John Junkin

John Francis Junkin (29 January 1930 – 7 March 2006) was an English actor and scriptwriter who had a long career in radio, television and film, specialising in comedy.

Early life

Born in Ealing, Middlesex, the son of a policeman, Junkin and his parents subsequently moved to Forest Gate so that he could attend St Bonaventure's Catholic School there, before qualifying as a teacher at St Mary's College, Strawberry Hill. He worked as a primary school teacher in the East End for three years. A few years later, he joined the Royal Court Theatre company, and appeared with Rex Harrison in the play August for the People by Nigel Dennis.

Though best remembered for his comedy roles, Junkin played a diverse range of roles on the small screen. He appeared in television dramas such as Z Cars and Dr. Finlay's Casebook, and played Shake, the assistant to Norman Rossington, in the Beatles' 1964 film A Hard Day's Night. Also in 1964, he recorded a number of radio programmes on land for the fledgling ship-based pirate radio station Radio Caroline. His announcements did not include any topical references, and the music was played in by studio engineers. Junkin also has an entry in the Guinness Book of Records as the voice of Mr Shifter, one of the chimps in the PG Tips tea advertisement, the longest-running series of commercials on television. and regularly featured in Feldman's 1968 sketch show Marty, and in The Goodies. With Barry Cryer, Junkin wrote for Morecambe and Wise from 1978 to 1983, in addition to two Christmas specials in 1972 and 1976.

One of his rare leading roles was in the BBC series The Rough with the Smooth, in which he and Tim Brooke-Taylor played comedy writers (with both actors contributing scripts to the series as well). He also hosted his own afternoon television series in the mid-1970s. Titled simply Junkin, it was produced by Southern Television for the ITV network. On radio, he featured with Tim Brooke-Taylor and Barry Cryer in Hello Cheeky, and later when it was developed for television.

His work tailed off in the 1980s, though he continued to write scripts and make occasional appearances in supporting roles to comedians including Kenny Everett, Joe Pasquale, and Rowan Atkinson. One of his final appearances was in EastEnders in 2002. His life and work were honoured at the British Academy Television Awards in 2006.

Acting credits Film

Doctor in Love (1960) – Policeman (uncredited) The Dock Brief (1962) – Dock brief barrister (uncredited) The Primitives (1962) – Arthur The Brain (1962) – Frederick (uncredited) The Wrong Arm of the Law (1963) – Maurice (uncredited) Sparrows Can't Sing (1963) – Bridge Operator (uncredited) Heavens Above! (1963) – Reporter at Space Launch Site (uncredited) The Break (1963) – Harry Hot Enough for June (1964) – Clerk in Opening Scene The Pumpkin Eater (1964) – Undertaker A Hard Day's Night (1964) – Shake Doctor in Clover (1966) – Prison Warder (uncredited) The Wrong Box (1966) – First Engine Driver Kaleidoscope (1966) – Dominion Porter The Sandwich Man (1966) – Chauffeur How I Won the War (1967) – Large Child The Plank (1967) – One Eyed Truck Driver Simon, Simon (1970) – 2nd Workman – Driver Confessions of a Driving Instructor (1976) – Luigi Confessions from a Holiday Camp (1977) – Whitemonk Rosie Dixon – Night Nurse (1978) – Mr. Dixon Wombling Free (1978) – County Surveyor Brass Target (1978) – Carberry That Summer! (1979) – Mr. Swales Licensed to Love and Kill (1979) – Helicopter Mechanic A Handful of Dust (1988) – Blenkinsop Chicago Joe and the Showgirl (1990) – George Heath Girl from Rio (2001) – Mr. Bigelow The Football Factory (2004) – Albert Moss (final film role)

Radio Floggit's Radio Caroline (first voice of the test transmissions in March 1964) Hello, Cheeky! with Tim Brooke-Taylor and Barry Cryer Just a Minute as an occasional guest I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue Junkin's Jokers

Television

The Benny Hill Show (1961) Winning Widows (1962, 1 episode) Dr. Finlay's Casebook Series 1 episode 6: "Cough Mixture", 1962 – Dougal Todd Hancock (1963, 1 episode) – Jerry Spring The Plane Makers, (1963) – Dusty Miller Z-Cars: "Caught by the Ears" (1963) – Jim Hill The Avengers (1963–1967) – Sergeant / Sheriff The Blackpool Show (1966 series with Tony Hancock) – Himself Watch the Birdies (1966) – Kendall Further Adventures of Lucky Jim (1967) – Sam and Janet (1967) ITV, Two series of sitcom with Joan Sims (1) and Vivienne Martin (2) Marty, comedy television series with Marty Feldman, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Roland MacLeod (1968–69) – various characters Catweazle: "The Flying Broom-sticks" (1969) – Police Sergeant The Goodies (1972) – Police Sergeant The Shadow of the Tower (1972) – Master John Looking For Clancy (1975) – Jim Clancy Lord Peter Wimsey: "Five Red Herrings" (1975) – Mr. Alcock Out (1978) – Ralph Veneker The Sweeney (1978) – Taxi Yard Proprietor Only When I Laugh (1979) – Landlord The Ravelled Thread (1979) - Dobbs Coronation Street (1981) – Bill Fielding (a short-lived boyfriend of Elsie Tanner) Odd One Out (1982) – Himself – Voiceover (voice) The Professionals (1983) – Hollis Blott on the Landscape (1985) – Waiter Crosswits (1985, quiz panelist) Ask No Questions (1986) Mr. Bean (1990) – The Maitre D' Inspector Morse (1992) – Chief Inspector Holroyd Picking Up the Pieces (1998) – Vinny The Thing About Vince (2000) – Frankie The Sins (2000) – Archie Rogers McCready and Daughter (2001) EastEnders (2001–2002) – Ernie Johnson