Patricia Bredin
Encyclopedia
Patricia Bredin is a British
actress and one-time singer from Hull
, England
, who was best known as the very first United Kingdom
representative in the Eurovision Song Contest
. She took part in the 1957 contest
, held in Frankfurt
, and finished in seventh place out of ten entries with the song All
, the first ever song sung in English at the Eurovision. According to The Eurovision Song Contest - The Official History by John Kennedy O'Connor at 1:52, this is the shortest performance in the history of the contest.
In 1959 she starred in the British comedy film Left Right and Centre
with Ian Carmichael
. The following year Patricia had a leading part in another film, the period adventure The Treasure of Monte Cristo
, and starred with Sid James
in Desert Mice
.
Bredin had the distinction of succeeding Julie Andrews
as Guenevere in the Broadway production of Camelot
. She played the role from 16 April 1962, until she was replaced by Janet Pavek
three months later.
, but they had no children, and divorced within two years.
On her second marriage, she married the Canadian businessman Charles MacCulloch and became Patricia Bredin-McCulloch, but he died on their honeymoon. She built up a herd of cows on their estate and looked after them for almost ten years before financial complications brought her cow-womanship to an end. She published some entertaining reminiscences about this period of her life in "My Fling on the Farm" (1989).
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
actress and one-time singer from Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, who was best known as the very first United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
representative in the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
. She took part in the 1957 contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1957
The Eurovision Song Contest 1957 was the 2nd Eurovision Song Contest. Like the first contest, this one was still mainly a radio programme, but there was a noticeable increase in the number of people with televisions....
, held in Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, and finished in seventh place out of ten entries with the song All
All (song)
"All" was the United Kingdom entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1957 performed in English by Patricia Bredin. At a length of 1:52 minutes, it has the distinction of being the shortest entry in the history of the Contest as well as being the first song to be performed in English.The song was...
, the first ever song sung in English at the Eurovision. According to The Eurovision Song Contest - The Official History by John Kennedy O'Connor at 1:52, this is the shortest performance in the history of the contest.
In 1959 she starred in the British comedy film Left Right and Centre
Left Right and Centre
Left Right and Centre is a 1959 British comedy film directed by Sidney Gilliat and starring Ian Carmichael, Patricia Bredin, Richard Wattis, Eric Barker and Alastair Sim. It was produced by Frank Launder...
with Ian Carmichael
Ian Carmichael
Ian Gillett Carmichael, OBE was an English film, stage, television and radio actor.-Early life:Carmichael was born in Hull, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The son of an optician, he was educated at Scarborough College and Bromsgrove School, before training as an actor at RADA...
. The following year Patricia had a leading part in another film, the period adventure The Treasure of Monte Cristo
The Treasure of Monte Cristo
The Treasure of Monte Cristo is a British movie released in 1961. It features Rory Calhoun as a military captain who goes off in search of the treasure of the legendary Count of Monte Cristo. It was directed by Monty Berman and also featured Patricia Bredin and John Gregson....
, and starred with Sid James
Sid James
Sid James was an English-based South African actor and comedian. He made his name as Tony Hancock's co-star in Hancock's Half Hour and also starred in the popular Carry On films. He was known for his trademark "dirty laugh" and lascivious persona...
in Desert Mice
Desert Mice
Desert Mice is a 1959 British comedy film featuring Alfred Marks, Sid James, Dora Bryan, Irene Handl, John Le Mesurier and Liz Fraser. A group of ENSA entertainers with the British army in the North Africa desert during the Second World War thwart a Nazi plan...
.
Bredin had the distinction of succeeding Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews
Dame Julia Elizabeth Andrews, DBE is an English film and stage actress, singer, and author. She is the recipient of Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, BAFTA, People's Choice Award, Theatre World Award, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award honors...
as Guenevere in the Broadway production of Camelot
Camelot (musical)
Camelot is a musical by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe . It is based on the King Arthur legend as adapted from the T. H. White tetralogy novel The Once and Future King....
. She played the role from 16 April 1962, until she was replaced by Janet Pavek
Janet Pavek
Janet Pavek was an American operatic soprano and musical theatre actress.-Biography:Pavek was born and raised in Bronxville, New York and began studying singing at the age of eleven. She won the Miss Eastchester pagaent in 1953 at the age of sixteen...
three months later.
Personal life
In 1964, she married singer Ivor EmmanuelIvor Emmanuel
Ivor Lewis Emmanuel was a Welsh musical theatre and television singer and actor. He led the rendition of "Men of Harlech" in the 1964 film Zulu.-Life and career:...
, but they had no children, and divorced within two years.
On her second marriage, she married the Canadian businessman Charles MacCulloch and became Patricia Bredin-McCulloch, but he died on their honeymoon. She built up a herd of cows on their estate and looked after them for almost ten years before financial complications brought her cow-womanship to an end. She published some entertaining reminiscences about this period of her life in "My Fling on the Farm" (1989).
Selected filmography
- Left Right and CentreLeft Right and CentreLeft Right and Centre is a 1959 British comedy film directed by Sidney Gilliat and starring Ian Carmichael, Patricia Bredin, Richard Wattis, Eric Barker and Alastair Sim. It was produced by Frank Launder...
(1959) - Desert MiceDesert MiceDesert Mice is a 1959 British comedy film featuring Alfred Marks, Sid James, Dora Bryan, Irene Handl, John Le Mesurier and Liz Fraser. A group of ENSA entertainers with the British army in the North Africa desert during the Second World War thwart a Nazi plan...
(1959) - The Treasure of Monte CristoThe Treasure of Monte CristoThe Treasure of Monte Cristo is a British movie released in 1961. It features Rory Calhoun as a military captain who goes off in search of the treasure of the legendary Count of Monte Cristo. It was directed by Monty Berman and also featured Patricia Bredin and John Gregson....
(1961) - To Have and to HoldTo Have and to Hold-Screen adaptations:The book has been twice adapted to the screen. The first silent film in 1916 was made by Jesse L. Lasky’s Famous Players company. It was directed by George Melford and starred Wallace Reid and Mae Murray. In 1922, Lasky did a remake, this time starring Bert Lytell and Betty...
(1963)