Lesley Joseph

English actress and broadcaster (born 1945)

For the American tennis player, see Lesley Joseph (tennis).

Lesley Joseph

Joseph in Cardiff, Wales, May 2011

Born|

Lesley Diana Joseph

(1945-10-14) 14 October 1945 (age 79)

Finsbury Park, London, England

Occupation(s)| Broadcaster, actress
Years active| 1964–present
Television| Birds of a Feather
Height| 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m)
Children| 2

Lesley Diana Joseph (born 14 October 1945) is an English actress and broadcaster, whose career on stage and screen spans over fifty years. She is best known for playing Dorien Green in the television sitcom Birds of a Feather from 1989 to 1998 and again from 2014 to 2020. Other television credits include Absurd Person Singular (1985) and Night and Day (2001–2003).

Her stage roles include UK touring productions of Thoroughly Modern Millie (2005), Calendar Girls (2011) and Annie (2015). In 2018, she was nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical, for the original West End production of Young Frankenstein.

## Early life

[edit]

Joseph was born on 14 October 1945,[1] in Finsbury Park, Haringey, London, England.[2] She grew up in Kingsthorpe, Northampton and attended Northampton School for Girls.[3]

## Career

[edit]

### Stage

[edit]

In May 1973, Joseph appeared in Godspell at the Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth.[4]

Joseph appeared in Cinderella at Theatre Royal, Plymouth in 2008 and the Orchard Theatre in Dartford in 2009 and starred as Myra Wilson in the UK Tour of Hot Flush!. In 2014, Hot Flush! embarked on its third UK tour.[citation needed]

From 4 December 2010 to 22 January 2011, Joseph appeared at The Grand Opera House, Belfast as the Wicked Queen in the pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.[citation needed]

In mid 2011, Joseph appeared as Chris in the stage show Calendar Girls, based on the film of the same name.[citation needed]

Between 2014 and 2015, Joseph performed at the Theatre Royal Nottingham as the Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.[citation needed]

In 2015, Joseph appeared as Miss Hannigan in the stage production of Annie at certain venues, sharing the role with Jodie Prenger and Elaine C Smith she was cast as the fairy godmother in Cinderella at the cliffs pavilion (Southend on sea). In 2016/17, she was part of the cast in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth. Joseph then portrayed Frau Blucher in the West End production of Young Frankenstein.[5]

Between 2022 and 2024, Joseph starred in Sister Act: The Musical, playing the roles of Sister Mary Lazarus and Mother Superior.[6]

### Birds of a Feather

[edit]

Main article: Birds of a Feather (TV series)

From 1989 to 1998, Joseph played Dorien Green in the BBC One sitcom Birds of a Feather, alongside Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson.[7]

In December 2011, it was confirmed that Joseph would reunite with fellow Birds of a Feather cast members, Quirke and Robson, for a theatre adaptation of the series. The trio toured the United Kingdom from May to July 2012.[8] Following the success of the stage adaption, a new series of Birds of a Feather was commissioned after the rights had been acquired by ITV. The new series began airing on 2 January 2014 for eight episodes. To promote the return of the series, Joseph, Quirke and Robson appeared as guest panellists on Loose Women on 16 January 2014.[9]

In March 2015, it was confirmed that a second series of Birds of a Feather had been commissioned by ITV which began airing in December. Following this, a third series was commissioned and aired in early 2016,[10] Joseph appeared in three more Christmas specials airing in 2016, 2017 and 2020 respectively, before the show's cancellation was announced in May 2021.[11]

### Further TV work

[edit]

Joseph hosting A Breath of Fresh Air by the Chiltern Shakespeare Society in June 2008.

Joseph starred in the ITV soap Night and Day from 2001 to 2003 playing the show's resident bitch, Rachel Culgrin. In 2002, Joseph appeared on a special edition of What Not to Wear, where she was given a makeover by Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine. In 2004, she performed in The Vagina Monologues opposite Linda Robson and Mica Paris.[12]

Since 2009, she has been a regular newspaper reviewer on This Morning. She appeared in the 2014 series Secrets of the Asylum, a two-part series for ITV. In 2015, Joseph took part in ITV's celebrity sheep herding series Flockstars, beginning on 30 July.[citation needed]

In 2014, Joseph appeared with Forrest Dunbar on ITV2's Freshers: A Year On. She made frequent appearances on Channel 5's Big Brother's Bit on the Side.

