Wendy Richard -- No 's': My Life Story

by Wendy Richard

This is the life story of Wendy Richard, star of many classic television series. Her career has spanned over 30 years, appearing in shows such as "Dad's Army", "Are You Being Served?" and "Eastenders", she has also had a number one hit with Mike Sarne's "Come Outside", and she has appeared on a variety of stage and screen productions. A recognizable personality, she tells of her life from her early days in Teeside, her influences and the personal and professional successes and traumas that have shaped her life.

272 pages, Hardcover

First published November 6, 2000

Reviews

[Nancy Thormann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. It's well written and you can imagine Wendy Richard speaking as she's writing the book. I started reading this book because of Wendy's role in Are You Being Served? I learned a lot about Wendy herself. It might have been better for her had she never gotten married; she didn't have much luck with men, except for the last one she was involved with. She also talks about the stresses involved in the acting business.

I actually started this book three weeks ago.

[readerofreallife · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy reading autobiographies, and I was certain that the late Wendy Richard, with her extensive acting career, would have some interesting stories to share. And indeed, she did. I thoroughly enjoyed this chatty and personable autobiography. Although it was ghostwritten, I felt as though I was having a conversation with Wendy herself. She certainly had a long list of TV shows and films to her credit, along with a few forays into theatre and radio. Most of this work is listed at the end.

Wendy mentions many of the wonderful people she worked with, and I appreciated the brief glimpse into the behind-the-scenes life of "Are You Being Served?" and "EastEnders." She never speaks ill of anyone and is an engaging storyteller. I found myself smiling frequently and read the entire book in just two sittings. I also found myself more engrossed in Wendy's private life than her career. Although a successful woman, I felt sympathy for her as she went through quite a bit of unhappiness, including a most traumatic event from her childhood. Most of her romantic relationships were quite troubled, but fortunately, she found love with the man she speaks so fondly of towards the end of the book, whom she later married. She also reveals how irresponsible the press can be, and I thought it very nice how she mentioned the man who created a fan site in her honour, and shared the address of it. For sure, Wendy's story was never dull, and I was never tempted to skip a page.

The book also contains many photographs that will delight her fans. Wendy came across very well in "No S." I was left with the impression that she was very hardworking, a good friend, a passionate animal lover, very honest, straight-talking, and above all, very strong. It’s sad that she passed away so young, and so soon after leaving "EastEnders" (at the time this book was written, she was still in the show.) I feel she could have gone on to enjoy further TV success, but she left behind a significant legacy in British entertainment. I wasn't really a fan before reading this book, but I came away with a great deal of admiration for Wendy Richard. I'm sure this autobiography will be a treasure trove for her fans, but it's also an interesting and entertaining read for those who aren't.

[Rich ✧ ✭ ✧ · Rating 5 out of 5]

An informative and interesting look over a career that’s spanned decades and the woman behind Pauline Fowler. It’s an easy read and I read in just one sitting. Wendy covers so much of her life and is one of the better autobiographies out there.