The Carry On star you might not have realised appeared in Only Fools and Horses
Only Fools and Horses has an army of fans across the country and the classic show continues to provide hours of laughter, especially while the nation is in lockdown.
Lots of famous faces have made guest appearances over the years, sharing the screen with legends David Jason (Del Boy) and Nicholas Lyndhurst (Rodney).
While you might already know that celebs such as actor Jim Broadbent and entrepreneur Richard Branson appeared on the sitcom, one film legend’s cameo might come as a bit of surprise.
A star from the silver screen featured in the Only Fools and Horses Christmas special, 33 years ago in 1987.
If you haven’t guessed who it is already, then saying they appeared in Carry On Camping, Carry On Nurse and Carry On Cleo would give you a major hint.
They also appeared as the step-mother to Geoffrey Palmer’s character Lionel in As Time Goes By in the 1990s.
The lady in question is of course Joan Simms.
Born in Essex in 1930s, the star loved acting and applied to study at Rada.
After getting in on her fourth attempt and graduating at 19, she performed in pantomimes and plays across the country.
In 1958 she received a script for Carry On Nurse and after a successful performance she went on to star in Carry On Teacher, Carry On Constable, Carry On Regardless and many others, sealing her fate in the franchise.
At the start of the film series, she played objects of desire but was later cast in more frumpy roles.
In total, she appeared in 24 Carry On films before moving on to television.
As well as acting in Doctor Who, Worzel Gummidge and On the Up, Joan appeared in everyone’s favourite Peckham-based show,
She played Trigger’s Aunt Reenie Turpin in The Frog’s Legacy, in case you’ve forgotten
The episosde sees the Trotters and supporting characters attend a wedding in Hampshire.
