Sandra Michaels
Encyclopedia
English actress, Sandra Michaels, was born in 1944. Her first television role was in March 1957, playing Phyllis in the second BBC
adaptation of The Railway Children
. Later that year she appeared as Pamela Gwendolyn Stuart in The Adventures of Clint and Mac
, a British-made serial commissioned by Walt Disney Studios
for The Mickey Mouse Club. Also in 1957 she played Caroline, a modern teenager who got up to mischief in the ITV
sitcom, The Thompsons.
She appeared in a variety of programmes, ranging from the 1959 adaptation of Great Expectations
and Dixon of Dock Green
(also 1959), to The Ronnie Barker Playhouse
(1968) and Gaslight Theatre (1968).
Stage work varied from plays to pantomimes and light musicals; she appeared in Little Old King Cole with Charlie Drake
at the London Palladium
in 1961, Puss In Boots
at the Coventry Theatre with Sid James
and Frankie Howerd
in 1962-63, and Mandrake at the Criterion Theatre
with Roy Kinnear
in 1970.
In the 1980s Michaels appeared in a number of documentaries and short films, including the 1987 BAFTA nominated Mohammed's Daughter, directed by Suri Krishnamma
.
, as a stand-in for Valerie Singleton who was away on vacation, which technically makes Sandra Michaels the shortest-serving presenter in the programme's history. Her appearance on Monday 20 April 1964 was evidently planned: her name appears below that of fellow-presenter Christopher Trace
, in the Radio Times
listing for that day. The Merseybeats
were guests on that particular programme, which is available to view as part of the TV Heaven collection at the National Media Museum in Bradford
. Michaels impressed producer Edward Barnes enough that he briefly considered bringing her into the show full time and replacing Singleton, but Michaels had no interest in doing so. Barnes later admitted that with hindsight and the success Singleton made of her Blue Peter career that he was relieved at this decision.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
adaptation of The Railway Children
The Railway Children
The Railway Children is a children's book by Edith Nesbit, originally serialised in The London Magazine during 1905 and first published in book form in 1906...
. Later that year she appeared as Pamela Gwendolyn Stuart in The Adventures of Clint and Mac
The Adventures of Clint and Mac
The Adventures of Clint and Mac is a 1957 television serial that aired on ABC as part of the third season of The Mickey Mouse Club.-Plot:Clint is an American boy living in London while his father is stationed there with the United States Air Force. He's formed a friendship with Mac, his neighbor,...
, a British-made serial commissioned by Walt Disney Studios
Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures is an American film studio owned by The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Pictures and Television, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Studios and the main production company for live-action feature films within the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, based at the Walt Disney...
for The Mickey Mouse Club. Also in 1957 she played Caroline, a modern teenager who got up to mischief in the 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...
sitcom, The Thompsons.
She appeared in a variety of programmes, ranging from the 1959 adaptation of Great Expectations
Great Expectations
Great Expectations is a novel by Charles Dickens. It was first published in serial form in the publication All the Year Round from 1 December 1860 to August 1861. It has been adapted for stage and screen over 250 times....
and Dixon of Dock Green
Dixon of Dock Green
Dixon of Dock Green was a popular BBC television series that ran from 1955 to 1976, and later a radio series. Despite being a drama series, it was initially produced by the BBC's light entertainment department.-Overview:...
(also 1959), to The Ronnie Barker Playhouse
The Ronnie Barker Playhouse
The Ronnie Barker Playhouse was a series of six comedy half hours showcasing the talents of Ronnie Barker. All were broadcast by Associated-Rediffusion in 1968....
(1968) and Gaslight Theatre (1968).
Stage work varied from plays to pantomimes and light musicals; she appeared in Little Old King Cole with Charlie Drake
Charlie Drake
Charlie Drake was an English comedian, actor, writer and singer.With his small stature , curly red hair and liking for slapstick he was a popular comedian with children in his early years, becoming nationally-known for his "Hello, my darlings" catchphrase...
at the London Palladium
London Palladium
The London Palladium is a 2,286 seat West End theatre located off Oxford Street in the City of Westminster. From the roster of stars who have played there and many televised performances, it is arguably the most famous theatre in London and the United Kingdom, especially for musical variety...
in 1961, Puss In Boots
Puss in Boots
'Puss' is a character in the fairy tale "The Master Cat, or Puss in Boots" by Charles Perrault. The tale was published in 1697 in his Histoires ou Contes du temps passé...
at the Coventry Theatre with Sid James
Sid James
Sid James was an English-based South African actor and comedian. He made his name as Tony Hancock's co-star in Hancock's Half Hour and also starred in the popular Carry On films. He was known for his trademark "dirty laugh" and lascivious persona...
and Frankie Howerd
Frankie Howerd
Francis Alick "Frankie" Howerd OBE was an English comedian and comic actor whose career, described by fellow comedian Barry Cryer as "a series of comebacks", spanned six decades.-Early career:...
in 1962-63, and Mandrake at the Criterion Theatre
Criterion Theatre
The Criterion Theatre is a West End theatre situated on Piccadilly Circus in the City of Westminster, and is a Grade II* listed building. It has an official capacity of 588.-Building the theatre:...
with Roy Kinnear
Roy Kinnear
Roy Mitchell Kinnear was an English character actor. He is best remembered for playing Veruca Salt's father, Mr. Salt, in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.-Early life:...
in 1970.
In the 1980s Michaels appeared in a number of documentaries and short films, including the 1987 BAFTA nominated Mohammed's Daughter, directed by Suri Krishnamma
Suri Krishnamma
Suri Krishnamma is a British film director. He has directed several films, including A Man of No Importance, New Year's Day, Locked In and Wuthering Heights. He has won four film festival awards and been nominated for three BAFTA awards.Krishnamma has also directed several episodes of the...
.
Blue Peter
In April 1964 she presented two editions of Blue PeterBlue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
, as a stand-in for Valerie Singleton who was away on vacation, which technically makes Sandra Michaels the shortest-serving presenter in the programme's history. Her appearance on Monday 20 April 1964 was evidently planned: her name appears below that of fellow-presenter Christopher Trace
Christopher Trace
Christopher Leonard Trace was an English actor and television presenter, best remembered for his nine years as a presenter of the BBC children's programme Blue Peter.-Career:...
, in the Radio Times
Radio Times
Radio Times is a UK weekly television and radio programme listings magazine, owned by the BBC. It has been published since 1923 by BBC Magazines, which also provides an on-line listings service under the same title...
listing for that day. The Merseybeats
The Merseybeats
The Merseybeats are a Merseybeat band that emerged from the Liverpool scene in the early 1960s, performing at The Cavern Club along with The Beatles, Gerry & The Pacemakers and other similar artists....
were guests on that particular programme, which is available to view as part of the TV Heaven collection at the National Media Museum in Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
. Michaels impressed producer Edward Barnes enough that he briefly considered bringing her into the show full time and replacing Singleton, but Michaels had no interest in doing so. Barnes later admitted that with hindsight and the success Singleton made of her Blue Peter career that he was relieved at this decision.