Liza Goddard
Encyclopedia
Liza Goddard is an English television and stage actress best known for her work in the 1970s and 1980s.
, West Midlands
, England
. She is the daughter of the British producer David Goddard and attended Farnham Girls' Grammar School
, before he moved the family to Australia
when she was 15 upon his appointment as Head of Drama at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
.
, including episode 100 of Homicide
("The Traveller", 1966), and the ABC drama play "Romanoff & Juliet" (1967), and a brief (non-speaking, non-credited) appearance in the feature film They're A Weird Mob (1966). However, she is best remembered in Australia for her role as Clarissa "Clancy" Merrick in Skippy the Bush Kangaroo
. After returning to the UK in 1969 as an adult, she appeared as Victoria in Take Three Girls
(1969), and then its sequel Take Three Women (1982). She also had a supporting role in the 1972 movie Ooh… You Are Awful
. Her career breakthrough was as April in The Brothers (1972–76), which also featured her first husband, Colin Baker
. She appeared as Jocelyn in National Pelmet, the Series 2 opener of critically acclaimed drama Minder
.
A comedy role alongside Christopher Biggins
in an unsuccessful BBC1 sitcom Watch This Space (1980), by Ronald Chesney
and Ronald Wolfe
followed, as did Pig in the Middle (1980-83) with Joanna Van Gyseghem
. Goddard was one of the 'explorers' who were evaporated in a (now missing) episode of the BBC science fiction quiz programme The Adventure Game
(1980), played a space pirate in the Doctor Who
story Terminus
(1983), and appeared in Roll Over Beethoven (1985). Goddard appeared in Woof!
, a Children's ITV
programme first aired in 1989. This long-running series told the adventures of a schoolboy who turned into a dog at any given time; his efforts to conceal his secret from his parents were aided by his teacher Mrs Jessop, played by Goddard. Her third husband, producer and director David Cobham
, created this series. She had earlier appeared in the TV adaptation of Brendon Chase
, also produced and directed by Cobham.
For many years, she was also the female team leader on long-running quiz/panel show Give Us A Clue
, replacing Una Stubbs
in the role.
She appeared as Laurel Manasotti, who had an affair with Jimmy Mulville
's character Donald, in the ITV sitcom That's Love
.
She later had a recurring role as Philippa Vale in Bergerac
and alongside Dawn French and Catherine Tate
in Wild West
(2002). In 2007 she appeared in the Midsomer Murders
episode "A Picture of Innocence", reuniting her with Bergerac star John Nettles
.
She was the president of the Hawk and Owl Trust from 2001 to 2010, and her husband David Cobham
was vice-president.
Early life
Goddard was born in SmethwickSmethwick
Smethwick is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands of England. It is situated on the edge of the city of Birmingham, within the historic boundaries of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire....
, West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. She is the daughter of the British producer David Goddard and attended Farnham Girls' Grammar School
South Farnham School
South Farnham School is a coeducational junior school for ages 7-11 in Menin Way, Farnham, Surrey, England.-History:It was originally built in 1938 as the Farnham Girls' Grammar School, which was opened by Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester in 1939 and closed in 1973.-Clubs:Many activities and...
, before he moved the family to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
when she was 15 upon his appointment as Head of Drama at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
.
Career
Goddard made early television appearances in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, including episode 100 of Homicide
Homicide
Homicide refers to the act of a human killing another human. Murder, for example, is a type of homicide. It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English...
("The Traveller", 1966), and the ABC drama play "Romanoff & Juliet" (1967), and a brief (non-speaking, non-credited) appearance in the feature film They're A Weird Mob (1966). However, she is best remembered in Australia for her role as Clarissa "Clancy" Merrick in Skippy the Bush Kangaroo
Skippy the Bush Kangaroo
Skippy the Bush Kangaroo is an Australian television series for children created by John McCallum, produced from 1966–1968, telling the adventures of a young boy and his intelligent pet kangaroo, in the Waratah National Park in Duffys Forest, near Sydney, New South Wales.Ninety-one 30-minute...
. After returning to the UK in 1969 as an adult, she appeared as Victoria in Take Three Girls
Take Three Girls
Take Three Girls is a drama series on BBC1 which ran between 1969 and 1971 about the lives of three girls sharing a flat in 'Swinging' London....
