Sid James: The Interviews

This week has been very special for all fans of Sid James. News broke on Thursday that a long-lost interview with the great man, now confirmed as the last one he ever gave, had been discovered after forty-two years. This fantastic discovery was made by BBC radio producer Richard Latto while compiling a new radio documentary to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the Carry On films.

The reel-to-reel tape from 1976 was kept by former BBC radio presenter Jeff Link, who interviewed Sid while he was appearing in the wildly popular stage farce The Mating Season. Just a few days after the recording was made,Sid suffered a fatal heart attack on the stage of the Sunderland Empire while performing in the same play.

A hugely significant find, the local radio interview is pleasingly light and relaxed in tone, perfectly suited to Sid's laid-back personality which was far removed from that of his Carry On screen persona.

The BBC South feature on the discovery is very touching and includes a contribution from Sid's eldest daughter Reina.

With the unearthing of this precious conversation this week, I thought it a perfectly opportune time to share a few more surviving interviews with our man Sid.

With Michael Parkinson at the premiere of Love Story in 1971

 As one of the most well-loved stars of the day, Sid was a regular guest at film premieres and such like, often accompanied to these events by his lovely wife Val.

At the Royal Premiere of the hit film Love Story in 1971, Sid stopped to talk  with the soon-to-be king of the chat show Michael Parkinson, 

Sid is on top form during this all-too-brief chat, happily chatting about the Carry On films and even treating us to his famous laugh.

Carry On Forever - a BBC Film Night special. 

On 12 April 1970, BBC2 broadcast a fascinating thirty minute documentary which went behind the scenes of the latest film in the Carry On series, Carry On Up the Jungle. 

The programme makers chatted with the stars of the film including Sid James, Joan Sims, Frankie Howerd, Charles Hawtrey, Kenneth Connor, Bernard Bresslaw, Terry Scott and Jacki Piper.

The video below has pieced together all of the talking head segments from the programme. Although the picture quality isn't the best, it is still wonderful to see so many of the beloved Carry On team interviewed in one place.

Carry On Up the Jungle on-set interview

Another interview conducted during the filming of Carry On Up the Jungle, this one features Sid, Terry Scott and Bernard Bresslaw playing cards on set while in full costume!

Interview conducted for She magazine in 1972

This is a rarely heard interview with Sid conducted for She magazine while the star was filming the big-screen version of Bless This House at Pinewood Studios in 1972.

Sid is completely relaxed and at ease with himself during this fascinating audio interview. He plays down his star status, claiming that the likes of Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud were the real stars. Looking back happily at his career, Sid talks about Tony Hancock, the Ealing comedies and the Carry Ons. His admiration for his Carry On co-stars, particularly Joan Sims and Hattie Jacques, is clear. He also touches on his real-life heart troubles and how his exercise regime had to be adapted as a result.

This is a truly wonderful interview in which a completely natural Sid James comes across as modest, hard-working and a true gentleman.