The daughter of late Carry On star Julie Stevens, Rachel New, has released the following obituary.
Julie Stevens. The charming and talented British television presenter, known for conquering the young audience of the golden age with children’s programs, has died at the age of 87.
Born on 20 December 1936 in Prestwich, Lancashire, Julie’s career began when she won a talent competition at the age of 20, which led to a contract with the new ABC television channel.
She became the face of the Christian youth program Sunday Break, and learned to act while working in a repertory theater. In 1962 she was cast as nightclub singer Venus Smith opposite Patrick Macnee in The Avengers, and in 1964 she played Gloria in Carry On Cleo.
But she left her mark on children’s television.
Heavily pregnant in 1964, she auditioned for a newly commissioned program, Playschool, and made her debut on the show two weeks after giving birth to her first child, Daniel.
Her warmth, creativity and innate ability to connect with children quickly made her well-known and loved in homes across the UK.
Starring alongside her were many co-hosts – Rick Jones, Brian Cant, Jonny Ball and Toni Arthur, to name but a few, not to forget favorite toys Big Ted, Little Ted, Jemima, Humpty and Hamble, Julie led the young viewers through songs, stories and activities, earning a special place in the hearts of the generation.
In 1974, she divorced her husband, the actor John White, and balanced single parenthood, with Daniel and Rachel, with her screen career, which now included the sitcom Girls About Town and Playaway, a Saturday show for slightly older children, where the comic time and playful style really flourished.
In 1980 she married the actor and theater director Michael Hucks, and (with her time at the Playschool coming to an end) spent much of the 1980s working as Sir Harry Secombe’s personal assistant and then manager.
In 1992, Julie and Michael bought a house in Provence and she spent her time between there and London, while still performing – with Panto appearances and a role in Holby City.
She divorced Michael in 2001 and returned to the UK permanently in 2016 to be close to her daughter.
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019, Julie’s last few years have been difficult, but she faced it like all challenges, with good humor and great charm.
She left behind two children, four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren.
Julie Stevens will be remembered for her joyful spirit, her ability to make every child feel seen and her lasting legacy in the world of children’s television.
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education