There is a cycle that usually occurs in Sitcom Land when an actor decides to leave and they are either replaced with another actor or (usually in a sitcom set in the workplace) a brand new character.

This cycle usually goes something like this: You are outraged that your favourite character has been replaced. You then refuse to watch any new episodes of the said sitcom. Next week you give in and watch but it isn’t the same. A few weeks down the line you still aren’t happy but can live with the change.
However, on very few occasions when this happens it is deemed as a success. In this blog post I will be looking at not very well-known actress and in my opinion one of sitcom’s (and Britain’s) most underrated actresses who, for me was better than her predecessor.

I am of course talking about Mary Millar and her portrayal of Keeping up Appearances’ Rose, the ‘tart with a heart’.

When the popular series about a wannabe social climber first aired the role of Hyacinth Bucket’s youngest sister who had a thing about mini-skirts and men, who were usually married, was played by Shirley Stelfox.
Stelfox’s interpretation of Rose was more dry-witted, sarcastic and it was hinted that the ageing Rose, having been round the block a few times was desperately looking for one last shot at love before she was well and truly past her sell by date.

Now if Stelfox hadn’t had other acting commitments (‘Making Out’) when it came to filming series two, this version of Rose would have been fine for the duration of the series but for me there is something lacking about the character of ‘Rose 1’ as she is known to fans.
I suppose one of the reasons fans have renamed them Rose 1 and Rose 2 is because there was such vast difference in the approach both actresses gave to the same role.
When one buys the box set of a particular TV series you are inclined to sit and watch them in chronological order, and that is what I did with KUA.
Naturally when I got to series two I was shocked, outraged if you like to find Rose had been replaced. At first I couldn’t warm to Mary’s Rose in protest and claimed that I didn’t like the ‘new Rose’ of course, I hadn’t given her the chance and I think I only really liked Stelfox’s Rose as I had never seen her in anything other than Emmerdale and her character was the complete polar opposite, which I found hilarious. Luckily I managed to mature and I soon saw the error of my ways.

Irene Mary Wetton, or Mary Millar as she is better known, was virtually unknown in the world of television before she won the role of Rose in the early 1990’s. She had made her television debut at just 17 in Those Were the Days and had appeared in various shows such as The Dick Emery Show and The Stanley Baxter Show in the early days of her career, but predominately, she was a successful stage actress who was part of the original ensemble in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s the Phantom of the Opera, playing ballet mistress Madame Giry.

It’s hard to believe, looking at Millar’s first few scenes as an over the top Rose that the actress wasn’t sure about how to tackle the part. Especially after reading that she bought a mini-skirt especially for her audition as Rose, commenting on what a fool she thought she felt, as she travelled on the tube to and from the audition.

With her portrayal of the youngest sister, came a softer, more rounded, three-dimensional side to Roy Clarke’s creation. While the first Rose was somewhat harsh Mary chose to give Rose a vulnerability caused by wearing her heart on her sleeve. I think this made the character more believable and it meant more sense was given to Rose’s never ending search for love, even if she was too caught up chasing married men.  This for me made it more poignant when the ever dramatic Rose announced she was fed up of her life. In the very early episodes when the original Rose wanted to kill herself in ‘The New Vicar’ episode and demanded to be buried in her mother’s wedding dress, for me there was something that didn’t quite sit right, it was being over-the-top for the sake of that particular gag.

Whereas, Millar’s Rose was constantly over the top with everything from her wardrobe, to her mannerisms and antics. And of course how can one forget those perfect facial expressions, she brought to the dingy sitting room of Onslow and Daisy’s and beyond. The way she rolled her eyes whenever Onslow made a jibe at her choice of lifestyle always makes me laugh, watching it, you get the impression that Rose couldn’t decide whether she didn’t understand what he meant or that despite the insult she knew that what he was saying was true.

I really think Mary Millar’s Rose was more in spirit with the show, she was over the top but not so much that you didn’t believe it, she was much more kind-hearted, fun, flirty and despite being about 5 years older than Stelfox, she looked and appeared younger.

For me Shirley’s Rose wasn’t funny in the slightest in comparison to her replacement. As soon as the scene cut to ‘Rose 2’ you know you are guaranteed a laugh and a smile, and for me the show didn’t really find its feet until the second series (of course that is also due the arrival of David Griffin’s Emmet).  I mean can you really see Shirley’s Rose getting involved in farcical antics such as demanding to be a nun? I can’t, well not unless it was seriously played out! Another example which springs to mind is in the episode entitled ‘The Art Exhibition’ where the girl’s father runs off allegedly to France. Rose sits there and sobs claiming “it’s so beautiful” remarking that it is so romantic for him to run off at his age for the love of Mrs Clayton. Now, if this had been Shirley’s Rose she probably would have sat back in the chair and remarked something like “He will be back eventually”- no where near as funny!

I have to admit, I do often find myself skipping through an episode to watch the scenes with Onslow, Daisy and Rose mark 2 as there is something special about that particular trio’s chemistry which is most enjoyable.

So there you have it, in the majority of cases the original is usually better but not always, it just depends of the actor and interpretation. And for me I prefer Mary Millar’s portrayal and  she was one of this country’s most underrated talents, who is very much missed.