Madame Fanny La Fan
Encyclopedia
Madame Fanny La Fan is a fictional character
in the BBC
sitcom 'Allo 'Allo!
, which ran from 1982 to 1992. She was played by the actress Rose Hill
.
Fanny and her son-in-law René share a mutual hatred of each other (the only time she is pleasant to Rene is when she learns of a large quantity of gold in his possession and then encourages Edith to marry him). Despite this, however, they are both constantly being caught up together in the plans of the French, English or German intelligence - René because of how "out of the way" his cafe is, and Fanny because since she is by and large bed-bound. While it is sometimes unclear whose side René is really on, Fanny is fiercely patriotic and extremely anti-German.
and other boudoir
-related objects are constantly used to conceal or disguise radio communication equipment or various unorthodox weapons to be used in the cause of the French Resistance
. Many of the show's characters, including Monsieur Alfonse
, Monsieur LeClerc
, and even René, have hidden beneath her bedsheets to escape capture by German army officials or the Gestapo
. Lt. Gruber
once found a book under her pillow with the title Wheelchair Jujutsu
which contained, among other things, 12 ways to disable a man with a crutch. On the few occasions when Fanny ventures out of her bedchamber, she is usually seen consuming liquor at the café's bar or attempting to entertain its patrons with a song.
Fanny is also known for her many dalliances with men in her youth, some of whom later became famous. She mentions in one episode that she used to have a relationship with Vincent van Gogh
(she called him Bobby), from whom she received a painting as a present as well as a part of his body ("by registered post"). Despite her own randy past (she claims to have once been the most talked-about woman in Paris), she constantly pressures her daughter Edith to remarry once Edith's marriage to René becomes officially ended.
Many allusions are made to her long-held disdain of all things German
, including her bad experiences with German soldiers during the first World War
(she implied that she was raped by German soldiers) and her possession of a clock once belonging to Marie Antoinette
that was stolen by one of her ancestors. In fact, when someone merely says the words "German," "Gestapo," or the like, she will spit in defiance, even if food is in her mouth, and generally always in the face of whoever happens to be standing nearby, even including German army officials and the Gestapo.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
sitcom 'Allo 'Allo!
'Allo 'Allo!
'Allo 'Allo! is a British sitcom broadcast on BBC One from 1982 to 1992 comprising eighty-five episodes. It is a parody of another BBC programme, the wartime drama Secret Army, and was created by David Croft, who also wrote the theme music, and Jeremy Lloyd. Lloyd and Croft wrote the first 6...
, which ran from 1982 to 1992. She was played by the actress Rose Hill
Rose Hill (actress)
Rose Lilian Hill was an English actress best known for her role as Madame Fanny La Fan in the British television series Allo 'Allo!. She was a former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company....
.
Personality
An elderly woman, Fanny is also a misanthrope who often moans at anything or anyone with whom she comes into contact. Even her daughter Edith, who is one of the few people who makes an effort to be nice to her, can rarely meet her constant demands or appease her crankiness. She often uses a walking stick to bang on the floor of her bedroom so that the other characters below will hear and come to her assistance. More often than not, however, the reasons for the calls for help are nothing more than complaints about what was served for lunch.Fanny and her son-in-law René share a mutual hatred of each other (the only time she is pleasant to Rene is when she learns of a large quantity of gold in his possession and then encourages Edith to marry him). Despite this, however, they are both constantly being caught up together in the plans of the French, English or German intelligence - René because of how "out of the way" his cafe is, and Fanny because since she is by and large bed-bound. While it is sometimes unclear whose side René is really on, Fanny is fiercely patriotic and extremely anti-German.
Running Gags Involving Fanny
Fanny is rarely seen not lying in her bed. The bed itself (especially its "flashing knobs"), her chamber potChamber pot
A chamber pot is a bowl-shaped container with a handle, and often a lid, kept in the bedroom under a bed or in the cabinet of a nightstand and...
and other boudoir
Boudoir
A boudoir is a lady's private bedroom, sitting room or dressing room. The term derives from the French verb bouder, meaning "to be sulky" or boudeur, meaning "sulky".- In architecture :...
-related objects are constantly used to conceal or disguise radio communication equipment or various unorthodox weapons to be used in the cause of the French Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
. Many of the show's characters, including Monsieur Alfonse
Monsieur Alfonse
Monsieur Alfonse is a fictional character in the BBC sitcom Allo 'Allo!, which ran from 1982 to 1992. He was played by actor Kenneth Connor.-Character overview:...
, Monsieur LeClerc
Monsieur Roger LeClerc
For the American Football player of the same name see Roger LeClerc .Monsieur Roger LeClerc was a fictional character from the British sitcom series Allo 'Allo!, played by Jack Haig.-The first episode:...
, and even René, have hidden beneath her bedsheets to escape capture by German army officials or the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
. Lt. Gruber
Lieutenant Hubert Gruber
Lieutenant Hubert Gruber, generally known only as Lieutenant Gruber, is a fictional character from the British sitcom series Allo 'Allo! and is portrayed by Guy Siner.Gruber is the aide-de-camp to General Von Klinkerhoffen, and lives in the local château...
once found a book under her pillow with the title Wheelchair Jujutsu
Jujutsu
Jujutsu , also known as jujitsu, ju-jitsu, or Japanese jiu-jitsu, is a Japanese martial art and a method of close combat for defeating an armed and armored opponent in which one uses no weapon, or only a short weapon....
which contained, among other things, 12 ways to disable a man with a crutch. On the few occasions when Fanny ventures out of her bedchamber, she is usually seen consuming liquor at the café's bar or attempting to entertain its patrons with a song.
Fanny is also known for her many dalliances with men in her youth, some of whom later became famous. She mentions in one episode that she used to have a relationship with Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh
Vincent Willem van Gogh , and used Brabant dialect in his writing; it is therefore likely that he himself pronounced his name with a Brabant accent: , with a voiced V and palatalized G and gh. In France, where much of his work was produced, it is...
(she called him Bobby), from whom she received a painting as a present as well as a part of his body ("by registered post"). Despite her own randy past (she claims to have once been the most talked-about woman in Paris), she constantly pressures her daughter Edith to remarry once Edith's marriage to René becomes officially ended.
Many allusions are made to her long-held disdain of all things German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, including her bad experiences with German soldiers during the first World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
(she implied that she was raped by German soldiers) and her possession of a clock once belonging to Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette ; 2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793) was an Archduchess of Austria and the Queen of France and of Navarre. She was the fifteenth and penultimate child of Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa and Holy Roman Emperor Francis I....
that was stolen by one of her ancestors. In fact, when someone merely says the words "German," "Gestapo," or the like, she will spit in defiance, even if food is in her mouth, and generally always in the face of whoever happens to be standing nearby, even including German army officials and the Gestapo.