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Linda Regan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Linda Regan
Born
Linda Mary Drinkwater

(1949-11-05) 5 November 1949 (age 76)
Brixton, London[1]
OccupationActress
Years active1970–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1995; died 2025)​
RelativesCarol Drinkwater (sister)[2]
Websitelindareganonline.co.uk

Linda Regan (born 5 November 1949),[3] born Linda Mary Drinkwater, is a British actress and author, who has appeared on television, film, radio and on stage. She is best known for her role as yellowcoat April Wingate in the British holiday camp sitcom Hi-de-Hi!.

Early life

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Born in Brixton, London, Regan is a daughter of bandleader and agent Peter Regan (born Peter Albert Drinkwater) and Phyllis McCormack, an Irish nurse; Regan's older sister is the actress and writer Carol Drinkwater.[4][2] They moved to Rochester, before settling in Bromley when Regan was five. Regan often helped her father while entertaining, such as helping with Punch and Judy and balloon modelling. After leaving school, Regan attended the Worcester Repertory Company.[5]

Career

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Regan made her television debut in 1970, in an episode of the ITV sitcom On the Buses. Shortly after, she appeared in the film version of the same name. Sha also had a role in the festive Carry On Christmas special opposite Sid James. This was followed by roles in programmes such as Doctor at Large, Softly, Softly: Task Force, Special Branch and Dixon of Dock Green. She was also the stunt double for Katy Manning's Jo Grant in the Doctor Who episode "Carnival of Monsters" in 1973.[6] In the mid-1970s, Regan appeared in several sex comedy films including Confessions of a Pop Performer (1975), Carry On England (1976) and Adventures of a Private Eye (1977). She also appeared in the films A Private Enterprise (1974), The Hiding Place (1975) and Quadrophenia (1979) and had a main role in the hospital drama General Hospital from 1976 to 1977. Regan appeared in the first episode of the drama series Minder in 1979 starring George Cole and Dennis Waterman and played a Swedish pop star in Bergerac, before having a role in the film The Hit (1984) with John Hurt and Terence Stamp. She followed this with a main role in the holiday camp sitcom Hi-de-Hi! as April, a character she would play from 1984 until the show's end in 1988, appearing in a total of twenty-four episodes.

After appearances in Birds of a Feather, thriller Framed and the crime drama The Knock, Regan starred in five episodes of The Bill before appearing as Harry's mother in all 4 series of children's drama series Harry and Cosh from 1999 to 2003. She continues her career on both stage and screen, including Holby City, Doctors and Run for Your Wife, as well as appearing in several short films and commercials, and writing award-winning crime novels.[4] Regan was in two episodes of podcast sitcom Barmy Dale in 2023 and played alongside her husband Brian Murphy as the mayor of Barmy Dale Felicity Palmer[citation needed].

Personal life

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Regan was married to actor Brian Murphy from 1995[7] until his death in 2025.[8] She had two stepsons from his previous marriage.[9]

She is dyslexic and was not encouraged at school but wrote stories from a young age. Just before her first book was published, in 2005, Regan was kidnapped at knifepoint and forced into a car, later jumping from the vehicle to escape. Soon after, she was diagnosed with cancer, which she believes was caused by her kidnap ordeal; she overcame the disease.[5]

A dog lover since childhood, Regan runs her own blog in which she communicates with other dog owners.[10]

Filmography

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Film

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YearTitleRoleNotes
1971On the BusesPretty Girl on Bus
1973Adolf Hitler: My Part in His DownfallGirl at Dance
1974Keep It Up, JackGloria
A Private EnterpriseEve
1975The Hiding PlaceProstitute
Confessions of a Pop PerformerBrenda Climax
1976Carry On EnglandA.T.S. Private Taylor
1977HardcoreSecretary
Adventures of a Private EyeClarissa
1979QuadropheniaChief Rocker Girl
1984The HitMadame Isabella
1999Janice BeardUnknown
Holding OnPru
2003The Last Horror MovieTerri
2004Let GoSusanShort film
2012Blitz and BananasEmily Spratt
Run for Your WifeAllotment womanCameo
2016After HoursShirleyShort film
2018The Vampire of SohoBeryl

