Frances Jeater in conversation with Alistair McArthur.

 

It was absolutely wonderful to work with the two guys. They were such generous performers. There were times when I would have a line over Patrick's and I would say that I couldn’t say it as it would get a bigger laugh than his. He would reply, “That’s ok, I’ve got plenty!” It was a real family feel on Random Jottings. However, as the series were recorded a year

apart, Chris (Emmett) and I could never remember how we played the roles; we would always have to listen to old tapes to remind ourselves.

 

It was always very strange when the guys were dressed as the ladies; you would come up to Patrick and say “Hi…. And then falter. You couldn’t say Patrick, and you couldn’t quite say Hilda. And he would just fix you with that wonderful beady eye! I think that we all got dressed up for the pantomime episode. It was such great fun.

 

George was always the quieter of the two, although I seem to remember a huge impassioned discussion about washing machines. I do remember Patrick coming over to my house one Christmas morning for champagne. It was so sad when he died.

 

I think it’s lovely that there are so many fans out there that have been brought together by a love of what Patrick and George achieved.