Queenie's Castle
Encyclopedia
Queenie's Castle is a British sitcom set in early 1970s Leeds
, West Yorkshire that aired on ITV
from 1970 to 1972. The series featured popular British actress Diana Dors
.
as the eponymous Queenie Shepherd, the programme revolved around the lives and, often illegal, activities of the residents of a tower block
in early 1970s Leeds, West Yorkshire. Queenie's husband Lionel never appears, leaving the neighbours and viewers alike to assume he is in prison. Various excuses are made, such as "He's working on the motorway in Carlisle", but these change throughout the series.
The family's archenemy
, Mrs. Petty, lives on a ground floor flat and runs a pâtisserie
in a row of shops at the bottom of the flats. Mrs. Petty's main friend is Mrs. Blakey who also dislikes the Shepherds. Although Mrs. Petty is seen to live in a ground floor flat — and this is made perfectly obvious throughout the series — on more than one occasion she claims to live next door to the Shepherds, who quite clearly live several floors up.
, the scripts were written by Keith Waterhouse
(author of Billy Liar
) and Willis Hall
. The last 4 episodes of series one were recorded in black and white due to the ITV colour strike.
Although the location was unspecified on screen, parts of the series were filmed in Quarry Hill
, Leeds
- the council flats where it was filmed have since been demolished. The council flats used, were notable because they were the first council flats of their kind, built in art deco
style in the 1930s. For a photograph of the flats see the Leodis database http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?resourceIdentifier=9149http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?resourceIdentifier=6652 and their demolition shortly after the series http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?resourceIdentifier=2007824_164557
has released a 3-disc box set of the complete series in August 2009.
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, West Yorkshire that aired on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
from 1970 to 1972. The series featured popular British actress Diana Dors
Diana Dors
Diana Dors was an English actress, born Diana Mary Fluck in Swindon, Wiltshire. Considered the English equivalent of the blonde bombshells of Hollywood, Dors described herself as: "The only sex symbol Britain has produced since Lady Godiva."-Early life:Diana Mary Fluck was born in Swindon,...
.
Plot
Starring Diana DorsDiana Dors
Diana Dors was an English actress, born Diana Mary Fluck in Swindon, Wiltshire. Considered the English equivalent of the blonde bombshells of Hollywood, Dors described herself as: "The only sex symbol Britain has produced since Lady Godiva."-Early life:Diana Mary Fluck was born in Swindon,...
as the eponymous Queenie Shepherd, the programme revolved around the lives and, often illegal, activities of the residents of a tower block
Tower block
A tower block, high-rise, apartment tower, office tower, apartment block, or block of flats, is a tall building or structure used as a residential and/or office building...
in early 1970s Leeds, West Yorkshire. Queenie's husband Lionel never appears, leaving the neighbours and viewers alike to assume he is in prison. Various excuses are made, such as "He's working on the motorway in Carlisle", but these change throughout the series.
The family's archenemy
Archenemy
An archenemy, archfoe, archvillain or archnemesis is the principal enemy of a character in a work of fiction, often described as the hero's worst enemy .- Etymology :The word archenemy or arch-enemy originated...
, Mrs. Petty, lives on a ground floor flat and runs a pâtisserie
Pâtisserie
A pâtisserie is the type of French or Belgian bakery that specializes in pastries and sweets. In both countries it is a legally controlled title that may only be used by bakeries that employ a licensed maître pâtissier ....
in a row of shops at the bottom of the flats. Mrs. Petty's main friend is Mrs. Blakey who also dislikes the Shepherds. Although Mrs. Petty is seen to live in a ground floor flat — and this is made perfectly obvious throughout the series — on more than one occasion she claims to live next door to the Shepherds, who quite clearly live several floors up.
Production
Produced by Yorkshire TelevisionYorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television, now officially known as ITV Yorkshire and sometimes unofficially abbreviated to YTV, is a British television broadcaster and the contractor for the Yorkshire franchise area on the ITV network...
, the scripts were written by Keith Waterhouse
Keith Waterhouse
Keith Spencer Waterhouse CBE was a novelist, newspaper columnist, and the writer of many television series.-Biography:Keith Waterhouse was born in Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
(author of Billy Liar
Billy Liar
Billy Liar is a 1959 novel by Keith Waterhouse, which was later adapted into a play, a film, a musical and a TV series. The work has inspired and featured in a number of popular songs....
) and Willis Hall
Willis Hall
Willis Hall was an English playwright and radio and television writer who drew on his working class roots in Leeds for much of his writings....
. The last 4 episodes of series one were recorded in black and white due to the ITV colour strike.
Although the location was unspecified on screen, parts of the series were filmed in Quarry Hill
Quarry Hill, Leeds
Quarry Hill is an area of central Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is surrounded by the Leeds Inner Ring Road to the east and north. The Leeds - York / Hull railway runs just south of the district into the city centre...
, Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
- the council flats where it was filmed have since been demolished. The council flats used, were notable because they were the first council flats of their kind, built in art deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
style in the 1930s. For a photograph of the flats see the Leodis database http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?resourceIdentifier=9149http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?resourceIdentifier=6652 and their demolition shortly after the series http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?resourceIdentifier=2007824_164557
Cast
- Diana DorsDiana DorsDiana Dors was an English actress, born Diana Mary Fluck in Swindon, Wiltshire. Considered the English equivalent of the blonde bombshells of Hollywood, Dors described herself as: "The only sex symbol Britain has produced since Lady Godiva."-Early life:Diana Mary Fluck was born in Swindon,...
- Queenie Shepherd - Freddie Fletcher - Raymond Shepherd
- Brian Marshall- Bunny Shepherd
- Barrie RutterBarrie RutterBarrie Rutter is an English actor and the founder and Artistic Director of the Northern Broadsides theatre company based in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England....
- Douglas Shepherd - Tony CaunterTony CaunterAnthony Peter "Tony" Caunter is a British actor best known for his role as Jack Shepherd in the Yorkshire TV sitcom Queenie's Castle and also his portrayal of Roy Evans in EastEnders from 1994-2003....
- Jack - Lynne PerrieLynne PerrieLynne Perrie was an English actress. She was born Jean Dudley in Rotherham, Yorkshire, and was the sister of comedian Duggie Brown. She was best known for her roles as Mrs. Casper in Ken Loach's 1969 film Kes, and as Ivy Tilsley in Coronation Street from 1971-1994.-Career:After Rotherham Grammar...
- Mrs. Petty - Kathy StaffKathy StaffKathy Staff was an English actress, well known for her work on British television...
- Mrs. Blakey - Bryan MosleyBryan MosleyBryan Mosley OBE was a British actor, known best as grocer Alf Roberts in the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street.- Early life :...
- Pub landlord
DVD releases
All three series of Queenie's Castle were released (separately) by Simply Media in May 2009. Network DVDNetwork DVD
Network DVD is a DVD publishing company that specialises in classic British television. In particular, it has the rights to a number of well-known ITV programmes...
has released a 3-disc box set of the complete series in August 2009.
| DVD | Year(s) | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| The Complete Series 1 | 1970 | 18 May 2009 |
| The Complete Series 2 | 1971 | 18 May 2009 |
| The Complete Series 3 | 1972 | 18 May 2009 |
| The Complete Series 1 to 3 Box Set | 1970- 1972 |
10 Aug 2009 |