| Lori Wells | |
| Other Names: |
|
| Birth Name: | Lorraine A Burns |
| Birth Place: | Bradford, West Yorkshire, England |
| Occupation: | Actress, singer |
| Years Active: | 1970–present |
| Television: | Get Some In! |
| Spouse: | |
| Children: | 2 |
| Signature: | Lori Wells's signature.jpg |
Lorraine A Keefe (née Burns; born October 1942), known professionally as Lori Wells, is an English actress and singer. She is best known for her role of Alice Marsh in the ITV sitcom Get Some In! (1975–1978).
Lorraine A Burns was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England in October 1942,[1] as the younger child to Cyril Burns (1915–1991)[2] [3] and his wife,[4] Annie (née Hamer; 1916–2012).[5] She had an elder sister, Pauline A Burns, who was born and died in January 1941.[6] [7]
Wells made her television debut in 1970. She performed as a singer, with The Brothers, on the BBC light entertainment programme, The Good Old Days.[8] Her debut album, I Gotcha!, was self-released and consists of 16 songs. Mike Berry, The Peter Husband Sound, Mike Ibbetson, her former husband Jack Wells, and Brian Ibbetson are credited on the album.[9]
Wells portrayed Brenda, a check-out assistant at Harrison's Supermarket, for one episode of the ITV soap opera Coronation Street, in 1972.[10] [11]
Wells was praised for her performance as Sandra, the battleaxe daughter, in Kisses at Fifty, a 1973 episode of the BBC television anthology drama series Play for Today.[12] [13] Kisses at Fifty was repeated on BBC Two in 1993, as part of the BBC One anthology series The Wednesday Play, and again in 2024.[12] She portrayed Sadie in Leeds United!, in 1974.[14]
Wells portrayed Brenda in the BBC police procedural series Z-Cars, in an episode, "Bowman", broadcast in 1973.
Wells portrayed Alice Marsh in the ITV sitcom Get Some In! from 1975 to 1978. The series focused on National service life in the Royal Air Force. Her character, Alice, is constantly irritated by her husband's lack of advancement in the RAF, but she is a kind-hearted woman and is good to the recruits, much to the irritation of Corporal Percy Marsh (Tony Selby). Alice left her husband during the fourth series, only to return to him in the end. The series was written by [John] Esmonde and [Bob] Larbey, regularly attracted 15 million viewers and was one of a number of shows from that decade to have never been repeated.[15]
Wells made her radio debut in the BBC Radio 2 programme, Variety Club, in 1979.[16]
Wells made a second appearance in Coronation Street, when she portrayed Pauline Jarvis, a customer of Ray Langton's building firm, for two episodes in 1982.
Wells made her final appearance in Coronation Street, when she portrayed Kath Goodwin, a relief barmaid at the Rovers Return Inn, for six episodes in 1984. She was credited as Lori Wells Keefe in this role.
Wells portrayed Jean Denton in the BBC One police procedural drama series Juliet Bravo. The episode, "Reasons for Leaving", was broadcast in 1985.
Wells appeared as herself in the 1991 television film, Classic Coronation Street.
Wells portrayed Belle in the BBC sitcom Last of the Summer Wine. The episode, "Magic and the Morris Minor", was broadcast in 2000.
Wells voiced Shirley in the BBC Radio 4 radio drama, Afternoon Play: Coming down the Mountain, as part of Drama.[17]
Burns married her first husband, Jack R Wells (born 1942),[18] in Bradford, Yorkshire West Riding in January 1965.[19] They had two children together; Lee Roger Wells (born 1966)[20] and Samantha Anne Wells (born 1967).[21] The couple later divorced. She married her second husband, Allan Keefe (born 1936),[22] in Macclesfield, Cheshire in April 1982.[23]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | The Good Old Days | Performer | Episode: "Episode #18.6" | ||
| 1972, 1975, 1984 | Coronation Street | Brenda, Pauline Jarvis, Kath Goodwin | 9 episodes, credited as Lori Wells Keefe in 1984 | ||
| 1973 | Z-Cars | Brenda | Episode: "Bowman" | [24] | |
| 1973–1974 | Play for Today | Sandra, Sadie | 2 episodes | ||
| 1975 | Couples | Jean | 4 episodes | ||
| 1975–1978 | Get Some In! | Alice Marsh | 21 episodes | ||
| 1975 | The ITV Play | Betty Pratt | Episode: "A House in Regent Place: Mrs Tycoon" | ||
| 1978 | Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt | Cafe Cashier | 2 episodes | [25] | |
| 1979 | Variety Club | BBC Radio 2 | |||
| 1979 | Chalk and Cheese | Dot | Episode: "Strangers in the Night" | ||
| 1979, 1982, 1984 | In Loving Memory | Daisy Plummer, Gladys, Annie Dawson | 3 episodes, credited as Lori Wells Keefe on "Cuckoo in the Nest" | ||
| 1981 | The Gaffer | Rose | Episode: "The Trouble with Women" | ||
| 1982 | Young at Heart | Barmaid | Episode: "On the Move" | ||
| 1983 | The Dresser | Barmaid | [26] | ||
| 1985 | Them and Us | Mrs. Cartwright | Episode: "Wagging It" | ||
| 1985 | Juliet Bravo | Jean Denton | Episode: "Reason for Leaving", credited as Lori Wells Keefe | [27] | |
| 1991 | Classic Coronation Street | Herself | Television film | ||
| 1993 | The Wednesday Play | Sandra | Episode: "Kisses at Fifty" | ||
| 1995 | Heartbeat | Mrs. Clegg | Episode: "Toss Up" | ||
| 2000 | Last of the Summer Wine | Belle | Episode: "Magic and the Morris Minor" | [28] | |
| 2000 | Between Two Women | Mrs Britchenor | |||
| 2003 | Drama | Shirley (voice) | Episode: "Afternoon Play: Coming down the Mountain" |