"Actor: Anita Harris"

• Carry On Doctor | DVD | (17/02/2003) from £4.99   |  Saving you £8.00 (160.32%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Bedpan humour rules in Carry On Doctor, the vintage 1968 offering from gang, assisted by guest star Frankie Howerd as bogus faith healer Francis Bigger. Hospitals, of course, always provided the Carry On producers with plenty of material. Today, these comedies induce a twinge of serious nostalgia for the great days of the National Health Service when Matron (Hattie Jacques, naturally) ran the hospital as if it was a house of correction, medical professionals were idolised as if they were all Doctor Kildare and Accident and Emergency Departments were deserted oases of calm. But even if you aren't interested in a history lesson, Talbot Rothwell's script contains some immortal dialogue, particularly when Matron loosens her stays. "You may not realise it but I was once a weak man", says Kenneth Williams' terrified Doctor Tinkle to Hattie Jacques. "Once a week's enough for any man", she purrs back. Other highlights include Joan Sims, excellent as Frankie Howerd's deaf, bespectacled sidekick, Charles Hawtrey suffering from a phantom pregnancy, 1960s singer Anita Harris in a rare film role, and Barbara Windsor at her most irrepressible as nurse Sandra May. --Piers Ford

• Carry On Follow That Camel | DVD | (17/02/2003) from £6.22   |  Saving you £6.77 (108.84%)   |  RRP £12.99

  In Carry On Follow That Camel, Sergeant Bilko himself, Phil Silvers, lends lustre and trademark spectacles to this 1967 desert spectacle following the adventures of a group of foreign legionnaires who find themselves besieged by a bloodthirsty band of Bedouins. Silvers plays Sergeant Nocker, a rogue cast firmly in the Bilko mould, who takes a dislike to new recruit Jim Dale, a young upper class gent forced to join the legion following disgrace at a cricket match. He's accompanied, naturally, by his faithful manservant (Peter Butterworth), with the pair showing a fine disregard for the austere requirements of the Foreign Legion. However, once they reach an agreement with Sergeant Nocker, they can join forces to repel the Bedouins, led, not unpredictably, by Bernard Bresslaw. This is vintage Carry On, in spite of Sid James' absence. Kenneth Williams' performance is subdued by having to deliver the usual puns ("zere are a couple of points I still need to go over", he informs busty Joan Sims) in a mangled French accent but Silvers gets into the right mode of delivering broad comedy with subtle inflections. Peter Butterworth draws the short straw this time and must feature in the obligatory cross-dressing scene, while Charles Hawtrey is a splendidly unconvincing hardened legionnaire. As for Bresslaw, can any other British actor, with the exception of Sir Alec Guinness, have distinguished himself in such a variety of multi-ethnic roles? On the DVD: Sadly, there are no extra features except scene selection. The picture ratio is 4:3. --David Stubbs

• Boom Boom! - The Best Of The Original Basil Brush Show | DVD | (22/10/2001) from £29.99   |  Saving you £-20.00 (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  The Terry Thomas of children's television returns to the screen in Boom, Boom! The Best Of The Original Basil Brush Show. The raffish star, with his distinctive laugh, trademark tweeds and enduring catchphrase, was created in 1963, diligently learning his trade before hitting the big time in the 1970s in his own show. The cheeky vulpine host went on to vex a succession of "Mr"s with his continual interrupting, ad-libbing and appalling jokes:Mr Roy: "Do you know about ethics?"Basil, lisping: "Yes, it's somewhere near Sussex, isn't it?"The show's guest list boasted the best of 1970s celebrity: Alvin Stardust, Cilla Black, John Inman and Demis Roussos to mention just a few--all treated to Basil's unique blend of charm and brusque wit in a series of excruciating sketches.The show was dropped in the 1980s but Boom, Boom! The Best Of The Original Basil Brush Show proves that Basil, now a pop-culture icon, is a truly 21st-century fox. --Helen Baker

• Carry On Follow That Camel | DVD | (27/08/2001) from £5.60   |  Saving you £4.39 (78.39%)   |  RRP £9.99

