Pat Kirkwood (actress)

Pat Kirkwood (24 February 1921 – 25 December 2007) was a British stage actress who appeared in numerous performances of dramas, cabaret, revues, music hall, variety, and pantomimes. She also performed on radio, television, and movies. She was the first woman to have her own television series on the BBC.

Early life

Patricia Kirkwood was born in Pendleton, Salford, England to William and Norah Carr Kirkwood. Her father was a Scottish shipping clerk. She was educated at Levenshulme High School in Manchester. At the age of 14 she entered a talent contest at Ramsey, Isle of Man and was asked to sing on the BBC's Children's Hour. A few months later, in April 1936, she took part in a sketch, The Schoolgirl Songstress at the Hippodrome in Salford. Throughout 1936 Kirkwood appeared in a number of local variety shows including a pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, in which she played Princess Dorothy. During Christmastime 1937 she took the roll of Dandini at Shaftesbury Theatre, in the pantomime "Cinderella", along with Stanley Lupino. Over the next two years she worked in cabaret, variety shows, and pantomimes.