Joan Sanderson (24 November 1912 – 24 May 1992) was an English actress. During a long career on stage and screen, her tall and commanding disposition led to her playing mostly dowagers, spinsters and matrons, as well as intense Shakespearean roles. Her television work included appearances in the comedy series Please Sir! (1968–72), Rising Damp (1978), Fawlty Towers, Ripping Yarns (both 1979), and Me and My Girl (1984–88).

Early life Born and educated in Bristol, Sanderson trained at RADA, having harboured an interest in the performing arts from a young age. She had teaching diplomas in elocution, where she lost her Bristolian accent.

Career Theatre Sanderson appeared in repertory theatres, on the West End stage, and at the Stratford Memorial Theatre, where she made her début in 1939 playing Emilia in The Comedy of Errors, a phase in her career that culminated in 1953 when she played both Goneril to Michael Redgrave's King Lear, and Queen Margaret in Richard III.

During the Second World War, Sanderson gained experience in repertory and toured North Africa and Italy entertaining the troops. In 1948, she married fellow actor Gregory Scott (born: Alphaeus Moseley).

Sanderson achieved her apotheosis as Delia, Lady Rumpers, in Habeas Corpus by Alan Bennett (Lyric Theatre, 1973). She starred in numerous West End productions, including See How They Run and Anyone for Denis?.

TV and film Sanderson played Doris Ewell in the television comedy series Please Sir! (1968–72) and Mrs Pugh-Critchley, in the series All Gas and Gaiters (1970–71), as well as a role in the short-lived sitcom Wild, Wild Women (1969). In 1978 she appeared in an episode of Rising Damp, and the following year she played Mrs Richards in the Fawlty Towers episode "Communication Problems". She also appeared in After Henry, which was broadcast on the radio (1985–88) and television (1988–92), in which she played Eleanor.

Sanderson's film roles were rare, but she appeared in the Hylda Baker film She Knows Y'Know (1962), Who Killed the Cat? (1966), the film version of Please Sir! (1971), The Great Muppet Caper (1981), playing John Cleese's wife, and Prick Up Your Ears (1987), the film based on the life of playwright Joe Orton.

Personal life and death Sanderson's husband was the actor Gregory Scott, who appeared alongside her in Please Sir! as the largely non-speaking teacher Mr Wyatt.Please Sir! The Official History, David Barry (2020); She died following a long illness with bone cancer in Norwich on 24 May 1992, aged 79, and was buried in Burnham Norton churchyard. A memorial service was held for her two months later at St Paul's, Covent Garden.Travelling to Work: Diaries 1988–1998, Michael Palin (2015), p. 240; Her husband died in October 1992.

The final series of After Henry was broadcast in July and August 1992, following her death; the last episode was dedicated to Sanderson. Following Sanderson's death – a month before the premiere of her final series, Land of Hope and Gloria – the creators, despite originally intending to make a second series, opted not to go ahead with it.

Credits

TV and film Year Title Role1951 Young Wives' Tale Nurse1954 Sunday Night Theatre Mrs. Dangerfield1955 St. Ives Miss Gilchrist1961 The Pocket Lancer Countess of Clarencourt1962 She Knows Y'Know Euphemia Smallhope1962 Dial RIX Mrs. Hathaway1963 Maigret Juliette Boynet1964 Detective - End of Chapter Mrs. Blayne1965 The Wednesday Play:The Confidence Course Angela Walker1965 Night Train To Surbiton Manageress1966 Seven Deadly Sins Hotel Receptionist1966 Who Killed the Cat? Mrs. Sandford1967 Boy Meets Girl Germaine1967 The Wednesday Play:Fall of the Goat Isobel1969 Wild, Wild Women Mrs. Harcourt1970 The Human Element Lady Brancaster1970–1971 All Gas and Gaiters Mrs. Grace Pugh-Critchley1971 Please Sir! Miss Doris Ewell1975 The Les Dawson Show various1975 Crown Court Susan Halls1975 Upstairs, Downstairs:"Noblesse Oblige" Mrs. Waddilove1976 Yus, My Dear Mrs. Hartington1976 Well Anyway The Countess1976 Wodehouse Playhouse:Strychnine in the Soup Lady Bassett1977 Jubilee:Silver Lining Unknown1978 The Ghosts of Motley Hall Alexandra1978 Rising Damp"Pink Carnations" Mother1978 Mixed Blessings Aunt Dorothy1978 Doris and Doreen Dorothy Binns1979 Fawlty Towers:"Communication Problems" Mrs. Richards1979 Ripping Yarns"Roger of the Raj" Lady Bartlesham1980 How's Your Father? Unknown1981 The Great Muppet Caper Dorcas1981 Barriers Miss Morton1981 Janet and Company Unknown1982 Play for Today:Intensive Care Miss Tunstall1982 Anyone for Denis? Rear Admiral1983 All for Love Mrs. Davidson1983 Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime The House of Lurking Death Rachel Logan1984 The Fainthearted Feminist Mother1984–1988 Me and My Girl Nell Cresset1985 Alice in Wonderland The Queen of Hearts (voice)1986 Full House Mrs. Hatfield1987 Prick Up Your Ears John Lahr's mother-in-law1987 East of Ipswich Miss Wilbraham1988 Thompson Unknown1988–1992 After Henry Eleanor Prescott1989 Alexei Sayle's Stuff"Tinkering With Teeth" Wilma Gatling1992 Land of Hope and Gloria Nanny Princeton

Radio Year Title Role1954 Personal Call Mrs. Lamb1962–1977 The Men from the Ministry Various1971–1972 All Gas and Gaiters Mrs. Grace Pugh-Critchley1973–1981 What Ho! Jeeves Aunt Agatha1976–1979 Jim the Great Queen Esmeralda1985–1989 After Henry Eleanor Prescott

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