Susan Stranks
Encyclopedia
Susan Stranks is a British actress, television presenter and producer.
, Stranks was ten years old when she played the role of the younger Emmeline Foster in the 1949 romantic adventure film The Blue Lagoon
.
In 1959, Stranks played a small part as a schoolgirl in the train scenes of The 39 Steps
starring Kenneth More
. She then appeared as a regular panelist on the TV pop music show Juke Box Jury
as well as Emergency - Ward 10 but she is best remembered for the children's TV series Magpie
, which she co-presented from 1968 to 1974. Many viewers noted that she chose not to wear a bra
when appearing on television, something she has freely reflected upon in retrospective programmes, often wearing the tight tops and hot pants
which were fashionable during the period.
Following Magpie, Stranks devised and presented a programme for pre-school children, named Paperplay
, which ran until 1981.
In recent years Stranks has become a children's radio campaigner, helping to create Fun Radio
, a station aimed at children aged under 10 years old.
(son of Ted Ray
) from 1960 until his death in 1998. They had one child, Rupert.
Career
Born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Stranks was ten years old when she played the role of the younger Emmeline Foster in the 1949 romantic adventure film The Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon (1949 film)
The Blue Lagoon is a 1949 British romance and adventure film produced and directed by Frank Launder, starring Jean Simmons and Donald Houston. The screenplay was adapted by John Baines, Michael Hogan and Frank Launder from the novel The Blue Lagoon by Henry De Vere Stacpoole...
.
In 1959, Stranks played a small part as a schoolgirl in the train scenes of The 39 Steps
The 39 Steps (1959 film)
The 39 Steps is a 1959 British thriller film directed by Ralph Thomas, starring Kenneth More and Taina Elg. It is a remake of the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock film, based on the novel The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan....
starring Kenneth More
Kenneth More
Kenneth Gilbert More CBE was a highly successful English film actor during the post-World War II era and starred in many feature films, often in the role of an archetypal carefree and happy-go-lucky middle-class gentleman.-Early life:Kenneth More was born in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, the...
. She then appeared as a regular panelist on the TV pop music show Juke Box Jury
Juke Box Jury
Juke Box Jury was a musical panel show which originally ran on BBC Television from 1 June 1959 until December 1967. The programme was based on the American show Jukebox Jury, itself an offshoot of a long-running radio series....
as well as Emergency - Ward 10 but she is best remembered for the children's TV series Magpie
Magpie (TV series)
Magpie was a children's television programme shown on ITV from the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. It was a magazine format show intended to compete with the BBC's Blue Peter, but attempted to be more "hip", focusing more on popular culture...
, which she co-presented from 1968 to 1974. Many viewers noted that she chose not to wear a bra
Brassiere
A brassiere is an undergarment that covers, supports, and elevates the breasts. Since the late 19th century, it has replaced the corset as the most widely accepted method for supporting breasts....
when appearing on television, something she has freely reflected upon in retrospective programmes, often wearing the tight tops and hot pants
Shorts
Shorts are a bifurcated garment worn by both men and women over their pelvic area, circling the waist, and covering the upper part of the legs, sometimes extending down to or even below the knee, but not covering the entire length of the leg. They are called "shorts" because they are a shortened...
which were fashionable during the period.
Following Magpie, Stranks devised and presented a programme for pre-school children, named Paperplay
Paperplay
Paperplay was a British children's television programme, produced by Thames Television for the ITV network between 1974 and 1981. The show was devised and presented by Susan Stranks, a former Magpie presenter....
, which ran until 1981.
In recent years Stranks has become a children's radio campaigner, helping to create Fun Radio
Fun Radio
Fun Kids is a British children's digital radio station in the United Kingdom and children's website, currently the Sony and Arqiva Digital Radio Station of the year. It is operated by Children's Radio UK Ltd which is owned by Folder Media...
, a station aimed at children aged under 10 years old.
Personal life
Stranks was married to actor and media personality Robin RayRobin Ray
Robin Ray was an English actor, musician and broadcaster, the son of comedian Ted Ray and the brother of actor Andrew Ray.-Career:...
(son of Ted Ray
Ted Ray (comedian)
Ted Ray was a popular English comedian of the 1940s, 50s and 60s....
) from 1960 until his death in 1998. They had one child, Rupert.