Television & Radio
TV appearances span such shows as ‘The Young Ones’, ‘French and Saunders’, ‘Happy Families’, ‘One Foot in the Grave’, ‘Bottom’, ‘Love Soup’, ‘Miss Marple’ and ‘Hollyoaks’. Children’s TV includes the much-loved children's favourite 'Miss Bowline-Hitch' along with Bernard Cribbins for CBeebies' ‘Old Jacks Boat’. She starred as Rich Aunt Ruby in ‘Horrid Henry: The Movie’.
Helen's first radio job was a live comedy series for BBC Radio called 'In One Ear' winning the Sony award for radio comedy where she wrote her infamous 'pen pal' letters to politicians.
Since then she's been a mainstay on the radio with her most recent podcast series 'Knock Knock' where she talks to other comedians to see if they share the same head space. 'Knock Knock' is available on the BBC website.
Comedy & Drama
I’ve been Catriona for 20 years and I still think it’s all to do with ‘good lighting’ Lovely chairs anyone?
A joy to play Dr Oppe in ‘Casualty’ and to look over my glasses knowingly and not be affected by the odour of a tuna sandwich.
Channelling Felicity Kendal while playing Kath Harrison in Heartbeat ( I got rounded up by a sheep dog if memory serves).
My favourite character paying Marjorie Atfield in Miss Marple ‘Why Didn’t They Ask Evans’. I had to eat cake several times (with a fork du gateau).
The bottom that got away – a Nurse already - I loved those boys in Bottom.
Looking focused and engaged as ever with the dapper Adrian.
Everyone needs a rich Aunt Ruby -available now for weddings, open days and fetes – (Horrid Henry still rocks my world).
I Loved playing TV commissioning editor who did blow jobs in her stocking feet - needs must.
I LOVED being in charge of a bank. 'Good morning sir, good morning sir, good morning sir …'
This very posh cockney accent can so easily stray to South African – but the ‘kick in your wongly dangles’ bit remained pure.
Woops - as an alcoholic midwife who carelessly swapped 2 babies in error – is not something one likes to boast about…
Cheek to cheek with Bernard Cribbins – My Miss BowlineHitch getting pouty in Whitby. CBeebies - Old Jack's Boat
Reality TV
BBC’s ‘HomeFront Heroes’ took me to Bletchley Park to discover my mother’s secret intelligence work in HUT D. I also learned about my Czech grandfather who posed as a German officer at Trent Park where he was a ‘secret listener’ in WW2.
Not my finest silhouette I grant you but at least I was going in the right direction #swmmingfrock
Oh boy…this was an UNUSUAL departure …
A wonderful film - secrets that came out that have never left me… A different kind of Reality TV but very real. This was my very moving visit to Auschwitz, during the making of War Hero in my Family, tracing the history of my father and grandfather when they came to England
Reading a recipe is where you sing ‘cheese cakey’ in top C
I loved being in the snug with Welsh people singing nicely and also loudly - S4C's Reality TV for Guardian readers involving Learning Welsh and Glamping.
I remember the matching pink suitcases of my fellow traveller … and having to vote people OFF oh noooo