Television

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YearTitleRoleNotes
1970Z CarsFactory GirlEpisode: "Stop Over: Part 1"
Carry On ChristmasIsland GirlTV film
On the BusesEdnaEpisode: "Christmas Duty"
1971Doctor at LargeSchoolgirlEpisode: "Doctor Dish"
Softly, Softly: Task ForceGirl in LorryEpisode: "Copper Wire"
1972Engelbert with the Young GenerationGirl in Film SequenceEpisode: #1.11
Doctor in ChargeGirl at DanceEpisode: "The Taming of the Wolf"
VillainsYoung WomanEpisode: "Belinda"
Sacha's Back in TownBelly DancerEpisode: #1.4
1973Special BranchEpisode: "Red Herring"
1974Seven Faces of WomanBarbaraEpisode: "Polly Put the Kettle On"
1975Dixon of Dock GreenLiz RowleyEpisode: "On a Moody Complaint"
ScenePollyEpisode: "Because I Said So"
1976Barney's Last BattleLily AyresTV film
1976–1977General HospitalSusan3 episodes
1977ITV PlayhouseValerieEpisode: "The Proofing Session"
1978Z CarsWoman at Bus StopEpisode: "A Woman's Place"
1979MinderLizEpisode: "Gunfight at the O.K. Laundrette"
1980The Gentle TouchMarilynEpisode: "Break-In"
1982Kelly MonteithVariousEpisode: #4.1
1984BergeracGudrun OlfsbergEpisode: "A Cry in the Night"
1984–1988Hi-de-Hi!April24 episodes
1985Dempsey and MakepeaceGloriaEpisode: "Blind Eye"
C.A.T.S. EyesNaval Computer OperatorEpisode: "Something Nasty Down Below"
Lost in LondonRoseyTV film
1986C.A.T.S. EyesAmberEpisode: "Hit List"
1988Comic ReliefHospital PatientTV special
The BillBurnside's GirlfriendEpisode: "Snout"
1991Birds of a FeatherAnnieEpisode: "We'll Always Have Majorca"
1992The BillBuilding Society ManageressEpisode: "Sympathy for the Devil"
FramedMrs MintonEpisode: #1.2
Crime MonthlyLinda CalveyEpisode: "The Black Widow"
Fool's Gold: The Story of the Brink's-Mat RobberyBrenda NoyeTV film
1993Over the RainbowJennyEpisode: "The House of the Rising Sun"
1994The DetectivesBarmaidEpisode: "Witness"
The BillPub ManageressEpisode: "Pals"
The KnockJune3 episodes
Hale and PaceWife in Hospital2 episodes
1995Ghostbusters of East FinchleyProstituteEpisode: #1.1
1997The BillLizzie ByrneEpisode: "Age Gaps"
1998BarmaidEpisode: "Like Family"
1999–2003Harry and CoshHarry's MotherAll 45 episodes
2000London's BurningIvyEpisode: #12.6
2001Men OnlyAerobics TeacherTV film
2004DoctorsNoreen TopperEpisode: "What the Doctor Saw"
Billie: Girl of the FutureBarbaraEpisode: #1.4
2005TittybangbangVariousEpisode: "Pilot"
2007Holby CityPolly HunterEpisode: "Past Imperfect"
2014DoctorsHilary CavendishEpisode: "Good Guys"
2020Bruised SkyLindaEpisode: "A Mother's Love"
2023–2025Barmy DaleFelicity Palmer2 episodes

Writing

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  • Behind You!. (2006 or 2007). Creme de La Crime. ISBN 0-9551589-2-3. ISBN 978-0-9551589-2-6.
  • Dead Like Her. (5 February 2007). Creme de La Crime. ISBN 0-9557078-8-9. ISBN 978-0-9557078-8-9.
  • Passion Killers. (2008). Creme de La Crime. ISBN 0-9551589-8-2. ISBN 978-0-9551589-8-8.
  • Brotherhood of Blades. (28 July 2011). Creme de La Crime. ISBN 1-78029-009-8. ISBN 978-1-78029-009-6.
  • Street Girls. (28 March 2012). Creme De La Crime.
  • Guts for Garters. (March 2015). Accent Press.
  • SisterHoods. (December 2016). Accent Press.
  • The Terror Within. (December 2019). Accent Press.

Theatre roles

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Plays

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(incomplete)

