Jean's cunning move pays off

Oct 24 2001 By Neil Atkinson, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

FOR many years, she was a cackling pub cleaner with curlers, a headscarf and a `muriel' at home.

But Hilda Ogden is long gone and actress Jean Alexander is relishing her role as another great female creation.

Auntie Wainwright is the shopkeeper who never lets go; the battleaxe in fingerless gloves who could sell ice to the Eskimos.

And after 12 years in Last Of the Summer Wine, she finally believes she has laid the ghost of Hilda and is recognised as Auntie Wainwright.

The actress - who celebrated her 75th birthday on the final day of filming for the next Wine series - is a superb professional.

She worked tirelessly under the lights at Shepperton Studios and on location in the Holme Valley but still finds time to chat to the fans who stop to talk.

"People do still want to talk about Hilda but many now recognise me as Auntie Wainwright and I certainly love the character. Summer Wine is a great show, with quiet humour that is not over the top, and Roy Clarke's scripts are a joy to learn.

"There is nothing nasty in Summer Wine, no bad language, no car chases, just quality writing and good acting. It is an endless story about silly old people who have silly ideas which usually go wrong, and I'm glad to be in it.

"The women in the series are real, powerful figures, far more so than the men. They try to put right the men and the world and it is a good mix.

"Actors like Peter Sallis, Frank Thornton and Keith Clifford do have to work exceptionally hard but they are very good. We tend not to get the chance to chat on set as we are all so busy, but when we are on location we all stay at The Huddersfield Hotel and we do have a natter on an evening.

"Summer Wine appeals to my sense of humour. I like anything by Roy Clarke, shows like Keeping Up Appearances and Open All Hours, and the people who appear in them because they are such good actors.

"It is a treat to work with Roy and with the likes of Hywel Bennett, who features in the new series.

"I have also done another series of Barbara, with Gwen Taylor and Sam Kelly, and I enjoyed that.

"I don't do theatre any more; I have lost my bottle. I spent 12 years in rep, including several years in Yorkshire, often with a different play to learn every week, before I got into television.

"It was good experience but not a lot of fun - unlike Summer Wine!"

* Tomorrow - Story of Pearl and Howard