  In Carry On Follow That Camel, Sergeant Bilko himself, Phil Silvers, lends lustre and trademark spectacles to this 1967 desert spectacle following the adventures of a group of foreign legionnaires who find themselves besieged by a bloodthirsty band of Bedouins. Silvers plays Sergeant Nocker, a rogue cast firmly in the Bilko mould, who takes a dislike to new recruit Jim Dale, a young upper class gent forced to join the legion following disgrace at a cricket match. He's accompanied, naturally, by his faithful manservant (Peter Butterworth), with the pair showing a fine disregard for the austere requirements of the Foreign Legion. However, once they reach an agreement with Sergeant Nocker, they can join forces to repel the Bedouins, led, not unpredictably, by Bernard Bresslaw. This is vintage Carry On, in spite of Sid James' absence. Kenneth Williams' performance is subdued by having to deliver the usual puns ("zere are a couple of points I still need to go over", he informs busty Joan Sims) in a mangled French accent but Silvers gets into the right mode of delivering broad comedy with subtle inflections. Peter Butterworth draws the short straw this time and must feature in the obligatory cross-dressing scene, while Charles Hawtrey is a splendidly unconvincing hardened legionnaire. As for Bresslaw, can any other British actor, with the exception of Sir Alec Guinness, have distinguished himself in such a variety of multi-ethnic roles? On the DVD: Sadly, there are no extra features except scene selection. The picture ratio is 4:3. --David Stubbs

• Carry On Doctor | DVD | (04/05/2001) from £6.22   |  Saving you £3.77 (60.61%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Bedpan humour rules in Carry On Doctor, the vintage 1968 offering from the familiar gang, assisted by guest star Frankie Howerd as bogus faith healer Francis Bigger. Hospitals, of course, always provided the Carry On producers with plenty of material. Today, these comedies induce a twinge of serious nostalgia for the great days of the National Health Service when Matron (Hattie Jacques, naturally) ran the hospital as if it was a house of correction, medical professionals were idolised as if they were all Doctor Kildare and Accident and Emergency Departments were deserted oases of calm. But even if you aren't interested in a history lesson, Talbot Rothwell's script contains some immortal dialogue, particularly when Matron loosens her stays. "You may not realise it but I was once a weak man", says Kenneth Williams' terrified Doctor Tinkle to Hattie Jacques. "Once a week's enough for any man", she purrs back, undaunted. Other highlights include Joan Sims, excellent as Frankie Howerd's deaf, bespectacled sidekick, Charles Hawtrey suffering from a phantom pregnancy, 1960s singer Anita Harris in a rare film role, and Barbara Windsor at her most irrepressible as nurse Sandra May. This is one of the best. On the DVD: Presented in 1.77:1 format for a pseudo-widescreen effect, the picture quality is good and sharp, accompanied by a standard mono soundtrack. The same no-frills approach is taken with the packaging; a functional scene index and no extras. Yet again, a missed opportunity to use the DVD release to provide some context. At their best, the Carry On films are rightly seen as classic comedies of their type. They really deserve to be better celebrated. --Piers Ford

• You Can Make Children's Clothes | DVD | (03/03/2008) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £10.99

  Anyone with children will know that buying clothes can be an exhausting frequent and expensive chore. This DVD aims to alleviate these problems by providing a simple easy-to-follow guide to making your own children's clothes. Anita Harris and friend demonstrate how to make a child's shirt using uncomplicated techniques and assured instructions that will enable even the most sewing machine-shy to create an enviable wardrobe of children's clothes.

• You Can Make Curtains And Covers | DVD | (03/03/2008) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £10.99

  It seems every time you turn on the TV there is another room make-over or house improvement programme telling you about the importance of updating or restyling your soft furnishings. Instead of paying a fortune to revamp your rooms this DVD introduced by Anita Harris provides basic step-by-step instructions on how to make your own curtains and create a coordinated look to emphasise the features of a room.

• You Can Make Lace | DVD | (03/03/2008) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £10.99

  Lace making has long been thought of as a complicated and demanding hobby taking years of practice in order to attain delicate and intricate patterns. This DVD aims to breakdown a seemingly difficult process into easy-to-follow steps that even a novice can try. Presented by Anita Harris this guide details the equipment and techniques needed to become confident and successful in the hobby of handmade lace.

• You Can Make Children's Toys | DVD | (03/03/2008) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £10.99

  Every parent will know how important a cuddly toy is to a growing tot but how wonderful a feeling would it be to know that their inseparable friend was made by your very own hand?! Introduced by Anita Harris this DVD is a simple detailed guide to making your own stuffed toy and will teach you skills that will allow you to create a virtual zoo of stuffed animals and toys.