(1969), and then its sequel Take Three Women (1982). She also had a supporting role in the 1972 movie Ooh… You Are Awful
Ooh… You Are Awful
Ooh... You Are Awful is a 1972 British comedy film starring Dick Emery and directed by Cliff Owen.Before his death, Reggie Campbell Peek deposited a stolen £500,000 into a Swiss bank account...
. Her career breakthrough was as April in The Brothers (1972–76), which also featured her first husband, Colin Baker
Colin Baker
Colin Baker is a British actor who is known for playing Paul Merroney in The Brothers from 1974 to 1976 and as the sixth incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who, from 1984 to 1986.- Background:Colin Baker was born in London, but moved north to...
. She appeared as Jocelyn in National Pelmet, the Series 2 opener of critically acclaimed drama Minder
Minder (TV series)
Minder is a British comedy-drama about the London criminal underworld. Initially produced by Verity Lambert, it was made by Euston Films, a subsidiary of Thames Television and shown on ITV...
.
A comedy role alongside Christopher Biggins
Christopher Biggins
Christopher Kenneth Biggins is an English actor and media personality.-Career:Biggins was born in Oldham, Lancashire, England and brought up in Salisbury, Wiltshire, where he took elocution lessons and participated in local drama groups...
in an unsuccessful BBC1 sitcom Watch This Space (1980), by Ronald Chesney
Chesney and Wolfe
Ronald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe are British TV comedy screenwriters, best known for their popular 1960s / 1970s sitcoms The Rag Trade and On The Buses.-Early years:...
and Ronald Wolfe
Chesney and Wolfe
Ronald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe are British TV comedy screenwriters, best known for their popular 1960s / 1970s sitcoms The Rag Trade and On The Buses.-Early years:...
followed, as did Pig in the Middle (1980-83) with Joanna Van Gyseghem
Joanna Van Gyseghem
Joanna Van Gyseghem is an English actress, educated at Malvern Girls' College and Trinity College, Dublin....
. Goddard was one of the 'explorers' who were evaporated in a (now missing) episode of the BBC science fiction quiz programme The Adventure Game
The Adventure Game
The Adventure Game was a game show, aimed at children but with an adult following, which was originally broadcast on UK television channels BBC1 and BBC2 between 24 May 1980 and 18 February 1986. The story in each show was that the two celebrity contestants and a member of the public had travelled...
(1980), played a space pirate in the Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
story Terminus
Terminus (Doctor Who)
Terminus is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was originally broadcast in four twice-weekly parts from 15 to 23 February 1983...
(1983), and appeared in Roll Over Beethoven (1985). Goddard appeared in Woof!
Woof!
Woof! is a Children's ITV television series produced by Central Independent Television about the adventures of a boy who turns into a dog. It was based on the book by Allan Ahlberg. It was directed by David Cobham. It was written by Richard Fegen and Andrew Norriss.-History:The show was first...
, a Children's ITV
CITV
CITV is a British television channel from ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It broadcasts content from the CITV archive, as well as commissions and acquisitions. CITV itself is the programming block on the main ITV Network .The CITV channel broadcasts from 06:00 to 18:00...
programme first aired in 1989. This long-running series told the adventures of a schoolboy who turned into a dog at any given time; his efforts to conceal his secret from his parents were aided by his teacher Mrs Jessop, played by Goddard. Her third husband, producer and director David Cobham
David Cobham
David Cobham is a UK Film and TV producer and director, notable for the film Tarka the Otter. He also directed children's TV series Bernard's Watch, Brendon Chase, Out of Sight and Woof...
, created this series. She had earlier appeared in the TV adaptation of Brendon Chase
Brendon Chase
Brendon Chase is a children's novel by Denys Watkins-Pitchford, writing as "BB". It was published in 1944, but is set at an earlier, unspecified date...
, also produced and directed by Cobham.
For many years, she was also the female team leader on long-running quiz/panel show Give Us A Clue
Give Us A Clue
Give Us a Clue is a British televised game show version of charades which was broadcast on ITV from 1979 to 1992. The original host was Michael Aspel from 1979 to 1983, followed by Michael Parkinson from 1984 to 1992. The show featured two teams, one captained by Lionel Blair and the other by Una...