On 22 August 2016, it was announced that Joseph would take part in the fourteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing.[13] She was partnered with Anton du Beke. In their first week, the couple scored 23 points for their waltz to "What'll I Do", in week two, 26 for their cha-cha-cha to "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps", in week three, 27 for their quickstep for "A Couple of Swells" from Easter Parade and in week four, 31 for their Charleston to "Won't You Charleston with Me?" from The Boy Friend. The couple left the series in week five, after scoring 24 for their tango to "Whatever Lola Wants".[14]

She was one of the four competitors who appeared in the special Christmas edition of  The Great British Sewing Bee that was transmitted on New Year's Eve 2020 on BBC 1. Her fellow competitors in the programme were Sabrina Grant, Sally Phillips and The Vivienne.[15]

In 2022, Joseph won the seventh series of Celebrity Coach Trip alongside her Birds of a Feather co-star Linda Robson.[16]

### Radio

[edit]

Joseph began presenting a radio show in 2008 on BBC London 94.9 with Christopher Biggins, airing every Sunday between 9 am to 12 noon. Biggins left the show after a few months, however Joseph has continued to host. She also stood in for Vanessa Feltz on her weekday morning talk show whilst Feltz was on holiday.[17]

## Personal life

[edit]

Joseph is Jewish.[18] She has two children from a relationship with Carl Littlejohn.[19][20]

Joseph's mother, Rebecca Mundy (née Maccoby), was born in May 1912 and died in March 2016, aged 103.[21][better source needed]

## Filmography

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1969  | The Bastard King | Catherine of Braganza  | Supporting role
1974  | Another Mother Makes Five | Gypsy woman  | Supporting role
1975  | Sadie, It's Cold Outside | Cashier  | 1 episode
1979  | The Knowledge | Val  | Supporting role
1980  | Minder | Maureen  | 1 episode
1981  | Roots | Melanie Goldblatt  | 1 episode
1983  | Number 10 | Rose Rosenburg  | Recurring role
1985  | Summer Season | Mrs King  | Recurring role
Absurd Person Singular | Lottie Potter  | TV film
1987  | First Sight | Pippa  | Main role
1988  | Lea Girls | Shop assistant  | Recurring role
1989  | Ruth Rendell Mysteries | Rose Farriner's neighbour  | Main role
1989–1998, 2014–2020  | Birds of a Feather | Dorien Green  | Main role
1992  | Celebrity Squares | Herself  | Contestant
Celebrity Fifteen to One | Herself  | Contestant
1995  | Rumble | Ma Pecs  | Supporting role
1996  | Spywatch | Miss Millington  | Main role
1998  | Macbeth | Witch  | TV film
2001–2003  | Night and Day | Rachel Culgrin  | Regular role
2003  | Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes | Herself  | Contestant
2005  | Lost Dogs | Maria-Carmen Todd  | Supporting role
2006  | The Secret of Eel Island | Green Beryl  | Supporting role
2006–2009, 2014  | Loose Women | Herself  | Guest panellist
2007  | Kings of 70s Romance | Herself  | Narrator
Ready Steady Cook | Herself  | Contestant
2008  | The Greatest Christmas Comedy | Herself  | Interviewee
The Slammer | Erica, the critic  | Recurring role
Comedy Classics | Herself  | Interviewee
2009  | Scoop | Receptionist/Mrs Green  | Recurring role
2009–2014  | This Morning | Herself  | Newspaper reviewer
2009, 2011  | Celebrity Come Dine with Me | Herself  | Contestant
2009  | Cash in the Celebrity Attic | Herself  | Contestant
2010  | Let's Dance for Comic Relief | Herself  | Participant
Celebrity Eggheads | Herself  | Participant
2011  | Little Crackers | Wardrobe mistress  | 1 episode ('My First Brassiere')
2012–2021  | Pointless Celebrities | Herself  | Regular participant
2014  | Secrets from the Asylum | Herself  | Contributor
All Star Family Fortunes | Herself  | Participant
You Saw Them Here First | Herself  | Contributor
Celebrity Antiques Road Trip | Herself  | Contributor
Freshers: A Year On | Herself  | Contributor
2014–2016  | Big Brother's Bit on the Side | Herself  | Contributor
2014, 2021  | The Chase: Celebrity Special | Herself  | Contestant
2015  | Flockstars | Herself  | Participant
Mel and Sue | Herself  | Guest
Celebrity Benchmark | Herself  | Participant
2016  | Strictly Come Dancing | Herself  | Participant
2017  | Celebrity 5 Go Motorhoming | Herself  | Participant
2017-2018  | Hey Duggee | Badger  | 3 Episodes
2019  | Pilgrimage: Road to Rome | Herself  | Participant
2022  | Celebrity Coach Trip | Herself  | Winner
2023  | Children in Need | Dorien Green  | Television Special
Jeremy Vine | Herself  | Guest Panelist (1 Episode)
2024  | Sage  | The Lady  | Short Film
2025  | Blankety Blank | Herself  | Guest Panelist (1 Episode)
The Good Ship Murder | TBC  | Guest Role (TBR)

