Interview with Melvyn Hayes (2019)
Melvyn was born in Wandsworth in London in 1935. He is probably best known for playing the effeminate Gunner (later Bombardier) "Gloria" Beaumont in the 1970's BBC sitcom 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum' & the Cliff Richard musical films 'The Young Ones' & 'Summer Holiday'.
He also appeared in Hammer Horror's 'The Curse of Frankenstein' in 1957 as the young 'Victor Frankenstein'. For many years he has also played dames in British Christmas Pantomimes – his most recent roles being 'Nanny Nellie' in 'Sleeping Beauty' in Worthing, (2006) & 'Widow Twankey' in 'Aladdin' in Chatham (2005). In recent years he has had cameo appearances in 'Benidorm' as 'Mr Pink'.
Like many of his 'Carry On' co-stars he has also performed voices on children's cartoons such as 'SuperTed', 'The Dreamstone', 'Little Dracula' and 'Budgie the Little Helicopter'.
It was a joy to speak with him in May 2019 about his career, including the personal favorites of mine, 'SuperTed', 'The Curse of Frankenstein' & of course his 'Carry On' contribution...
CP: I wanted to ask you about ‘Carry On England’, the only ‘Carry On’ film that you did?
MH: It was the worst one made! It was a dreadful film. I also took part in one of the TV specials too but can’t remember what it was!
CP: That would have been ‘Carry On Laughing’s – The Case of the Screaming Winkles’?
MH: Yes! That was it! I played a Scotsman, although I have no recollections of making it. I actually only did ‘England’ because I wanted to say that I had done a ‘Carry On’. I wasn’t invited back to do any of the others.
CP: Well, there were only two (to date) after that as the series was grinding to a halt by then. I agree that ‘England’ was one of the weakest of the series, why do you think that was as it still had some great actors in it?
MH: You just couldn’t replace the original crew. Joan Sims was wonderful, I remember that I bought her the book ‘The Prophet’ whilst making that film (The Prophet is a book of 26 prose poetry fables written in English by the Lebanese-American poet and writer Kahlil Gibran). Of course, Peter Rogers always used to say “I will give them (the actors) anything but money”. It was really Sid and Kenny who got the best money from the films, about £5000 I understand.
CP: Were you asked to take part in ‘Carry On Columbus when they tried to revive the series in 1992?
MH: No, I wasn’t. I remember at the time they (Peter Rogers & Gerald Thomas) said that their first choice would be the original team, their second choice would be ‘known faces’ and their third choice would be anyone who would do it! I understand that Jack Douglas actually did that film for free.
CP: What are you up to at present?
MH: I have just taken part in a celebrity ‘Pointless’. It was comprised of teams of ‘sitcom characters. I’m alongside Stuart McGugan who played the Scotsman in ‘It Ain’t Half Hot Mum’.
CP: Brilliant! You were of course also in ‘Benidorm’ as ‘Mr Pink’ not too long ago? I loved the cameo & character!
MH: Oh, it was wonderful doing it (laughs). Steve Pemberton is such a wonderful actor, very down to earth, smashing.
CP: I was so very sorry to hear of the passing of dear Windsor Davies earlier this year.
MH: Do you know, I gave an interview to every newspaper when he died. The BBC should have shown an episode of ‘It Ain’t Half Hot Mum’ but they didn’t! I just don’t understand it! I remember Ben Elton once asked the Head of Light Entertainment at the BBC whey they didn’t repeat ‘It Ain’t Half Hot Mum’ and do you know his response was that he “wasn’t familiar with it”!
CP: Being a big horror fan you also starred in ‘The Curse of Frankenstein’ in 1957. What was that like to work with the great Christopher Lee?
MH: It really is quite funny. Do you know how he (Lee) ended up being cast in that part? I will tell you; the film company literally sent a memo out to agents saying that they were ‘looking for a monster’ for an upcoming film. It said that it didn’t have to be an actor but that the person must ‘be big’. There were two people that it eventually came down to; Bernard Bresslaw & Christopher Lee.
CP: Seriously? I never knew that?!
