Annette Andre

I've been a fan for years of the spooky 60s detective show Randall and Hopkirk: Deceased, in which Annette Andre played the snappily dressed widow Jeannie Hopkirk, so I couldn't resist reading Annette's memoirs.

She's lead a charmed life, no doubt, escaping suburbia and failed dreams of ballet in Australia to hit London in the Swinging Sixties and become a popular if bit part actress, but I think this book might be a bit of a niche market. Some great anecdotes - farting on stage after a dinner of roast parsnips, being hit in the face by her drunk co-star, demanding that a ghost leave her house, picking up an interest in Buddhism from Prince Charles - but who outside of devoted R+H fans know who she is? (Despite her own elevated opinion of 'her talent', which had both Benny Hill and Aaron Spelling falling in love with her!) As with William Daniels, though, that didn't deter me. Love the memories of her time with Mike Pratt and Kenneth Cope on my favourite show, and especially her dislike of the 90s remake with Vic and Bob: 'How sad I find it that so much time, effort and money is wasted remaking something that was obviously successful and not in need of cloning'. Amen!

Recommended for fans of Randall and Hopkirk, plus readers with an interest in 60s London - Annette was definitely in the right place at the right time!… (más)