Avril Angers, a renowned British comedy actress, was once referred to as Britain's answer to Lucille Ball. She excelled in a wide range of genres, including revue, musicals, cabaret, and television and film comedy. Born in Liverpool, Angers' illustrious career in show-business began in variety, following in the footsteps of her parents.
Her father, Harry Angers, was a comedian, and her mother, Lillian Errol, was a member of the original Fol-de-Rols concert party. Angers made her debut at the tender age of 14 in a concert party in Brighton and subsequently played Cinderella alongside Wee Georgie Wood and Clarkson Rose at Birmingham.
She joined the Fol-de-Rols, emulating her mother's footsteps, and during World War II, she was one of the hardest-working members of ENSA, touring the remotest parts of West Africa. For her contributions, she was awarded the Africa Star. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Angers was a constant presence on the London stage and cinema screen.
As an actress, she portrayed a diverse range of roles, including Billie Fawn in Born Yesterday and Marigold in the classic film The Green Man (1956),opposite Alistair Sim. Her success in acting led her to become one of the first women to have a television series with a proper storyline, Dear Dotty, in 1954.
Angers partnered with renowned TV comedians such as Arthur Askey, Dick Emery, and a young Bob Monkhouse. She was also one of the first stand-up comediennes, regularly appearing in cabaret. Her critically acclaimed role as Liz Piper in Roy Boulting's film The Family Way (1966) earned her a prominent spot in the industry.
She went on to star in the off-beat gay comedy Staircase (1969),opposite Richard Burton and Rex Harrison. In 1964, Angers stole the show in the hit London production of Little Me, alongside Bruce Forsyth, and she headlined in numerous West End comedies and thrillers.
Avril Angers' last public appearance was in October 2005, when she was a guest of honor at the Max Wall Society in London. Her close friend, the variety artiste and strong woman Joan Rhodes, fondly remembered Angers as "one of the funniest and most gifted people in show-business. She was very unassuming, and comediennes such as Victoria Wood adored working with her."
