Parents

Wanda Ventham

Wanda Ventham (born 5 August 1935) is an English actress, mainly on television. She is a familiar face in many television series in Britain, although she has never achieved star status. She is well known for her role as Col. Virginia Lake in the 1970 science fiction TV series UFO, and for her recurring role in Only Fools and Horses as Pamela Parry (Cassandra's mother) (1989–1992). She also appeared in TV series The Saint with Roger Moore in multiple episodes.

Life and career

Ventham was born in Brighton, Sussex, England. She trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama.

Her first appearance on film was in a British drama called My Teenage Daughter with Anna Neagle and Sylvia Syms in 1956. She also appeared in the films Carry On Cleo (1964) and Carry On Up the Khyber (1968).

Her numerous television credits included regular roles in Heartbeat as Fiona Weston (1996–1997); Hetty Wainthropp Investigates as Margaret Balshaw; and The Rag Trade as Shirley (1962–1963). She also played a love interest for Arthur Daley in Minder; Susan's mother in Coupling; and Deborah's mother in Men Behaving Badly. She had the lead role in the 15-part BBC TV series The Lotus Eaters in 1972-73, starring with Ian Hendry; and made a guest appearance in Rutland Weekend Television, the first TV series made by comic Eric Idle after Monty Python's Flying Circus came to an end. Other comedy roles included appearances on The Two Ronnies.

She has appeared in Doctor Who on three occasions over three decades: playing Jean Rock in The Faceless Ones (1967), Thea Ransome in Image of the Fendahl (1977) and Faroon in Time and the Rani (1987); and had a small role in the science fiction drama The Prisoner, and the sitcoms Executive Stress and Next of Kin.

Wanda's appearance in the Doctor Who serial "Image of the Fendahl" was alongside Denis Lill. Wanda and Denis would go on to play Pamela and Alan Parry in the British comedy series Only Fools and Horses.
Personal life

Ventham is married to the actor Timothy Carlton. Their son is actor Benedict Cumberbatch. She has a daughter, Tracie, from her first marriage to James Tabernacle

Filmography

My Teenage Daughter (1956)
    Carry On Cleo (1964)
    The Big Job (1965)
    Mister Ten Per Cent (1967)
    The Blood Beast Terror (1968)
    Carry On Up the Khyber (1968)
    Invasion:UFO (1974)
    Mrs Caldicot's Cabbage War (2002)
    Asylum (2005)

Timothy Carlton

Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch, known professionally as Timothy Carlton, (born 5.10 1939) is an English character actor.

He has had a long and distinguished career in both the theatre, (Her Royal Highness etc.) and in television, appearing in numerous BBC television series over the years since 1966 to the present day, including the sitcoms Executive Stress, Next of Kin and in the television film The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Born in Reading, Berkshire, England, he is married to actress Wanda Ventham, with whom he appeared in Series 2 of BBC drama The Lotus Eaters in 1973, and is the father of actor Benedict Cumberbatch.

Filmography

Parade's End ... Westershire (2012)
Downton Abbey ... Judge (2010)
Stuart: A Life Backwards ... Judge Howarth (2007)
Lewis ... Harris (2007)
Diamond Geezer ... Sir Nigel Caversham (2005-2007)
Murphy's Law ... Sir Peter Jennings (2003-2007)
Foyle's War ... Admiral James Francis (2002-2010)

(ТВ, 2001) Victoria & Albert ... Dr. Halford
 (2000) Greenfingers ... Hampton Court Official
(2000 – ...) Doctors ... Ted Jackson
(1999 – ...) Holby City ... Leslie Clarke-Jones
(1998) Parting Shots ... Commissioner Grosvenor
 (ТV, 1997) The Woman in White ... Glyde's Lawyer
( 1997 – ...) Midsomer Murders ... Chief Constable
(1996 – 2007) Dalziel and Pascoe ... Jerry Chance
(1994 – 1998) Wycliffe ... Chairman of Rotary Club
 (ТV, 1994) Bermuda Grace ... Flynn
(1992 – 2009) Heartbeat ... Colonel Hepworth
(1991 – 1994) The House of Eliott ... Mr Simpkins
 (1990 – 1995) Keeping Up Appearances ... the Salesman
(ТV, 1989) Voice of the Heart ... John Harrison-Avery
 (1989 – ...) Poirot ... Judge
 (ТV, 1988) Tumbledown ... Lt. Colonel Bill Kirke
London's Burning (сериал, 1988 – 2002) London's Burning ... Specialist

The Beiderbecke Tapes (мини-сериал, 1987) The Beiderbecke Tapes ... Carstairs
Pulaski (сериал, 1987) Pulaski ... Hilary

C.A.T.S. Eyes (сериал, 1985 – 1987) C.A.T.S. Eyes ... Hutchins
(1984 – 1986) Fresh Fields ... Mr. Highsmith
 (1983 – 1989) Dramarama ... Lord Towers
(1983) High Road to China ... Officer
 (ТV, 1982) The Scarlet Pimpernel ... Count de Beaulieu
(1981 – 1991) Bergerac ... Peter Marshall
 (ТV, 1980) Gauguin the Savage ... De Monfreid
Механик (сериал, 1979 – 1994) Minder ... Assistant Commissioner
 (1979) The Bitch ... Jamie, (в титрах: Tim Carlton)
 (1979 – 1988) Tales of the Unexpected ... Walter Jameson
( 1977 – 1983) The Professionals ... Seymour
The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976 – 1979) The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin ... Colin Pillock
(1976 – 1979) Ripping Yarns ... Nicholson
(1975) That Lucky Touch ... Tank commander
 (сериал, 1975 – 1978) The Sweeney ... Justin
 (1972 – 1975) Six Days of Justice ... Rogers
( 1972 – 1984) Crown Court ... Jeremy Halstead
Doctor in Charge (сериал, 1972 – 1973) Doctor in Charge ... Rich Young Man
The Two Ronnies (1971 – 1987) The Two Ronnies
The Onedin Line (сериал, 1971 – 1980) The Onedin Line ... William Blanshard
 (1970) The Breaking of Bumbo ... Bean
(1970 – 1972) A Family at War ... Rupert Innes
The Goodies (сериал, 1970 – 1981) The Goodies
(1969) The Fossett Saga ... Lord Camberley
Baby Love (1968) Baby Love ... Admiral
(1968 – 1977) Dad's Army ... Lieut. Hope Bruce
Cold Comfort Farm (мини-сериал, 1968) Cold Comfort Farm ... Richard Hawk-Monitor
ITV Playhouse (сериал, 1967 – 1982) ITV Playhouse ... Roger List
Каллан (сериал, 1967 – 1972) Callan ... Kane
Talking to a Stranger (мини-сериал, 1966) Talking to a Stranger ... Geoffrey Lawrence
Public Eye (сериал, 1965 – 1975) Public Eye ... John Ingleby
(1964 – 1968) Theatre 625 ... Geoffrey Lawrence
 (1964 – 1970) The Wednesday Play ... Officer
 (1962 – 1978) Z Cars ... Dr. Ian Warren
 (1960) Coronation Street ... Richard Cresswell

Rutland Weekend Television ( 1975 – 1976) Rutland Weekend Television ... Extra