## Stage

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Location

|
|
|

1964  | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Hermia  | Abington Park Museum, Northampton
1968  | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Titania  | Royal Shakespeare Company
1973  | Godspell | Sonia  | Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth
1981  | Piaf | Edith Piaf | Belgrade Theatre
1988  | Exclusive Yarns | Pippa  | New Wimbledon Theatre
1991–1992  | Cinderella | Wicked Stepmother  | Richmond Theatre
1992–1993  | Cinderella | Wicked Stepmother  | Theatre Royal, Bath
1993–1994  | Dick Whittington | Fairy Godmother  | Birmingham Hippodrome
1994–1995  | Dick Whittington | Alice Fitzwarren  | Mayflower Theatre
1995  | The Miser | Frosine  | UK Tour
1995–1996  | Dick Whittington | Fairy Godmother  | New Victoria, Woking
1996–1997  | Dick Whittington | Alice Fitzwarren  | Theatre Royal, Plymouth
1997–1998  | Dick Whittington | Fairy Godmother  | Wimbledon Theatre
1998–1999  | Dick Whittington | Fairy Godmother  | Theatre Royal, Nottingham
2000–2001  | Dick Whittington | Fairy Godmother  | Theatre Royal, Newcastle
2002–2003  | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Wicked Queen  | Theatre Royal, Brighton
2003  | Office Suite | Miss Prothero  | Royal Shakespeare Company
2003  | Singular Women | Miss Cohen  | Kings Head Theatre
2003–2004  | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Wicked Queen  | Richmond Theatre
2004–2005  | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Wicked Queen  | Theatre Royal, Newcastle
2005  | Thoroughly Modern Millie | Mrs Meers  | UK Tour
2005–2006  | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Wicked Queen  | Bradford Alhambra
2006  | The Vagina Monologues | Various  | UK Tour
2006–2007  | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Wicked Queen  | Wolverhampton Grand
2007–2008  | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Wicked Queen  | New Theatre, Cardiff
2008–2009  | Cinderella | Fairy Godmother  | Theatre Royal, Plymouth
2009–2010  | Cinderella | Fairy Godmother  | Orchard Theatre, Dartford
2010–2011  | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Wicked Queen  | Grand Theatre, Belfast
2011  | Calendar Girls | Chris  | UK Tour
2011–2012  | Cinderella | Fairy Godmother  | Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe
2012  | Birds of a Feather | Dorien Green  | UK Tour
2012–2013  | Robinson Crusoe | Enchantress of the Ocean  | Birmingham Hippodrome
2013–2014  | Robinson Crusoe | Enchantress of the Ocean  | Mayflower Theatre
2014  | Hot Flush! | Myra Wilson  | UK Tour
2014–2015  | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Wicked Queen  | Theatre Royal, Nottingham
2015  | Annie | Miss Hannigan  | UK Tour
2015–2016  | Cinderella | Fairy Godmother  | Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
2016–2017  | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Wicked Queen  | Theatre Royal, Plymouth
2017–2018  | Young Frankenstein | Frau Blucher  | Theatre Royal, Newcastle Garrick Theatre
2018–2019  | Cinderella | Fairy Godmother  | Churchill Theatre, Bromley
2019–2020  | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Wicked Queen  | Birmingham Hippodrome
2020–2021  | Sleeping Beauty | Carabosse  | Mayflower Theatre
2021–2022  | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Wicked Queen  | Bristol Hippodrome
2022  | Sister Act: The Musical | Sister Mary Lazarus  | Palace Theatre, Manchester and Hammersmith Apollo
2022–2023  | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Wicked Queen  | Milton Keynes Theatre [22]
2022–2023  | Sister Act: The Musical | Mother Superior  | UK Tour
2023–2024  | Jack and the Beanstalk | Spirit of the Beans  | New Theatre, Cardiff
2024  | The Addams Family | Grandma Addams  | London Palladium
2024  | Sister Act: The Musical | Sister Mary Lazarus/Mother Superior  | Dominion Theatre
2024–2025  | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Wicked Queen  | Theatre Royal, Plymouth
2025  | The Addams Family | Grandma  | UK Tour

