Hylda Baker - She Knows You Know

I have just finished reading Jean Fergusson’s biography of Hylda Baker. Fergusson (who plays the man-hungry Marina in Last Of The Summer Wine) has turned into something of a Hylda expert having spent years researching her subject prior to writing and starring in a one-woman show to great acclaim. The show also transferred to radio and eventually she wrote this book, the only one I am aware. Prior to reading this I was aware of Hylda Baker but had never really had the chance to get to know more. I had caught bits and pieces of Not On Your Nellie on TV, but had no recollection of watching Nearest and Dearest, even though it is easily available, cheaply too.



I was aware of some of the opinions surrounding Hylda – that she was difficult to work with, that she and her Nearest & Dearest co-star Jimmy Jewel hated each other, that she died alone and forgotten and as it turns out, according to Fergusson, there is plenty of truth involved so there is credit to the author for not hiding the facts of the case which people can be tempted to do when writing about their heroes, which Baker certainly was to Fergusson. What Fergusson does is to explain Hylda’s life and offer up explanations as to why she was the way she was and also highlights the many positives about the diminutive comedienne to redress the balance. Was she a bossy woman? Yes she most definitely was but on her way to the top, she was a woman in a predominately male-orientated world. She wrote, produced, stage managed a string of shows from 1940 to 1955, taken them on tour up and down the country without the aid or promoters or impresarios. She did it all herself. Being in the business practically full time since 1918 she knew the business, her business as good as, or in most cases better, than anyone else so an element of bossiness was vital to keep the shows going. She just never learned to let go, she always thought she knew best, and where her performance was concerned she invariably did. She demanded perfection and was not quiet when she didn’t receive it. Pretty much the same as a multitude of other comedians then.



While it is obvious that Fergusson's main career is not the writing of books, she does a very creditable job and given that it is the only book out there about Hylda, it is most certainly worth a read. You may be lucky in finding a cheap enough copy to buy, it seems that most copies are selling for pretty high prices so I would suggest getting a copy through your local library. I'm sure you'll be as surprised as me at the extent of Hylda's very long career. I will be giving an airing to Nearest And Dearest and Not On Yor Nellie shortly and will give an overview right here.