Several years ago, PBS paid tribute to The Funny Ladies of British Comedy. Hosted by one of the grand dames of British comedy, Penelope Keith, the special featured classic clips from perennial favorites such as As Time Goes By, Keeping Up Appearances, Are You Being Served and Fawlty Towers along with insights from the likes of Dawn French, Patricia Routledge, Moira Brooker, Mollie Sugden, Wendy Richards, Prunella Scales and others.

Behind the lens of Funny Ladies II

Penelope Keith returns as host of The Funny Ladies of British Comedy II. Targeted for broadcast in March 2010 on many PBS stations nationwide, the program pays tribute to those ladies you have come to know and love over the years from more of your favorite series like Keeping Up Appearances, As Time Goes By, Vicar of Dibley, Last of the Summer Wine, My Hero, Blackadder and Are You Being Served. Having just returned from being a part of the production team taping the host segments, I have to say that one of the nicest individuals on the planet to spend time with both professionally and personally is Penelope Keith.

Far removed from her the characters of Margo Ledbetter (Good Neighbors) and Audrey fforbes-Hamilton (To The Manor Born), Ms. Keith spent the morning with us at the Theatre Royal in Bath where she was appearing in a short run of Entertaining Angels by Richard Everett.

Life after Margo and Audrey

With a huge passion for gardening (she actually has a rose named after her), the former High Sheriff of Surrey and recently appointee as Commander in the Order of the British Empire, Penelope definitely does her part to keep regional theatre alive in the UK along with a host of other British comedy actors and actresses. In looking at the marquee at the Theatre Royal, Felicity Kendal (of Good Neighbors and Rosemary & Thyme fame) is now starring in Mrs. Warren’s Profession through October 31 and later in the year, Tom Owen from Last of the Summer Wine can be seen in Sleeping Beauty in Bath.

Don’t miss The Funny Ladies of British Comedy II on your local PBS station in March 2010. Until then, you can see more photos of Penelope during the Funny Ladies II shoot below or by visiting the Tellyspotting flickr page.