MH: Yep. The deal breaker was simply that Bernie’s agent asked for £10.00 per day, or something like that, and Lee’s agent asked for £8.00 per day! That is how he got the part, he came in slightly cheaper!
CP: I am literally astonished at that. I never knew that, how remarkable!
MH: Isn’t it. Years later I was at some event at Pinewood and Christopher Lee was there. Of course, by now he was flanked by an entourage. I thought I must try and speak with him to see if he remembered me. So, I went up to him and said ‘You don’t know me but I made you’. He (Lee) looked at me and said, with that booming voice, “What are you on about?!”. Of course, I tried to explain but ended up skulking away really embarrassed! I did see him again years later and managed to speak with him again and explain myself!
CP: That is an incredible story. What a great anecdote! Now, I also have to mention ‘SuperTed’. I grew up on those brilliant shows and of course fondly remember you as ‘Skeleton’.
MH: Did you know that it was due to be revived in 2016?
CP: No!
MH: Yes. They planned another 26 episodes at 30 minutes long each. I was one of only two of the original voice actors still around to reprise the role. The other being Derek Griffiths who voices ‘SuperTed’. The idea was kicked around for a while and it looked like it was going to happen but then it was shelved.
CP: What did you base the voice of ‘Skeleton’ on?
MH: The character and the voice was based on ‘Gunner Gloria Beaumont’ from ‘It Ain’t Half Hot Mum’. We used to record it on a Sunday with Jon Pertwee. It was a really quick turnaround as we would do one episode have lunch then move onto the next one!
Above: Melvyn as 'Gunner "Gloria" Beaumont' in 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum' with the late Windsor Davies.
CP: You were not new to Children’s TV though?
MH: No, I wrote the title song to ‘Here Come the Double Deckers’. I also wrote a lot of the scripts as well as being the Script Director and playing ‘Albert the Dustman’. Peter Firth went onto become a big star.
CP: We touched on Windsor earlier, what was he like to work with?
MH: He was so ‘unshowbizzy’. To him it was just a job. He had lived in France for the last 13 years and so I didn’t see him as much as I used to. I always remember one year we did panto together up in Scotland. We agreed that we would travel together and that I would drive and he would navigate. As we set off, he said to me ‘Do you mind if we take the B roads?’, I said ‘why?! That will take forever!’, he replied ‘Because I am a bird watcher’. Birds of the feathered variety of course. So wet set off, taking the B roads, and he then decided as we were in the middle of nowhere that he needed a bank. I said ‘What for?’ and he said ‘I haven’t got any cash on me and need to cash a cheque’. So, we looked around for a bank and came across a little village with a garage and shop. We stopped for a break and as we entered the shop this chap running the place instantly recognised both of us and started making a fuss, not believing that Windsor Davies and Melvyn Hayes from ‘It Ain’t Half Hot Mum’ had walked into his store. He was a big fan he explained and proceeded to lock the front door and put the kettle on and get the cakes out. We were locked in! Anyway, after some time we explained that we really had to get going and so signed him some autographs and went to leave. Windsor then remembered he needed some cash so asked this chap if he could cash a cheque. The guy replied ‘oh yes, not a problem at all but I will need to ask you for some ID’. (Laughs) We had spent all this time with this chap chatting and he then asked Windsor for ID!
Above: Melvyn as 'Mr Pink' in the ITV comedy series 'Benidorm'.
CP: A great story! Do you keep in touch with any other of your co-stars from over the years?
MH: I am close to Anna Karen and we have kept in touch for many years. She has kept me updated on dear Barbara (Windsor) and her illness. CP: Yes, it is. She isn’t a well lady these days and it is hard to imagine what Barbara and her family are going through.
MH: It is so very sad.
MH: Where are you based again?
CP: Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
MH: I did my first week in rep in Chesterfield! I would have been…17 I think. I looked about 12 though!
CP: What a coincidence!
MH: Yes, It was ‘The Winslow Boy’ at the Civic Theatre alongside William Lucas who was the leading man. He went onto become the doctor in ‘The Adventures of Black Beauty’.
My sincere thanks to Melvyn Hayes for taking the time to chat with me about his long career & for sharing so many of his memories.
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