		–
Variety Playhouse		–
Play It Cool	– 1 September 1964	–	With Hugh Paddick and Joan Sims, plus music from Rosemary Squires, The Mike Sammes Singers and the Ken Thorne Orchestra
Woman's Hour		Guest
Going Places		Leader
Call My Bluff		Panellist
Housewives' Choice	– 7 July 1967	–	Five episodes
"A Day in Bed"
Charades		Panellist
		Panellist
Sounds Familiar		Panellist
Be My Guest		Presenter
Blast of Spring	– 9 November 1971		Six episodes
	– 14 August 1973	Presenter	Seven episodes
Just a Minute		Panellist
Lord Peter Wimsey Whose Body?	– 27 January 1974		Five episodes
Lord Peter Wimsey Clouds of Witness	– 24 March 1974		Eight episodes
Just a Minute		Panellist
	– 27 August 1974	Presenter	Nine episodes
Wodehouse on Broadway		Presenter
Lord Peter Wimsey Unnatural Death	– 16 June 1975		Seven episodes
Good Morning Everyone	– 29 August 1975	Presenter
Ian Carmichael's Music Night	– 13 July 1976	Presenter
Percival and Apple	– 9 January 1976	Reader	Five episodes
	– 8 June 1976		Eight episodes
am with A.J.	– 23 April 1976	Reader	Five episodes
Lord Peter Wimsey Strong Poison	– 21 June 1976		Six episodes
	– 26 December 1977		Seven episodes
	– 22 February 1978		Eight episodes
Jack Buchanan – The Complete Entertainer	– 12 July 1978	Presenter	Five programmes
Lord Peter Wimsey Murder Must Advertise	– 5 February 1979		Six episodes
Desert Island Discs		Interviewee
	– 31 October 1979		Eight episodes
Stories by Saki	– 28 December 1979	Reader	Three episodes
Book at Bedtime Summer Lightning	– 8 August 1980	Reader	Fifteen episodes
	– 8 December 1980		Eight episodes
	– 1 June 1981		Six episodes
Lord Peter Wimsey Have His Carcase	– 24 November 1981		Six episodes
Lord Peter Wimsey Busman's Honeymoon	– 7 February 1983		Six episodes
Merely Melville	– 21 April 1984	Presenter
Tales from a Palm Court	– 16 August 1984	Reader
Tales from a Palm Court	– 10 January 1985	Reader
With Great Pleasure		Interviewee
Banes' People III		–
Tales from a Palm Court	– 3 May 1988	Reader
Pigs Have Wings	– 12 September 1989		Four episodes
Strictly T-T		Presenter	Also writer; the programme was an appreciation of Terry-Thomas
Galahad at Blandings	– 13 February 1992		Four episodes
		Archie
Cads and Silly Asses		Presenter
		Presenter

