28/05/2026
Charles Hawtrey was a comedy actor who could make people laugh before he had even delivered a line. With his unique voice, camp mannerisms and his funny expressions, he became one of the most memorable faces of the Carry On films and played his roles incredibly well for years.
Of course, there was also his reputation for being difficult in real life, and if you speak to people from Deal where Hawtrey lived, there are plenty of stories that still get talked about today. Like many old-school entertainers, he was clearly a complicated character away from the cameras.
But regardless of all that, actors and personalities like Hawtrey simply do not exist in the entertainment industry anymore. The Carry On series was full of larger-than-life individuals who all brought something completely different to the screen. Charles Hawtrey, Kenneth Williams, Sid James, Joan Sims and others were all very interesting personalities.
I think that’s part of the reason why the films have had such enduring love. Not just because of the humour, but because of the whole ensemble cast that came with them — people who Carry On fans still greatly admire today.
