# Wanda Ventham

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Wanda_Ventham
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Wanda_Ventham.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanda_Ventham
> Source revision: 1341476265
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

English actress (born 1935)

Wanda Ventham Ventham in The Blood Beast Terror (1968) Born (1935-08-05) 5 August 1935 (age 90) Brighton, Sussex, England Alma mater Central School of Speech and Drama Occupation Actress Years active 1956–present Spouses James Tabernacle ​ ​ (m. 1957; div. 1974)​ Timothy Carlton ​ ​ (m. 1976)​ Children 2, including Benedict Cumberbatch Relatives Sophie Hunter (daughter-in-law)

**Wanda Ventham** (born 5 August 1935) is an English actress with many roles on British television since beginning her career in the 1950s.

Ventham played Colonel Virginia Lake in the 1970s science-fiction television series *[UFO](/source/UFO_(British_TV_series))* and had a recurring role as Cassandra Trotter's mother Pamela Parry in the sitcom *[Only Fools and Horses](/source/Only_Fools_and_Horses)* between 1989 and 1992. Her many other television appearances include *[Danger Man](/source/Danger_Man)*, *[The Rag Trade](/source/The_Rag_Trade)*, *[The Sweeney](/source/The_Sweeney)*, *[The Avengers](/source/The_Avengers_(TV_programme))*, *[The Saint](/source/The_Saint_(TV_series))*, *[Doctor Who](/source/Doctor_Who)*, *[The Gentle Touch](/source/The_Gentle_Touch)*, *[Minder](/source/Minder_(TV_series))*, *[Heartbeat](/source/Heartbeat_(British_TV_series))* and *[Holby City](/source/Holby_City)*, and she appeared in two *[Carry On](/source/Carry_On_(franchise))* films.

In April 2014, *[People](/source/People_(magazine))* magazine featured her in its "Most Beautiful People in the World" edition.[1]

## Early life

Ventham was born in [Brighton](/source/Brighton) on 5 August 1935, the daughter of Gladys Frances (née Holtham) and Frederick Howard Ventham.[2][3] Originally aspiring to become an artist, she attended art school for a year whilst working as a scenic painter for the [Connaught Theatre](/source/Connaught_Theatre) in [Worthing, West Sussex](/source/Worthing%2C_West_Sussex), during her school holidays. The exposure to professional theatre prompted her to leave art school and pursue a career in acting.[4] She trained at the [Central School of Speech and Drama](/source/Central_School_of_Speech_and_Drama), as a contemporary of [Judi Dench](/source/Judi_Dench),[5] graduating in 1956.[6]

## Career

Ventham's first film role was in *[My Teenage Daughter](/source/My_Teenage_Daughter)* (1956), with Dame [Anna Neagle](/source/Anna_Neagle) and [Sylvia Syms](/source/Sylvia_Syms). She also appeared as a debutante in 1962 with a ten-second talking role in the Norman Wisdom film *On the Beat* and in 1963 as a nurse in the Norman Wisdom film *A Stitch in Time* – both were uncredited.

She also appeared in *[Carry On Cleo](/source/Carry_On_Cleo)* (1964) and *[Carry On Up the Khyber](/source/Carry_On_Up_the_Khyber)* (1968). She starred alongside [Mark Burns](/source/Mark_Burns_(actor)) in the mystery film *[Death Is a Woman](/source/Death_Is_a_Woman)* (1966). Her best-known role was on television as Col. Virginia Lake, second-in-command to Commander Ed Straker ([Ed Bishop](/source/Ed_Bishop)), in the cult series *[UFO](/source/UFO_(British_TV_series))*.

