BILIUS
Played by David Davenport
Seen in Cleo, Bilius stands alongside Julius Caesar, acting as his bodyguard. Champion gladiator of Rome, he’s soon ousted from his position by Hengist Pod who’s classed as a hero after inadvertently stumbling across Bilius’s attempts to dispose of the Roman leader.
BILKINGTON RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT
The top secret base in Spying where Professor Stark was developing a secret formula before being blown up while carrying out his duty.
BIND, CHARLIE
Played by Charles Hawtrey
One of the rather green agents who are sent to recover the top secret formula stolen by Milchmann for the detestable Dr Crow in Spying. His codename is Yellow Peril and his agent’s number, 00 – 0.
BINDER, LADY
Played by Elspeth March
Seen in Don’t Lose Your Head, Lady Binder congratulates Sir Rodney Ffing on the charity ball he’s organised at his home, Ffing Hall.
BINN, DR ARTHUR
Played by Kenneth Connor
Binn is the new ship’s doctor on the Happy Wanderer. Seen in Cruising, he joined the vessel from Consolidated Marmalade where he worked as the factory’s medical officer. Falls in love with Flo Castle, one of the passengers, and although his early advances are spurned, finally ties the knot with the blonde, despite his timidity.
BINNEY, NEIL
Camera Operator for Khyber location work on Up The Khyber, and Behind
Born in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, in 1931, Neil Binney followed his parents into the film industry (his father was a projectionist at Pinewood, his mother a wardrobe mistress) by working as a clapperboy on the 1946 Sydney Box-produced The Years Between.
After completing National Service – he served two years as a photographer in the RAF – he joined the London Studios of Technicolor, as assistant cameraman, and stayed ten years. Among the many films he worked on were Hollywood classics such as The Man Who Knew Too Much; he also spent time working in Italy.
He left Technicolor in the 1960s and turned freelance, clocking up numerous credits as a camera operator, including Billy Liar, This Sporting Life, The Vampire Lovers, On the Buses, Conan the Destroyer, Shanghai Surprise and A Fish Called Wanda. On television he was behind the camera for, among others, Minder and Space Precinct.
Charlie Bind (Charles Hawtrey) dons his cycling gear (Spying)
His final job was on the 1997 picture, Fierce Creatures, after which he retired from the profession.
BINNING, TANYA
Role: Virginia in Cleo
Born in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, in 1946, Tanya Binning was a successful model and television personality by the time she arrived in the UK. Although her early ambition was to be a florist, she was chosen for a part in the controversial 1962 film, Mondo Cane, leading to her rapid rise to top cover-girl for Australian magazines. A handful of other films followed, all produced in New Zealand, including Runaway, Don’t Let It Get You and Funny Things Happen Down Under.
BIRD, HARRY
Played by Roy Hines
In Teacher, Bird is one of the main culprits among the school kids who set out to cause havoc when a school inspector and a child psychiatrist visit Maudlin Street Secondary Modern School. He’s also interviewed by Mr Wakefield when he’s found out of bounds in the school’s storeroom.
BIRD OWNER
Played by Molly Weir
Seen in Regardless, the woman calls Helping Hands when she wants someone to look after her collection of birds. However, a mix-up sees Mike Weston, who was expecting to be working as a bouncer at a strip club, turn up by mistake.
‘BIRDS OF PARADISE, THE’
Played by Laraine Humphrys, Linda Hooks, Penny Irving and Eva Reuber-Staier
The girls entertain the patrons of the Old Cock Inn in Dick. The group is run by Madame Desiree, a Cockney by birth who’s adopted a French accent over the years.
BISHOP
Played by Derek Francis
Shares a train compartment with Terence Philpot in Loving. He can’t believe his ears when Philpot tells his friend, with whom he’s been staying, that his wife makes love beautifully. When he broaches the subject with Philpot, he’s much relieved to hear that Philpot was only thinking of his friend’s best interests because to tell him the truth, that he didn’t enjoy bedding his wife, might offend.
BISHOP, BERNIE
Played by Kenneth Connor
In the fourth round of an eliminating contest, boxer Bernie Bishop breaks his hand. He’s admitted to Haven Hospital in Nurse and faces the prospect of never fighting again. It looks as if his son, Jeremy, will be following in his father’s footsteps, though, because he’s already practising on the family cat.
BISHOP, CHARLES
Set Dresser on Dick and Behind
Charles Bishop, who’s now an art director, has built up a lengthy list of film and television credits. His television work covers productions such as Interpol Calling, The Persuaders! and The Champions, while his film credits include Nearly A Nasty Accident, Mystery Submarine, The Eagle Has Landed, Moonraker, Superman II, Supergirl, Return to Oz and Empire of the Sun.
BISHOP, JANE
Played by Susan Shaw
Boxer Bernie Bishop’s attractive wife is seen in Nurse, visiting her husband at Haven Hospital.
BISHOP, JEREMY
Played by Jeremy Connor
Seen in Nurse, Jeremy is Bernie Bishop’s little boy. He arrives at Haven Hospital the day his father is discharged, greeting him with a slap across the face.
BISSET, DONALD
Role: Patient in Again Doctor
Donald Bisset, born in London in 1911, was a veteran of stage and screen. His television work included appearances in Crane, Doctor Who, Doctor in the House, The Professionals, Pollyanna, Love for Lydia and The Old Curiosity Shop during the 1960s and ’70s. By this time, he’d already cut his teeth in films, having been cast in productions such as Murder in the Cathedral, Little Red Monkey, The Brain Machine, Up the Creek and The Headless Ghost.
He remained busy in the profession until his death in 1995, with later assignments seeing him play Mr Morgan in 1993’s The Black Velvet Gown, a manservant in The Hound of the Baskervilles and Trafford Simcox in Paradise Postponed. He was also a published children’s writer.
BLACK FINGERNAIL, THE
For ‘The Black Fingernail’ in Don’t Lose Your Head, see ‘Ffing, Sir