Part of the special "Wogan's Radio Fun" program broadcast on 28 December 1987. Terry Wogan and Bob Monkhouse talk to Irene Handl and Pat Coombs about Hello Playmates.
Beloved Patty Coombs didn't live long after her pal Peggy Mount died. They had gone together to a theatrical retirement home ( echoing the plot of one of their comedy shows) but once Peggy was gone Patty's health declined. Irene Handl was greatly loved too and Bob Monkhouse found a new following of young comedians just before he died. A great generation of comedy actors .
Our lovely Irene, best known for her many portrayals of feisty cockney types, ranging from barmaids to landladies, charwomen to cooks. Unlike her working class screen personae, Irene's parentage was quite cosmopolitan, her father (Frederick) a Viennese banker, her mother (Maria) a French aristocrat - affluent enough to enable her to travel extensively in her youth.