Liz Fraser and Sid James by George Konig/Rex
“Is it? Is it really?” asks Liz Fraser. The reason for Liz’s shock is the discovery/realisation that Citizen James, the 1960 BBC comedy series she made with Sid James (and just released on DVD for the first time), is 52 years old. “I have been going a long time then, haven’t I?!”
Indeed she has. Still sparkling at 81 despite some recent health problems (“I had the wrong sort of medication which, over Christmas, nearly killed me off but since last Wednesday I’ve been getting better,” she explains with charming understatement), Liz is one of the UK’s leading comedy actresses. She laughs off the statement but the facts speak for themselves: Liz featured in the Carry Ons, St Trinian’s, the Doctor films, alongside Tony Hancock, I’m Alright Jack with Peter Sellers... And, as a whole new audience can now discover, one series of Citizen James, a show written for Sid James by Hancock writers Galton and Simpson.
Although a fan of Galton and Simpson – “their writing is always excellent” – and Sid – “I loved him to bits” – so far Liz has only watched one episode of the re-release.
“I never watch myself,” she admits, “but I watched the first one out of interest. Everything is so polished these days but you can almost see the cloth backdrop moving. I think it’s rather sweet, that era. It’s quite a gentle comedy and I think it’s quite refreshing to see something that doesn’t have a swear word in every sentence.”
Although gentle, the quality of the writing and, particularly, the performances shines through in this lost gem. Sadly, only the first series remains in its entirety and this release includes all six episodes of that, plus the only remaining episodes – two apiece – from each of series two and three. In it, Sid plays a charming rogue called Sid James. His sidekick is a young Australian called Bill Kerr played by Bill Kerr. And Liz Fraser plays Sid’s put-upon fiancée called, er, Liz Fraser.
“It broke all conventions,” agrees Liz. “I’m not sure how that came about but I was surprised when I saw that episode and he introduces himself, “Hello, I’m Sid James and in there is my fiancée, Liz Fraser...” it sounded like it was all us!”
In some respects, it was. “All the clothes were my own!” explains Liz. “They had a very tight budget. I watched it but it’s peculiar, it’s detached. I was thinking ‘look how long my hair was’ and ‘I wonder what happened to that coat...’”
The show came about after Tony Hancock has decided to sever ties with Sid James.
“They were great mates,” explains Liz. “Tony and Sid would go out with their wives together, and it was a huge shock for Sid when Tony told the BBC that he wasn’t going to work with Sid anymore because he felt they were a double act. That’s when Tony went solo. But the BBC was very loyal to Sid and said he could have his own series.
“And, of course, Sid was terribly upset. It was more than just not working with Tony, the whole friendship disappeared. I remember watching a preview of something with Sid and him telling me what happened. He was in tears.
“It was always going to be Tony with Sid but Tony felt it had become Sid and Tony. That was Tony’s reason, that’s what he told me, he didn’t want to be a double act.” The situation only affected Sid as Liz and Galton and Simpson continued to work with both.
“Sid wanted me to be with him, so it was fait accompli,” explains Liz. “It was the same with the script writers, they were upset as well. But it didn’t have any effect on me. I even got a small part in The Rebel, as Tony considered me a good luck mascot and Tony (plus Galton and Simpson) made some excellent ones on his own, like The Blood Donor and The Radio Ham.”
Although clearly a traumatic time for all involved, Liz thinks that Tony’s decision probably benefitted Sid in the long run. “Yes, I think it worked both ways,” she agrees. It’s certainly a joy to see Sid doing what Sid did best: exploring his roguish charm. As Bruce Forsyth once said, Sid James “was a natural at being natural.”
“He was as he was,” says Liz . “I don’t think he ever stepped outside of his own skin really. I don’t think Sid ever played unsympathetic - although Sid would never suffer fools gladly, he wasn’t so nice to that extent. But,” she adds, with obvious fondness, “the person who annoyed him wouldn’t have known they annoyed him...”
Citizen James is out now on DVD.