Barbara New


Barbara Helene New was an English character actress, well known for playing Mabel the scullery maid in the David Croft sitcom You Rang M'Lord?. Following this role, she appeared as Vera Plumtree in all twenty episodes of the BBC's final David Croft sitcom Oh, Doctor Beeching!. She had previously played smaller parts in Croft's earlier sitcoms Dad's Army and Hi-de-Hi!.
New had a lengthy career in British television and played many other roles including appearances in Z-Cars, Emu's Broadcasting Company, Ripping Yarns and the silent Ronnie Barker comedy By the Sea. One of her last screen appearances was as Ali G's Nan in the 2002 film Ali G Indahouse.
New also appeared in television adverts for Vicks over a twenty-year period, initially as a mother and later as a grandmother.
She was married to the actor Michael Barrington until his death in 1988.

Film and Television roles

YearTitleRole
1975The PicnicThe Aunt
1975Porridge Series 2 Episode 4 No Peace for the WickedHome Office Visitor
1975Within These Walls Series 2, Episode 3Prisoner
1977The Black Panther
1977Ripping Yarns Series 1, Episode 2 The Testing of Eric OlthwaiteMrs Olthwaite
1973 to 1980The Two RonniesVarious
1981Happy Since I Met YouMum
1982By the SeaThe Aunt
1986Bread Series 1, Episode 2May's neighbour
1988 to 1993You Rang M'Lord?Mabel
1996CasualtyMay Davies
1996 to 1997Oh, Doctor Beeching!Vera Plumtree