Television

Television appearances of Ian Carmichael

Programme	Date	Channel	Role	Notes
New Faces		BBC Television	–
New Faces		BBC Television	–
Cliff Gordon in: Twice Upon a Time	& 24 January 1948	BBC Television	–	Revue
Tricks of the Trade		BBC Television	–
Tell Her the Truth		BBC Television
Old Songs for New		BBC Television	Singer
Give My Regards to Leicester Square		BBC Television	Player
Jill Darling		BBC Television
Don't Look Now		BBC Television	Performer
Floor Show at the "Regency Room"		BBC Television	–
Here's Television		BBC Television	Performer
Starlight		BBC Television	–
Panorama		BBC Television	–	Theatrical performer in "A New Suit"; uncredited
Something to Shout About			BBC Television	–
Here and Now	– 17 February 1956	ITV	–	Sketch show
Off the Record		BBC Television	–
Alan Melville takes you from A-Z		BBC Television	–
Picture Parade		BBC Television	–
Carmichael's Night Out		BBC Television	–
Rich and Rich		BBC Television	Guest
		BBC Television	Tom
		BBC Television	–	Recorded excerpt from The Tunnel of Love at Her Majesty's Theatre
What's My Line?		BBC Television	Panellist
Juke Box Jury		BBC Television	Panellist
Gilt and Gingerbread		BBC Television
Juke Box Jury		BBC Television	Panellist
Juke Box Jury		BBC Television	Panellist
Compact		ITV	–	First episode only
Armchair Theatre "The Importance of Being Earnest"		ITV
P.G. Wodehouse's The World of Wooster: "Jeeves and the Dog McIntosh"		BBC Television		Series 1
P.G. Wodehouse's The World of Wooster: "Jeeves, the Aunt, and the Sluggard"		BBC Television		Series 1
P.G. Wodehouse's The World of Wooster: "Jeeves and the Great Sermon Handicap"		BBC Television		Series 1
P.G. Wodehouse's The World of Wooster: "Jeeves and the Song of Songs"		BBC Television		Series 1
P.G. Wodehouse's The World of Wooster: "Jeeves and the Hero's Reward"		BBC Television		Series 1
P.G. Wodehouse's The World of Wooster: "Jeeves and the Inferiority Complex of Old Sippy"		BBC Television		Series 1
P.G. Wodehouse's The World of Wooster: "Jeeves and the Delayed Exit of Claude and Eustace"		BBC Television		Series 2
P.G. Wodehouse's The World of Wooster: "Jeeves and a Change of Mind"		BBC Television		Series 2
P.G. Wodehouse's The World of Wooster: "Jeeves and the Spot of Art"		BBC Television		Series 2
P.G. Wodehouse's The World of Wooster: "Jeeves Exerts the Old Cerebellum"		BBC Television		Series 2
P.G. Wodehouse's The World of Wooster: "Jeeves and the Purity of the Turf"		BBC Television		Series 2
P.G. Wodehouse's The World of Wooster: "Jeeves and the Clustering Round Young Bingo"		BBC Television		Series 2
P.G. Wodehouse's The World of Wooster: "Jeeves and the Indian Summer of an Uncle"		BBC Television		Series 2
P.G. Wodehouse's The World of Wooster: "Jeeves and the Greasy Bird"		BBC Television		Series 3
P.G. Wodehouse's The World of Wooster: "Jeeves and the Stand-in for Sippy"		BBC Television		Series 3
P.G. Wodehouse's The World of Wooster: "Jeeves and the Old School Chum"		BBC Television		Series 3
P.G. Wodehouse's The World of Wooster: "Jeeves and the Impending Doom"		BBC Television		Series 3
P.G. Wodehouse's The World of Wooster: "Jeeves and the Hard-Boiled Egg"		BBC Television		Series 3
P.G. Wodehouse's The World of Wooster: "Jeeves and the Love that Purifies"		BBC Television		Series 3
P.G. Wodehouse's The World of Wooster: "Jeeves and the Fixing of Freddie"		BBC Television		Series 3
I Do! I Do!		BBC Television		Scenes from Act 1 of the musical; broadcast from the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith
		ITV
Cilla		BBC Television	Guest
Call My Bluff		BBC Television	Panellist
Call My Bluff		BBC Television	Panellist
Brian Rix Presents: "Odd Man In"		BBC Television
Play for Today "Alma Mater"		BBC Television
		BBC Television	Guest
Frost on Sunday		ITV	Guest
		BBC Television
Call My Bluff		BBC Television	Panellist
Bachelor Father	– 10 December 1970	BBC Television		Series 1
Father, Dear Father "An Affair To Forget"		ITV	Leo
Bachelor Father	– 11 November 1971	BBC Television		Series 2
		BBC Television	Guest
Lord Peter Wimsey "Clouds of Witness"	– 3 May 1972	BBC Television		Adapted into five parts
Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show		BBC Television	Guest
	– 22 February 1973	BBC Television		Adapted into four parts
Lord Peter Wimsey: "Murder Must Advertise"	– 21 December 1973	BBC Television		Adapted into four parts
	– 13 May 1974	BBC Television		Adapted into four parts
	– August 1975	BBC Television		Adapted into four parts
It's a Celebrity Knockout		BBC Television	Participant
Three More Men in a Boat		BBC Television	Voice of Jerome
All for Love: "Down at the Hydro"		ITV
		ITV	Rat	Voice only
	– 19 June 1990	ITV	Narrator
Movie Memories		ITV	–
		ITV	Bellenger
		BBC Television	Presenter
		BBC Television	White
Strathblair	– 19 July 1992	BBC Television		Series 1
Strathblair	– 29 August 1993	BBC Television		Series 2
Wonders in the Deep		BBC Television
		BBC Television
Bramwell		ITV	Oswald
Wives and Daughters	– 19 December 1999	BBC Television
		BBC Television	Interviewee
Reputations: "Frankie Howerd"		BBC Television	Interviewee
	– 5 June 2011	ITV

Filmography

Filmography of Ian Carmichael

Film	Year	Role	Notes
Bond Street	1948	Receptionist at restaurant	Uncredited
Trottie True		Bill the postman	Uncredited
Dear Mr. Prohack
Ghost Ship		Bernard
Time Gentlemen, Please!		P.R.O.
Miss Robin Hood		Extra	Uncredited
Meet Mr. Lucifer	1953	Man Friday
Betrayed	1954
Storm Over the Nile
Simon and Laura
Private's Progress
Brothers in Law
Lucky Jim
Happy Is the Bride
Left Right and Centre
I'm All Right Jack
School for Scoundrels
Light Up the Sky!
Double Bunk	1961	Jack
	1962
Heavens Above!	1963
Hide and Seek	1964
Case of the 44s
Smashing Time	1967
	1971
From Beyond the Grave	1974
	1979	Caldicott
Diamond Skulls	1989	Exeter

Notes and references

Sources

• Book: Carmichael, Ian. Ian Carmichael. Will the Real Ian Carmichael.... 1979. Macmillan. London. 978-0-333-25476-9.
• Book: Fairclough, Robert. This Charming Man: The Life of Ian Carmichael. 2011. Aurum Press. London. 978-1-8451-3664-2.
• Book: Gaye. Freda. 1967. Who's Who in the Theatre. fourteenth. London. Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons . 5997224.
• Book: Lewisohn, Mark. Mark Lewisohn. Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy. 1998. BBC Books. London. 978-0-563-36977-6.
• Book: Pettigrew, Terence. British Film Character Actors: Great Names and Memorable Moments. 1982. David & Charles. Newton Abbot, Devon. 0-7153-8270-5.
• Book: Sheridan, Paul. Late and Early Joys at the Players' Theatre. T.V. Boardman. London. 1952. 504084581.
• Book: 2014. Who Was Who (1920–2015). London. A & C Black. 978-0-7136-0170-1. .

External links

• Ian Carmichael at the BFI