• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} The Last Dance by John Inman The Last Dance by John Inman. Wendy Richard, his co-star in Are You Being Served?, was joined by actress Barbara Windsor, entertainer Danny La Rue and Inman's partner Ron Lynch. "It's a sad day but we'll give him a good send-off," Windsor said before the service at Golders Green crematorium. Inman, best known for his role as camp salesman Mr Humphries in Are You Being Served?, died earlier this month at the age of 71. "John Inman was without a doubt - and you'll see from the turnout - one of the loveliest, sweetest men in our business," Windsor said. "I was very fortunate to have worked with him, and I knew him for over 30 years." The Preston-born actor had been suffering from a Hepatitis A infection for some time. "He's going to be greatly missed," said Wendy Richard, who played Miss Brahms in the show. Danny La Rue said he was "very sad but fine". "There are many happy memories for us, 44 years we've known each other. This is for John," he added. Frank Thornton, who starred in Are You Being Served? as Captain Peacock, was also among the mourners. The Last Dance by John Inman. But any criticism of Mr Humphries, the camp, sharp-tongued sales assistant in Are You Being Served? was overwhelmed by public popularity. Inman won BBC TV personality of the year in 1976 and was voted funniest man on television by TV Times readers. The show attracted up to 22 million viewers and his shrill "I'm free!" hardly faded from the public's imagination. Frederick John Inman was born on 28 June, 1935, in Preston, Lancashire. At the age of 13 he appeared at the South Pier in Blackpool and he went on to make hundreds of stage and screen appearances. Inman's West End debut was in the musical Ann Veronica at the Cambridge Theatre, followed by a stint as Lord Fancourt Babberley in Charley's Aunt at the Adelphi Theatre. But he also performed in more than 40 pantomimes and was one of the country's best-loved pantomime dames. Are You Being Served? began life as part of the BBC's Comedy Playhouse strand. But disruption to the 1972 Munich Olympics meant it was moved to fill gaps in the prime time schedule. He stayed for its entire 13-year run, alongside Wendy Richard, who went on to play Pauline Fowler in EastEnders, as well as Molly Sugden, Frank Thornton and Trevor Bannister. Seven years after the final episode, five of the characters returned for a sequel - Grace And Favour - in which they tried to run an old house as a hotel. Inman also appeared in ITV's Odd Man Out as Neville Sutcliffe, the owner of a Blackpool fish and chip shop who inherited his father's factory, but the show only ran for seven episodes in 1977. He next starred alongside Rula Lenska as a male secretary in Take A Letter, Mr Jones for six episodes in 1981. More recently, he returned to the BBC for Revolver, a 2004 sketch show in which he played an antiques-shop owner who got carried away when explaining the history of objects for sale. At the end of that year Inman, who suffered from hepatitis A, cancelled the opening of a London pantomime because of the disease. In December 2005 he and his partner of 35 years, Ron Lynch, took part in a civil partnership ceremony at London's Westminster Register Office. British comedy actor John Inman dies after long illness. BRITAIN: Tributes poured in yesterday for John Inman, star of the British sitcom Are You Being Served?, following his death at the age of 71. The actor, much loved for his role as a camp, sharp-tongued salesman with the catchphrase "I'm free!", had been ill for some time. Actress Wendy Richard said: "John was one of the wittiest and most inventive actors I have ever worked with. He was a brilliant pantomime dame and an all-round brilliant actor." Of Inman's sexuality she said: "Of course he never said he was gay; he just said he was a young man who was very good to his mother." Inman's manager, Phil Dale, said: "John, through his character Mr Humphries of Are You Being Served?, was known and loved throughout the world. "He was one of the best and finest pantomime dames, working to capacity audiences throughout Britain. "Ron Lynch, his partner of many, many years, is absolutely devastated and at the moment inconsolable," Mr Dale said. The couple had been together for 35 years, and participated in a civil partnership ceremony two years ago. Inman suffered from hepatitis A and had been taken into hospital for tests after problems with his liver. The highly infectious disease forced him to cancel the opening of a pantomime in London in December 2004, and after that he never worked again. Hepatitis A is a liver inflammation caused through eating contaminated food, which Inman believed was how he came to have the virus. His portrayal of the pouting Mr Humphries character brought him awards for the Funniest Man On Television and TV's Personality Of The Year. But he was also attacked by gay groups offended by his stereotypical portrayal of a camp homosexual. He argued that his sexual orientation was never stated. Fellow actor Rula Lenska said of Inman: "He was always sweetness and light . He would stand for hours at the stage door chatting to fans and signing photos." She added: "He could be as suggestive as you like but never vulgar." - (PA) The Last Dance. Martin Dance knows better than to get involved with a rent boy. After all, he’s been around the block a few times. And a few times after that. Still, there’s something about Johnny Cotton that catches his eye. And his heart. When Johnny and his best friend find themselves in over their heads with the woman who owns them lock, stock, and barrel, Martin knows he has to step in. Martin and his old buddy, Charlie Bass, might be retired from the Firm, but they still know how to manage a gunfight. And how to go underground with a couple of male hookers less than half their age. Just for the purpose of keeping them safe, you understand. No funny business intended. Odd, though, how funny business tends to creep in when you least expect it. It’s sort of like love that way, Martin decides. One minute you’re minding your own business, the next minute you’re in a world of hurt. Or, if you’re lucky, a world of happy. Genre: Romantic Suspense. The Last Dance. Martin Dance knows better than to get involved with a rent boy. After all, he’s been around the block a few times. And a few times after that. Still, there’s something about Johnny Cotton that catches his eye. And his heart. When Johnny and his best friend find themselves in over their heads with the woman who owns them lock, stock, and barrel, Martin knows he has to step in. Martin and his old buddy, Charlie Bass, might be retired from the Firm, but they still know how to manage a gunfight. And how to go underground with a couple of male hookers less than half their age. Just for the purpose of keeping them safe, you understand. No funny business intended. Odd, though, how funny business tends to creep in when you least expect it. It’s sort of like love that way, Martin decides. One minute you’re minding your own business, the next minute you’re in a world of hurt. Or, if you’re lucky, a world of happy. Cover Artist: L.C. Chase. The Last Dance. We Also Recommend. The Last Dance was an enjoyable read that blended a number of tropes- a May-December romance, suspense, and hurt/comfort- with great dynamic characters, smooth dialogue, and a good plotline. I really enjoy this author’s writing and unique stories like this one is precisely why. As much as I love romances, I love good stories with interesting characters independent of their love story more. In The Last Dance, Mr. Inman does an amazing job creating complex, engaging backstories for Martin Dance and Johnny Cotton before weaving their paths together, and the result is I cared for these men far before I was rooting for them to be together. That they ended up in love simply sweetened the payoff. Martin’s pain and loneliness over his partner’s death five years prior was poignant and palpable, as was his immediate care for Johnny’s safety and happiness. I really liked that his protective instincts were in the forefront, so much so that the first part of the story has Martin not acting on his attraction to Johnny. Similarly, I found Johnny’s pain and frustration in not knowing where to turn or how to escape his predicament emanate from the page. I enjoyed seeing these two heal one another and stand together to fight back and protect Johnny and Mace. I also loved the bonus romantic subplot and the Martin’s loyal but quirky ex-partner, Charlie. These fun, slightly imbalanced characters seem to be a trademark for this author and I was happy to have Charlie to add some levity during a mostly serious, suspenseful book. There were times in The Last Dance that felt rushed- mainly the move from Martin protecting Johnny to the men acting on their mutual attraction and becoming a committed couple- and there were other moments that felt over-the-top, especially regarding the villains of the story.

Load more

  4

Copy Link