Hill's Angels in
Ease On Down The Road

Louise English

Louise English as she appeared in the February 11, 1981 "Ease On Down The Road" routine. For many, Louise English is considered the "unofficial" leader of Hill's Angels, alongside Sue Upton. They were both very important to the Benny Hill Show, not only as Angels, but as supporting actors in many short skits with Benny Hill. Of course today, Louise English doesn't seem to make any more TV appearances, but works on the theatrical stage in England. There was a brief period where she even had her own official website, but for some reason, the site was discontinued. Louise, if you're watching, we all miss you very much and would love to see you again in some connection with the Benny Hill Show, especially in a DVD tribute.

Sue Upton

Benny Hill's favorite Angel (and many others', too), Sue Upton, seen in the "Ease On Down The Road" routine of February 11, 1981. She first joined the show during the 1977 series, among her highlights there being as the Bionic Boy's first crush. By her third appearance on Dec. 26, 1978 (she would be in every remaining Hill show from then on), Benny noticed her upturned face lent itself to an old lady character, which she first played in the "Grand Wheelchair Rally" sketch; this led not only to the "Wondergran" sketches, but a recurring characterization as a feisty old lady - the archetype once played in the show's early Thames years by such genuine old ladies as Connie Georges. On the next-to-last Thames show in 1989, she even played Stan Laurel to Mr. Hill's Oliver Hardy in a silent sketch. Ms. Upton also figured very prominently in the Hill's Angels routines in their early years, indeed is regarded as one of the unofficial leaders of the troupe (the other being Louise English); in the show's final years, she also had a hand in the selection of future Angels. Her children, Richard and Louise Whatling (qv's), were among the "Hill's Little Angels" in the fading years of TBHS; she and her family have been widely cited as being like a "second family" to Benny outside the confines of his show. There is a website, SueUpton.net, which can give more about her illustrious career, as well as film and TV credits other than the Hill show, and several photos (in one of which she posed with Mr. Hill, Suzy Mandel, Jenny Westbrook, Anne Bruzac, and the then-current members of Love Machine of which she had been a part before either they or she first appeared on the show), than can be put in so short a space here.

Clare Smalley

Another popular Hill's Angel, Clare Smalley, as seen in the February 11, 1981 "Ease On Down The Road" routine. She was a charter Hill's Angel, figuring prominently in the dance routines in the first five shows to feature the group. In her last credited appearance (the aforementioned 1981 show), she was the woman at the bus stop who, after many aggravations, turns into a "She-Hulk" (as played by Alison Bell). Post-TBHS, she was part of another troupe called "Auto Angels," and made an appearance in an episode of Not the Nine O'Clock News, as well as appearing with some once and future Angels as dancers in the 1984 movie Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. On her last two credited TBHS appearances, her name was spelled Claire Smalley.

Penny Kendall

Here is Penny Kendall as she appeared in the February 11, 1981 "Ease On Down The Road" routine. Her time on the Benny Hill Show was short, but she did appear in Keep young and Beautiful, An occasional man, Down on the farm, Russian dolls and various others. She also worked in various TV shows such as the "Kenny Everett Show", Jim Davidson's "Whats on Next", Les Dawson's "Dawsons Watch", "The Sweeney", plus various others. Several small parts in films such as, "Valentino" with Rudolph Nureyev and Michelle Phillips, "The world is full of Married Men", "Odd Job" with David Jason, Video clips for Paul McCartney and Wings and another group called The Real Thing, numerous TV ads, modelling and fashion shows. Various theatre variety shows in England and then later in Spain. She also sang in a top variety show for 2 years in Spain. Today, apart from the odd modelling job, her time is taken up in an Estate Agency in Palma de Mallorca.

Alison Bell

The lovely Alison Bell, as seen in the "Ease On Down The Road" number from February 11, 1981. This statuesque (5' 10"), voluptuous beauty first appeared on TBHS on the April 25, 1979 show, where in all likelihood she played "Lady Cynthia Ramsbottom" in the famous "The Police Raid in Waterloo Station" sketch. Her winning smile lit up such routines and sketches as "Hotel Splendide," "The Poster Girl," and "Little Dimpton Street Party"; her almost Amazonesque height and ample proportions lent themselves to such over-the-top characters as a She-Hulk, a female vampire, and an S&M dominatrix. On at least two occasions, she appeared in roles played in earlier versions/incarnations by Lesley Goldie (qv): as a woman trapped inside a burning building in the remake of "A Tribute to the Lower Tidmarsh Fire Brigade," and as the younger wife of Jackie Wright in "The Lover." Ms. Bell's only known entry in The Spotlight (London), published in the 1982/83 edition, did not list the Hill show among her credits, but listed other TV credits such as appearances on the Bruce Forsyth and Little & Large shows; and a West End (London) stage show, Underneath the Arches. Also appeared in a 1986 episode of Chance in a Million. She was interviewed for featurettes on the Hill's Angels in Sets 4 and 5 of A&E Video's Complete & Unadulterated series of DVD's. Is not to be confused with the former British TV newscaster of the same name.

Abigail Higgins

A still of fan favorite Abigail Higgins, from: the "Ease on Down The Road" routine of February 11, 1981. At the time of her two 1979 appearances (on the April 25, 1979 show, she appeared in the "Yield to the Dawn" sketch as Benny's new neighbor), Ms. Higgins was a member of the second coming of Pan's People, along with another future Hill's Angel, Louise English. Abigail became an Angel herself in the 1981 series, figuring in the dance routines of every show therein - and also displaying a knack for comedy, as evidenced in the "Channel Surfing" sketch (Feb. 11, 1981) and the "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?" quickie (March 25, 1981), just as a few examples. In that latter vein, she also appeared, uncredited, on and off in sketches and quickies as aired between 1982 and 1985, with the 1984 series being her most prominent (lusting after old man Jackie Wright in "Stupid Cupid," for example, or as a bank teller in the "Fingers McNee" sketch). Her only other known TV credit, outside of TBHS, was a 1983 Bruce Forsyth special, also produced by Thames.

Come on and-Ease on down
Ease on down the road Dont you carry nothin'
That might be a load
Come on
Ease on down...ease on down the road

Pick your left foot up
When the right ones down Come on legs, keep movin'
Dont be lose no ground Just you keep on keepin'
On the road that you choose
Dont you give up walkin'
Cause you gave up shoes

Ease on down, ease on down the road -- come on
Ease on down, ease on down the road
Dont you carry nothin'
That might be a load
Come on
Ease on down, ease on down-
Ease... on... down, ease.. on down-
Ease on down, ease on down the road

Cause there may be times
When you think lost your mind--
And the steps you're walkin'
Might be long sometime
But just keep on steppin'
And you'll be just fine

Ease on down, ease on down the road-
Ease on down, ease on down the road-
Dont you carry nothin'
That might be a load
Come on, ease on down
Ease on down the road

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Contributing Editor:
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