History Sandbox / NJC2005

''What a Whopper'' is a 1961 film starring Adam Faith, Creator/SidJames, Carole Lesley, Creator/TerenceLongdon, Creator/CliveDunn, Freddie Frinton, and Marie France.

[[quoteright:207:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/noelpurcell.jpg]]

Noel Purcell, born Patrick Joseph Noel Purcell, (23 December 1900 -- 3 March 1985), was an Irish character actor.

He started in show business at the age of twelve at the Gaiety Theatre and went on to tour Ireland with Jimmy O'Dea, doing a vaudeville act.

After stage training, Purcell began appearing in many British films, some of which include ''Film/TheBlueLagoon1949'', ''Film/MobyDick'', four films of the ''Film/DoctorSeries'', ''Film/TheRisingOfTheMoon'', ''Film/WatchYourStern'', ''Film/NoKidding'', ''Double Bunk'', ''The Iron Maiden'', and ''Nurse on Wheels''. In 1959, he narrated the documentary, ''Seven Wonders of Ireland''.

Just after UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, he recorded the song "The Dublin Saunter", which was written by his friend Leo Maguire. The recording wasn't a hit at first, but over the years it became a classic and would be frequently played on the radio. Purcell never received any royalties as he never signed any contracts as he only did it as a favour for his pal.

He died at the age of 84.

!!Works on TV Tropes he appeared in:

* ''Film/KnightWithoutArmour'' (1937) -- Train Driver (UncreditedRole)
* ''Film/OddManOut'' (1947) -- Tram Conductor (UncreditedRole)
* ''{{Film/The Blue Lagoon|1949}}'' (1949) -- Paddy Button
* ''Film/AppointmentWithVenus'' (1951) -- Trawley Langley
* ''Film/TheCrimsonPirate'' (1952) -- Pablo Murphy
* ''{{Film/Doctor in the House|1954}}'' (1954) -- Padre (UncreditedRole)
* ''Film/DoctorAtSea'' (1955) -- Corble
* ''Film/MobyDick'' (1956) -- Ship's Carpenter
* ''Film/DoctorAtLarge'' (1957) -- Padre
* ''Film/TheRisingOfTheMoon'' (1957) -- Dan O'Flaherty
* ''Film/WatchYourStern'' (1960) -- Admiral Sir Humphrey Pettigrew
* ''Film/NoKidding'' (1960) -- Mr. Tandy
* ''Film/MutinyOnTheBounty'' (1962) -- Seaman William [=McCoy=]
* ''Film/LordJim'' (1965) -- Captain Chester
* ''Film/DoctorInClover'' (1966) -- O'Malley
* ''Film/TheMcKenzieBreak'' (1970) -- Ferry Captain (UncreditedRole)

* ''Series/TheSaint'', 2 episodes:
** "The Wonderful War" (1964) -- Mike Kelly
** "Little Girl Lost" (1966) -- Brendan Cullin
* ''{{Series/The Avengers|1960s}}'', episode "A Surfeit of H₂O" (1965) -- Jonah Barnard
* ''Series/ISpy'', episode "Now You See Her, Now You Don't" (1967) -- Fletcher
* ''Series/DixonOfDockGreen'', episode "The One That Got Away" (1969) -- Thomas
* ''Series/TheOnedinLine'', episode "Survivor" (1972) -- Hennessy
* ''Series/TheIrishRM'', episode "Oweneen the Sprat" (1984) -- O'Reilly

After stage training, Purcell began appearing in many British films, some of which include ''Film/TheBlueLagoon1949'', ''Film/MobyDick'', four films of the ''Film/DoctorSeries'', ''Film/TheRisingOfTheMoon'', ''Double Bunk'', ''The Iron Maiden'', and ''Nurse on Wheels''. In 1959, he narrated the documentary, ''Seven Wonders of Ireland''.

* ''Film/KnightWithoutArmour'' (1937) --
* ''Film/OddManOut'' (1947) --
* ''{{Film/The Blue Lagoon|1949}}'' (1949) --
* ''Film/AppointmentWithVenus'' (1951) --
* ''Film/TheCrimsonPirate'' (1952) --

* ''Film/MobyDick'' (1956) --

* ''Film/TheRisingOfTheMoon'' (1957) --

* ''Film/MutinyOnTheBounty'' (1962) --
* ''Film/LordJim'' (1965) --

* ''Film/TheMcKenzieBreak'' (1970) --

* ''Series/TheSaint'',
* ''{{Series/The Avengers|1960s}}'',
* ''Series/ISpy'',
* ''Series/DixonOfDockGreen'',
* ''Series/TheOnedinLine'',
* ''Series/TheIrishRM'',

Noel Purcell, ( ), was an Irish character actor.