Ventham's numerous other TV credits include regular roles in *[Heartbeat](/source/Heartbeat_(British_TV_series))* as Fiona Weston, *[Hetty Wainthropp Investigates](/source/Hetty_Wainthropp_Investigates)* as Margaret Balshaw, and in Series 2 and 3 of *[The Rag Trade](/source/The_Rag_Trade)* as Shirley. She also played a love interest for [Arthur Daley](/source/Arthur_Daley) in *[Minder](/source/Minder_(TV_series))*, Susan's mother in *[Coupling](/source/Coupling_(British_TV_series))*, and Deborah's mother in *[Men Behaving Badly](/source/Men_Behaving_Badly)*. She starred opposite [Ian Hendry](/source/Ian_Hendry) in the 15-part BBC series *[The Lotus Eaters](/source/The_Lotus_Eaters_(TV_series))* (1972–73), had a recurring role in the final series of *[The Troubleshooters](/source/The_Troubleshooters_(British_TV_series))*, and made a guest appearance in the fifth episode of the first season of the [BBC Two](/source/BBC_Two) sketch show *[Rutland Weekend Television](/source/Rutland_Weekend_Television)*. She was in an episode of *[Danger Man](/source/Danger_Man)*, and the series Patrick McGoohan completed immediately afterwards – the allegorical spy series *[The Prisoner](/source/The_Prisoner)* – as well as the sitcoms *[Executive Stress](/source/Executive_Stress)* and *[Next of Kin](/source/Next_of_Kin_(TV_series))*, and the sketch show *[The Two Ronnies](/source/The_Two_Ronnies)*.

She has appeared in *[Doctor Who](/source/Doctor_Who)* on three occasions over three decades; as Jean Rock in *[The Faceless Ones](/source/The_Faceless_Ones)* (1967), as Thea Ransome in *[Image of the Fendahl](/source/Image_of_the_Fendahl)* (1977) and as Faroon in *[Time and the Rani](/source/Time_and_the_Rani)* (1987). Her appearance in *Image of the Fendahl* was opposite [Denis Lill](/source/Denis_Lill), with whom she would later act when they were cast as Pamela and Alan Parry in the sitcom *[Only Fools and Horses](/source/Only_Fools_and_Horses)* (1989–1992).

In 2014, she and her husband [Timothy Carlton](/source/Timothy_Carlton) appeared in the BBC adaptation of *[Sherlock](/source/Sherlock_(TV_series))* as the parents of [Sherlock Holmes](/source/Sherlock_Holmes), who is played by their son [Benedict Cumberbatch](/source/Benedict_Cumberbatch).[7] Ventham appeared in *[Holby City](/source/Holby_City)* as Sheilagh Chiltern, the grandmother of [Lofty Chiltern](/source/Lofty_Chiltern).[8]

## Personal life

Ventham married her first husband James Tabernacle in 1957[9][10] and they had one daughter, Tracy. They divorced on 12 November 1974.[11] She met actor [Timothy Carlton](/source/Timothy_Carlton) in 1970 while filming sequences for the drama series *[A Family at War](/source/A_Family_at_War)*[4][12] and they have been married since April 1976.[9] The couple appeared together in the second series of BBC drama [*The Lotus Eaters*](/source/The_Lotus_Eaters_(TV_series)) in 1973, and in the third and fourth series of BBC's *[Sherlock](/source/Sherlock_(TV_series))* in 2014 and 2017, where they played the title character's parents, with their son, actor [Benedict Cumberbatch](/source/Benedict_Cumberbatch) starring in the title role of Holmes.[7]

## Filmography

### Film

Year Title Role Notes 1956 My Teenage Daughter Gina 1959 The Navy Lark Mabel 1961 We Joined the Navy The "Initiative test" girl 1962 Solo for Sparrow Waitress 1963 The Cracksman Sandra 1964 Carry On Cleo Pretty Bidder Uncredited 1965 The Big Job Dot Franklin The Knack ...and How to Get It Gym Mistress Uncredited 1966 Death Is a Woman Priscilla Blunstone-Smythe The Spy with a Cold Nose Mrs. Winters 1967 Mister Ten Per Cent Kathy 1968 The Blood Beast Terror Clare Mallinger Ventham also provided stunt work for the film and appeared in costume as the giant moth monster. Carry On Up the Khyber Khasi's First Wife 1974 Invasion: UFO Col. Virginia Lake Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter Lady Durward 2002 Mrs Caldicot's Cabbage War Victoria 2005 Asylum Bridie Straffen 2012 Run for Your Wife Lady on Bus Cameo 2016 Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie Violet