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Rubinstein, W.D.; Jolles, M.; Rubinstein, H.L. (2011). The Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Jewish History. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 491\. ISBN 9781403939104. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
2. ^ "A 'homecoming' for Lesley Joseph". Bbc.co.uk. 22 April 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
3. ^ BBC. "A 'homecoming' for Lesley Joseph". Retrieved 7 January 2017.
4. ^ "Brighton Theatre Royal - Godspell - 1972 - Jess Conrad 1970s Theatre Show Programme 72 [T02111]". Theatrememorabilia.co.uk.
5. ^ Cole, Emily (21 April 2017). "Hadley Fraser, Summer Strallen & More to Star in London's Young Frankenstein". Broadway.com. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
6. ^ "Lesley Joseph - Sister Act: The Musical". Sister Act: The Musical. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
7. ^ "Birds of a Feather". BBC. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
8. ^ "'Birds of A Feather' reunion tour dates announced". Digital Spy. 16 December 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
9. ^ "Birds of a Feather cast takeover Loose Women and reveal they felt "like they've never been away"". Daily Mirror. 16 January 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
10. ^ "Birds of a Feather renewed for series 12". Digital Spy. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
11. ^ Seddon, Paul (16 May 2021). "ITV announces Birds of a Feather has been cancelled following Pauline Quirke's exit". Digital Spy. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
12. ^ "The Vagina Monologues – coming soon". BBC. 11 August 2004. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
13. ^ "Who is Lesley Joseph? Strictly Come Dancing 2016 contestant guide". Radio Times. 6 November 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
14. ^ "Lesley Joseph becomes fifth celebrity to be voted off Strictly Come Dancing". ITV. 23 October 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
15. ^ "The Great British Sewing Bee". BBC. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
16. ^ "I'm Birds of a Feather stars back together on Celebrity Coach Trip". The List. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
17. ^ "Lesley Joseph Lesley Joseph BBC London 94.9's version of those glossy supplements in your Sunday newspaper!". BBC. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
18. ^ "How We Met: Maureen Lipman & Lesley Joseph – Profiles – People". The Independent. 11 July 2009. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
19. ^ Wolfisz, Francine. "'I blessed the Pope - just like any good Jewish girl would do!'". Jewish News. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
20. ^ "Lesley Joseph husband: Is Lesley Joseph married?". 22 March 2020.
21. ^ Martin, Tricia (7 April 2019). "Lesley Joseph on not feeling her age, and being cheeky to the Pope". Daily Mirror.
22. ^ Norford, Olga, "SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS", Music in Disney's Animated Features, University Press of Mississippi, pp. 56–78, doi:10.2307/j.ctv5jxpcg.8, retrieved 8 January 2023

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lesley Joseph.

* Lesley Joseph at IMDb
* Lesley Joseph at the British Film Institute