“You’ve got to make time for the f-word on a daily basis,” declares Su Pollard with infectious enthusiasm. “And by that I mean: FUN! Fun should be our new f-word.” At the vibrant age of 75, the comic actress radiates an energy that is, quite simply, fully charged. The exuberance that defined her performances in iconic 80s and 90s sitcoms like Hi-Di-Hi!, You Rang, M’Lord?, and Oh, Doctor Beeching! remains undiminished. One could hardly contain their excitement when describing her; such is the joyful spirit that she embodies, almost causing my keyboard to crumble under the weight of exclamation marks required to do her justice.
In a back room of Soho’s delightfully quirky Club for Acts and Actors, she sports a fabulously eccentric outfit that reflects her love for the dramatic. Her head is crowned with a vibrant, tennis-ball-sized cherry atop a headband that bounces with every mention of fun. The rest of her attire is equally bold: a bondage-themed dress of black lace, adorned with metal hoops and an intricate web of black straps coupled with eye-catching red ribbon. Over this, she layers a chunky necklace made of multi-colored buttons and mauve feathers, complemented by a black denim jacket splashed with a rainbow of neon Japanese shop signs. It’s a visual feast that somehow manages to charm rather than overwhelm, embodying the delightful essence of this vivacious woman.
Su Pollard has taken a similarly exuberant approach to her new variety show, aptly named to reflect her philosophy: “I’ve thrown everything at it!” Alongside her talented pianist Steve Edis, she will recount her journey from humble beginnings in Nottingham. Pollard’s rise to fame, which included performing in working men’s clubs and even being a runner-up on a TV talent show to a dog, has shaped her into the beloved personality she is today.
Expect a delightful mix of songs, jokes, and a lively Q&A session, along with clips from her most famous roles, especially as Peggy Ollerenshaw, the enthusiastic chalet maid in Hi-Di-Hi!. Running from 1980 to 1988, this beloved show captivated audiences, peaking at around 20 million viewers, making Pollard a household name. She recalls a particularly amusing encounter with Paul McCartney, who asked her for an autograph after a Saturday Night chart show.
“I didn’t want to call it the usual sedate An Evening With… because that doesn’t do justice to the vibrant experience people will have,” she explains, playfully contorting her mouth into an owl’s beak for emphasis. “I learned to do that at school,” she chuckles, reflecting on her younger days. When asked if she was the class clown, she replies, “I was quite good. But my teacher once made me go to the headmaster and say: ‘I’m daft.’”
Will there be cooking in her new show? Pollard’s memorable 2021 appearance on Masterchef is still a topic of conversation, prompting me to revisit clips of her infamous sandwich that featured boiled apricots, celery, a fried egg, ham hock, kimchi, and broccoli. “I won’t be cooking on stage,” she clarifies, “but I will share some clips from MasterChef because people are always asking me about it.” Ah, the notorious soggy broccoli? “Yes! What was I thinking?!” she laughs. “Let me tell you what happened…”
She explains, “I stumbled upon a woman’s claim that she made the best broccoli sandwich in the world, so I thought I’d give it a go. But John said I didn’t drain the broccoli properly, which ruined everything. That broccoli was my downfall.” She laughs off the teasing she still receives, “People shout: ‘There goes the broccoli girl!’ I don’t mind. It was a wonderful experience, darling.”
When it comes to the controversy surrounding MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace, who faced allegations of inappropriate behavior, Pollard is quick to defend her experience. “Absolutely not!” she asserts. “I felt sorry for… No, I don’t want to delve too deeply. Let’s just say that the era where people felt entitled to behave that way has passed.”
As someone whose humor often leans on double entendres and innuendo, Pollard expresses empathy for Wynne Evans, who was removed from the Strictly tour following allegations of making “lewd sexual remarks.” While unclear about the specifics, she critiques the BBC’s approach to policing humor. “Don’t tell me what I should be offended by,” she admonishes. “Where did this insidious cancel culture come from? Social media has certainly exacerbated the situation, often taking things out of context.” Her new show even features a warning: “Now don’t get offended, because this is FUNNY!”
While she acknowledges the necessity of the #MeToo movement, Pollard worries that some individuals are “jumping on a bandwagon,” stressing the importance of unity in the industry. Did she ever encounter unwelcome advances in her younger years? “Well, for starters, I wouldn’t be everyone’s type,” she remarks with a twinkle in her eye. “But if anyone touched me inappropriately, they’d certainly hear about it. I have no qualms about addressing inappropriate behavior, then I move on. Life’s too short for sulking!”
Pollard’s boundaries are just as cheerfully firm with journalists today as they have been with overzealous co-stars. She remains tight-lipped about her marriage to Australian teacher/actor Peter Keogh, whom she wed in a whimsical insect costume in 1984 and divorced in 1992. “I’m quite content living alone now,” she shares. “I’m focused on getting the most out of every day, zipping around the West End, meeting friends, enjoying shows, and indulging in hearty meals reminiscent of vintage school dinners.”
When it comes to discussing Brexit, she remains evasive, referencing a Mail on Sunday article from 2019 that alleged she caused a scene at Number 10, demanding to speed up the process. “I’m not political,” she insists. “I just went to a party.”
However, as a self-proclaimed party girl, Pollard laments the decline of London’s nightlife. “The other night, two Italian ladies stopped me at around 10:30 PM asking, ‘Where can we go?’ I told them, ‘Darling, it’s midweek. You could try Freedom, a club in Soho, but everything else closes at 11.’” She shakes her head, frustration evident. “It’s simply unacceptable! London is our capital, and the party’s over.”
As she reminisces about the vibrant nightlife of the 80s and 90s, she feels a pang of guilt for making younger generations jealous. “I tell young actors: ‘Darlings, you’ve got so much going for you. If the city won’t provide, then you must create your own fun!’”
Su Pollard: Still Fully Charged tours from 17 February (supollardlive.com)