### Television

Year Title Role Notes 1959-1962 ITV Television Playhouse Penny/Morya 2 episodes 1961-1966 No Hiding Place Janet Farley/Liz Forster 1962 The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theater Waitress Episode: "Solo for Sparrow" 1962–1963 The Rag Trade Shirley Seasons 2-3 1963 BBC Sunday-Night Play Julie Episode: "Two by the Sea #2: Wedding Bells" 1964 The Human Jungle Nurse Episode: "Success Machine" Thorndyke Maud Episode: "A Case of Premeditation" 1964–1965 Danger Man Stella Dorset Penny 2 episodes 1964–1966 The Saint Laura Stride/Penny Pearson 1965 The Worker Sandra Episode: "No Automation Without Representation" The Likely Lads Angela Episode: "Last of the Big Spenders" The Avengers Nurse Spray Episode: "The Gravediggers" 1966 Two of a Kind Auntie Yum Yum/Ern's Wife 2 episodes The Rat Catchers Kjellin/Gerde Hugh and I Episode: "Tooting Footlights" Armchair Theatre Julie/Milly Craddock 2 episodes Mrs Thursday Rowena Grant Episode: "Hunter's Moon" Watch the Birdies Irene Grant Miniseries Out of the Unknown Josephine Episode: "The Eye" 1967 ITV Play of the Week Erica Episode: "Dr. De Waldo's Therapy" The Prisoner Computer Attendant Episode: "It's Your Funeral" 1968 City '68 Alison Episode: "Love Thy Neighbour" The Caesars Ennia Episode: "Caligula" Love Story Birgit Episode: "The Vast Horizons of the Mind" 1967–1971 The Troubleshooters Moira Hart 4 episodes 1967 1977 1987 Doctor Who Jean Rock Thea Ransome/Fendahl Core Faroon Serials: "The Faceless Ones", "Image of the Fendahl" and "Time and the Rani" 1969 The Gold Robbers Dee Latter Episode: "An Oddly Honest Man" Department S Leila Rankin Episode: "The Man from 'X'" Dixon of Dock Green Debbie Franklin Episode: "Bobby" 1970 Z-Cars Mrs. Owen Episode: "By Bread Alone Part One" 1970–1971 A Family At War Jenny Graham 3 episodes UFO Col. Virginia Lake 9 episodes 1970 Doctor at Large Maggie Weston Episode: "Mr. Moon" 1971 Thirty-Minute Theatre Jasmine Episode: "Walt, King of the Dumper"[13] The Fenn Street Gang Elinor Episode: "Change Partners" 1972–1973 The Lotus Eaters Ann Shepherd Miniseries 1975 The Sweeney Brenda Episode: "Abduction" Softly, Softly: Task Force Julie Brent Episode: "The Talking Doll" Rutland Weekend Television Various characters 2 episodes 1976 Emmerdale Farm Heather Bannerman 6 episodes 1977 Crown Court Sybil Halstead 2 serials 1978–1979 Fallen Hero Dorothy Hopkins Lead role; 11 episodes 1980 The Two Ronnies Jack 2 episodes 1982 Minder Beryl Murdoch Episode: "Dreamhouse" Union Castle Ursula, Lady Thaxted 7 episodes The Further Adventures of Lucky Jim Veronica Allen Episode: "A Foot in the Door" The Brack Report Kate Randall Chapter 7 1982 Only When I Laugh Fiona Episode: "Conduct Unbecoming" 1984 Killer Contract Dorothy Routledge TV film 1986–1987 Executive Stress Sylvia Recurring; 4 episodes 1988 All Creatures Great and Small Mrs. Ridge Episode: "The Jackpot" 1989 Capstick's Law Madge Capstick 6 episodes Boon Marion Kershaw Episode: "Of Meissen Men" 1989–1992 Only Fools and Horses Pamela Parry (Cassandra's Mum) 4 episodes 1993 Just a Gigolo Marge Payne 3 episodes 1995–1996 Next of Kin Rosie 6 episodes 1996–1997 Heartbeat Fiona Weston 4 episodes 1997 Alas Smith and Jones Episode: "Cookery" Men Behaving Badly Penny (Deborah's Mum) Episode: "Ten" 1998 The Vanishing Man Mrs. Braithwaite Episode: "Nothing Up My Sleeve" Hetty Wainthropp Investigates Margaret Balshaw 2 episodes Casualty Mrs. Seabrook Episode: "Everlasting Love" 2000 Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) Alice Fullcup Episode: "Mental Apparition Disorder" 2001 Coupling Edna (Susan's Mum) Episode: "My Dinner in Hell" 2005 Midsomer Murders Romany Rose Episode: "Second Sight" 2007 Lewis Eleanor Mallory Episode: "Expiation" 2014–2017 Sherlock Mrs. Holmes (Sherlock Holmes' mother) Episodes: "The Empty Hearse", "His Last Vow" and "The Final Problem" 2014–2018 Holby City Sheilagh Chiltern Recurring; 10 episodes 2018 Father Brown Ellen Jennings Episode: "The Angel of Mercy" 2019 Departure Wendy 2 episodes 2020 Penance Fay 3 episodes