, replacing Una Stubbs
Una Stubbs
Una Stubbs is an English actress and former dancer who has appeared extensively on British television and in the theatre, and less frequently in films. She is particularly known for her roles in the sitcom Till Death Us Do Part and Aunt Sally in the children's series Worzel Gummidge.-Film and...
in the role.
She appeared as Laurel Manasotti, who had an affair with Jimmy Mulville
Jimmy Mulville
James Thomas "Jimmy" Mulville is an English comedian, comedy writer, producer and television presenter. Jimmy Mulville is best known for co-founding in 1986 the British independent television production company Hat Trick Productions with Denise O'Donoghue and Rory McGrath...
's character Donald, in the ITV sitcom That's Love
That's Love
That's Love is a British television sitcom about the domestic problems of a young married couple, lawyer Donald and designer Patsy .-Plot:...
.
She later had a recurring role as Philippa Vale in Bergerac
Bergerac (TV series)
Bergerac was a British television show set on Jersey. Produced by the BBC in association with the Seven Network, and screened on BBC1, it starred John Nettles as the title character Detective Sergeant Jim Bergerac, a detective in "Le Bureau des Étrangers" Bergerac was a British television show...
and alongside Dawn French and Catherine Tate
Catherine Tate
Catherine Tate is an English actress, writer, and comedian. She has won numerous awards for her work on the sketch comedy series The Catherine Tate Show as well as being nominated for an International Emmy Award and four BAFTA Awards...
in Wild West
Wild West (TV series)
Wild West is a situation comedy screened from October 2002 until 2004 starring Dawn French and Catherine Tate. It was described as a dark comedy from the pen of Simon Nye and was filmed on location in Cornwall. Set in the hamlet of St Gweep, Wild West observes the strange goings-on in the local...
(2002). In 2007 she appeared in the Midsomer Murders
Midsomer Murders
Midsomer Murders is a British television detective drama that has aired on ITV since 1997. The show is based on the books by Caroline Graham, as originally adapted by Anthony Horowitz. The lead character is DCI Tom Barnaby who works for Causton CID. When Nettles left the show in 2011 he was...
episode "A Picture of Innocence", reuniting her with Bergerac star John Nettles
John Nettles
John Vivian Drummond Nettles, OBE is an English actor, historian and writer who is best known for playing the lead roles in Bergerac and Midsomer Murders.-Early life:...
.
She was the president of the Hawk and Owl Trust from 2001 to 2010, and her husband David Cobham
David Cobham
David Cobham is a UK Film and TV producer and director, notable for the film Tarka the Otter. He also directed children's TV series Bernard's Watch, Brendon Chase, Out of Sight and Woof...
was vice-president.
Personal life
- Goddard was first married to former Doctor WhoDoctor WhoDoctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
actor Colin BakerColin BakerColin Baker is a British actor who is known for playing Paul Merroney in The Brothers from 1974 to 1976 and as the sixth incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who, from 1984 to 1986.- Background:Colin Baker was born in London, but moved north to...
(who played the Sixth DoctorSixth DoctorThe Sixth Doctor is the sixth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by Colin Baker...
), and then to 1970s pop star Alvin StardustAlvin StardustAlvin Stardust is an English pop singer and stage actor.-Career:...
; she is now married to producer and director David CobhamDavid CobhamDavid Cobham is a UK Film and TV producer and director, notable for the film Tarka the Otter. He also directed children's TV series Bernard's Watch, Brendon Chase, Out of Sight and Woof...
. - Goddard lives near DerehamDerehamDereham, also known as East Dereham, is a town and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is situated on the A47 road, some 15 miles west of the city of Norwich and 25 miles east of King's Lynn. The civil parish has an area of and in the 2001 census had a population of...
in NorfolkNorfolkNorfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, with her husband and a home full of rescued animals. Goddard also works with the RSPCA amongst other charities. - She suffered and recovered from breast cancerBreast cancerBreast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
in 1997. - Her first child, Thom Goddard, is a film and television producer. He owns All Star Media International and All Star Films and lives in London.
- Her second child, Sophie Jewry, runs a graphic design and printing business and lives in Norfolk.