He died at the age of .

[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/johnnybriggs.jpeg]]

Johnny Briggs, [[UsefulNotes/KnightFever MBE]], born John Ernest Briggs, (5 September 1935 -- 28 February 2021), was a British actor best known for playing Mike Baldwin in ''Series/CoronationStreet''.

At the age of twelve, he was awarded a scholarship to the Italia Conti Academy. He started acting in films that same year, albeit only in {{Uncredited Role}}s. Briggs' acting career was interrupted by his time doing national service when he two years with the Royal Tank Regiment.

Briggs was back to acting in 1955, still playing bit roles in films, as well as working in theatre and appearing in televised plays in seven episodes of ''The Younger Generation''. Briggs' time as a small-part actor came to an end in 1976, when he was cast in ''Coronation Street'' as Cockney wide boy Frank Baldwin, who was written into the series after thanks to ExecutiveMeddling from Creator/ThamesTelevision to introduce a character from the South of England to bring up the ratings in those regions.

Mike Baldwin was popular with viewers and had storylines including an affair with Deirdre Barlow, a longstanding feud with her husband Ken, a marriage to Alma Halliwell, and being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Mike was KilledOffForReal in early 2006, collapsing in the street and dying in the arms of Ken Barlow.

Despite claims that he would retire from acting after leaving ''Corrie'', Briggs continued to regularly act until 2009. His final acting role came in 2012, [[RoleReprise playing Mike Baldwin's ghost]] in a special charity sketch.

He died after a long illness at the age of 85.

* ''Film/OliverTwist'' (1948) -- Teenager (UncreditedRole)
* ''Film/TheLavenderHillMob'' (1951) -- Teenager (UncreditedRole)
* ''Film/SinkTheBismarck'' (1960) -- Young Seaman on ''Prince of Wales'' (UncreditedRole)
* ''Film/HMSDefiant'' (1962) -- Wheatley
* ''{{Film/Doctor in Distress|1963}}'' (1963) -- Medical Student (UncreditedRole)
* ''Film/SixThreeThreeSquadron'' (1964) -- Flight Lieutenant Jones
* ''Film/CarryOnUpTheKhyber'' (1968) -- Sporran Soldier (UncreditedRole)
* ''Film/CarryOnBehind'' (1975) -- Plasterer (UncreditedRole)
* ''Film/CarryOnEngland'' (1976) -- Captain Melly's Driver

* ''Series/TheSaint'', episode "Marcia" (1963) -- Johnny Desmond
* ''Series/DepartmentS'', episode "The Perfect Operation" (1969) -- Reporter
* ''Series/ThePersuaders'', episode "Someone Like Me" (1971) -- Charlie
* ''Series/OnTheBuses'', episode "Love Is What You Make It" (1972) -- Window Cleaner
* ''Series/TheBrothers'', episode "A Worm in the Bud" (1972) -- Minicab Driver
* ''Series/{{Crossroads}}'', 8 episodes (1972-74) -- Clifford Leyton
* ''Series/CoronationStreet'', 2,264 episodes:
** 1 episode (1974) -- Frank
** 2,263 episodes (1976-2006) -- Mike Baldwin
* ''Series/ZCars'', 2 episodes:
** "A New Broom" (1975) -- John O'Malley
** "Domestic" (1977) -- Bryant
* ''[[Series/DoctorInTheHouse Doctor on the Go]]'', episode "What's Op Doc?" (1975) -- Mr. Halsey
* ''Series/CarryOnLaughing'', episode "The Case of the Coughing Parrot" (1975) -- Norman
* ''Series/{{Marple}}'', episode "Nemesis" (2007) -- Sydney Lumley
* ''Series/HolbyCity'', 2 episodes[[labelnote:show list]]"Can't Buy Me Love", "The Borders of Sleep"[[/labelnote]] (2007) -- Tom Gibson
* ''Series/{{Doctors}}'', episode "Robbed" (2009) -- John Cotham

Mike Baldwin was popular with viewers and had storylines including an affair with Deirdre Barlow, a longstanding feud with her husband Ken, a marriage to Alma Halliwell, and being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. By 2005, Briggs couldn't keep up with the series' filming schedule anymore and made his final appearance in early 2006, [[ActorLeavesCharacterDies collapsing in the street and dying in the arms of Ken Barlow]].

At the age of twelve, he was awarded a scholarship to the Italia Conti Academy. He started acting in films that same year, albeit only in {{Uncredited Role|s}}. Briggs' acting career was interrupted by his time doing national service when he two years with the Royal Tank Regiment.

Briggs was back to acting in 1955, still playing bit roles in films, as well as working in theatre and appearing in televised plays in seven episodes of ''The Younger Generation''.