### Theatre

Year Title Role Venue 1960 Watch It, Sailor! Daphne Pink Apollo Theatre, London 1979 Julius Caesar Portia Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester 1990 Out of Order Pamela Shaftesbury Theatre, London 1992 It Runs in the Family Rosemary Mortimore Playhouse Theatre, London 2002 One for the Pot Amy Hardcastle Theatre Royal, Windsor 2012 Quartet Cissy Theatre-on-the-Bay, Cape Town 2014 Entertaining Angels Ruth

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Stars & Their Hot Moms"](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BmB8oqcCEAAHvpZ.jpg). *People*: 139. 5 May 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-E&W_Birth_2-0)** Ancestry.com. England & Wales, Birth Index: 1916–2005 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. Original data: General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes. London, England: General Register Office.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-E&W_FreeBMD_Birth_3-0)** FreeBMD. England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837–1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes. London, England: General Register Office.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-UFO_commentary_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-UFO_commentary_4-1) Ventham, Wanda. Audio commentary for "Timelash". In: *The Complete UFO Megaset* (DVD). A&E Home Entertainment. 2003.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Martin, Annie (19 September 2014) "Benedict Cumberbatch is 'a true gentleman,' says Judi Dench". UPI Entertainment.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-central_newsletter_6-0)** *Central School of Speech and Drama Alumni Newsletter*, July 2012, issue 19, pg. 19

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-So_proud_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-So_proud_7-1) ["Benedict Cumberbatch 'so proud' of parents"](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10546727/Sherlock-Benedict-Cumberbatch-so-proud-of-parents.html). *[The Daily Telegraph](/source/The_Daily_Telegraph)*. 2 January 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Lazarus, Susanna (14 October 2014). ["Benedict Mumberbatch! Wanda Ventham to appear on Holby City"](http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2014-10-14/benedict-mumberbatch-wanda-ventham-to-appear-on-holby-city). *[Radio Times](/source/Radio_Times)*. Retrieved 1 October 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-E&W_Marriage_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-E&W_Marriage_9-1) Ancestry.com. England & Wales, Marriage Index: 1916–2005 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. Original data: General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes. London, England: General Register Office.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-TV_Times_article_1979_10-0)** Knowles, Stewart (28 July 1979). "Timothy, Wanda... and the rose that changed her mind about marriage". *TV Times*: 14–15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** "TV star Wanda's friendly divorce". *Daily Mirror*. 13 November 1974. p. 9.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-TV_Times_article_1975_12-0)** Passingham, Kenneth (22 March 1975). "It's good news to know I'm still fanciable". *[TV Times](/source/TV_Times)*: 21–22.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** IMDB

## External links

- [Wanda Ventham](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0893243/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

Authority control databases International VIAF 2 GND WorldCat National United States Spain Poland Catalonia Artists MusicBrainz

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Wanda Ventham](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanda_Ventham) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanda_Ventham?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.