Trivia

Often cast as dotty aristocrats.

Although her first screen credit was in an episode of Dad's Army (1968) at the age of 60, she had spend many decades in the theatre working in rep and on the West End, latterly touring clubs and music halls. She was spotted by future Dad's Army creator Jimmy Perry in 1956 and he invited her to join his rep company.

Before appearing on television, she had a long and successful career in repertory theatre, including with the Arthur Brough Players.

Having worked in rep in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, Pugh toured in 1939 with My Wife's Family and in 1943 made her West End debut in Junior Miss.

Her acting talent was first noticed while performing in school plays at Downs College in Folkestone, Kent.

While performing at the Golders Green Hippodrome in 1956, she was spotted by Jimmy Perry, who then invited her to join his rep company at the Palace Theatre in Watford. There she met John Clegg, an actor 20 years her junior who was later best known as pianist Gunner Graham in the BBC sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum. They married in 1959.

Pugh won a scholarship to the International School of Acting.

As well as doing several years in rep, Pugh toured music halls and clubs with Hugh Paddick with the pair trying to beat each other's ad-libbing.

Mavis Pugh was a British actress who made many appearances (typically playing upper-class women) in several sitcoms including Dad's Army, Are You Being Served? and Fawlty Towers.

Pugh had small parts in two films, The Class of Miss MacMichael in 1978 and Brothers and Sisters in 1980.