YearTitleRoleVenue
1975Straight UpLilaSwan Theatre, Worcester
1976Dirty LinenMaddieUK Tour
1976Seven GirlsLisaOpen Space Theatre, Tottenham
1977Get Some In!MaureenPrincess Theatre, Torquay
1979Dirty LinenMiss GotobedWest End, London
1980Once in a LifetimeFlorabel LeighPiccadilly Theatre, West End, London
1980LegendMarilyn MonroeHaymarket Theatre, Basingstoke
1981Last of the Red Hot LoversBobbi MicheleVenn Street Arts Centre, York
1981Boeing-BoeingHarrogate Theatre, Harrogate
1981What the Butler SawGeraldine BarclayHorncastle
1982JumpersTheatre Royal, York
1982A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the ForumTheatre Royal, York
1982The Mating GameHoneyLyceum Theatre, Crewe
1982Once a CatholicMary McGintyChurchill Theatre, Bromley
1983My Friend Miss FlintLucyTheatre Royal, Windsor
1983Henry IV, Part 1Lady PercyUK Tour with RSC
1983MacbethLady MacbethUK Tour with RSC
1985SteamingJosieMercury Theatre, Colchester
1986Hi-de-Hi SpiritsApril WingateUK Tour
1987The Mating GameJuliaBabbacombe Theatre, Torquay
1987Veronica's RoomThe GirlChelmsford
1988Wife Begins at FortyLinda HarperChelmsford Civic Centre, Chelmsford
1988ExtremetiesMarjorieChelmsford Civic Centre, Chelmsford
1988Noises OffBrooke AshtonUK Tour
1989A Day in the Death of Joe EggSheilaChelmsford Civic Centre, Chelmsford
1989 One for the RoadPaulineChelmsford Civic Centre, Chelmsford
1989You’ll Do for Me!DianeUK Tour
1990My Wife WhatsernameChelmsford Civic Centre, Chelmsford
1990SteamingJosieUK Tour
1991Go Back for MurderChelmsford Civic Centre, Chelmsford
1991Bedroom FarceChelmsford Civic Centre, Chelmsford
1991Wife Begins at FortyLinda HarperDevonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne
1992 Run for Your WifeMary SmithChelmsford Civic Centre, Chelmsford
1994MacbethLady MacbethCannizaro Park Open Air Theatre, Wimbledon
1996Stepping OutSylviaThe Mill at Sonning, London
1997BartrumBearcat Sitcom Club, St Margaret’s
1997That’s Showbiz!LorettaWimbledon Theatre, Wimbledon
1998You’re Only Young TwiceSuePoole Arts Centre, Poole
1999Round and Round the GardenGrand Theatre, Swansea
2001You’re Only Young TwiceSueUK Tour
2012Goodwood Murder MysteryGoodwood House
2016A Day in the Lives of Frankie AbbottMarionUK Tour

Pantomime

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YearTitleRoleVenue
1974–1975Puss in BootsPrincess PearlAssembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells
1976–1977Puss in BootsPussRoyal Victoria Hall, Southborough
1986–1987Jack and the BeanstalkThe FairyNew Wimbledon Theatre, Wimbledon
1987–1988CinderellaCinderellaOctagon Theatre, Yeovil
1988–1989Dick WhittingtonThe Good FairyLoughborough Town Hall, Loughborough
1989–1990Jack and the BeanstalkVegetable FairyTameside Theatre, Ashton under Lyne
1990–1991CinderellaCinderellaLibrary Theatre, Solihull
1991–1992Dick WhittingtonFairy NuffBeck Theatre, Hayes
1992–1993The Adventures of Robinson CrusoeFairy SeasprayHazlitt Theatre, Maidstone
1993–1994Dick WhittingtonFairy BowbellsSpa Centre, Leamington
1994–1995CinderellaCinderellaHazlitt Theatre, Maidstone
1996–1997Sleeping BeautyGood Fairy DreamawhileWyllyotts Theatre, Potters Bar
1999–2000CinderellaFairy GodmotherHorsham Arts Centre, Horsham

References

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  1. ↑ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Enjoying the rich harvest". Independent.ie. 8 August 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  3. ↑ "Byroc Play Productions Limited - Company Information - Endole". www.endole.co.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2017. Cite error: Unknown parameter ",<ref" in <ref> tag; supported parameters are dir, follow, group, name (see the help page).
  4. 1 2 Maxford, Howard (2018). Hammer Complete: The Films, the Personnel, the Company. McFarland. p. 677. ISBN 978-1476670072. She is married to the actor Brian Murphy (1932 - ), whom she wed in 1995... Her father is the bandleader and agent Peter Regan (real name Peter Albert Drinkwater) and her sister is the actress and writer Carol Drinkwater (1948 - ).
  5. 1 2 Sturt, Sarah. "Bromley star Linda Regan-Murphy". Kent Life.
  6. ↑ Doctor Who Guide. "Doctor Who Guide: Linda Regan". Doctor Who Guide.
  7. ↑ "'Allo 'Allo star dies". 4 August 2002 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  8. ↑ Dixon, Stephen (4 February 2025). "Brian Murphy Obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
  9. ↑ "Brian Murphy, actor best known for George and Mildred, dies aged 92". The Guardian. Press Association. 4 February 2025. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
  10. ↑ "Home". Canines in Kent.
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