If you’re like me, you squint at the screen and go, “Hold on, isn’t that…?” Yes. Wanda Ventham was one of those actors who popped up everywhere before the internet made it easy to check. She was in Doctor Who, Space: 1999, and all those classic 70s shows your dad still insists are the peak of television.
It’s like running into that one friend from school who you haven't seen in years. You don’t remember their whole story, but you instantly feel a warm, nostalgic buzz. Wanda brought that same energy to Trotter’s flat—familiar, reliable, and slightly judging your taste in curtains.
She had this way of standing there, arms folded, as if she’d just walked in from a particularly dull committee meeting. And you could feel her thinking, “Right, which one of these jokers has eaten the last of the biscuits?” It’s pure, relatable, everyday frustration.
A Mother’s Sigh, Perfected
Let’s be honest: playing a sensible character in a world of chaos is harder than it looks. Anyone can do a big, funny pratfall. But to make a simple sigh funny? That takes genius. Wanda’s Pamela could deliver a single “Oh, Del” that carried the weight of a thousand broken promises.
It’s the same energy you have when your partner suggests “one more quick project” for the garden shed. You know it’s going to end in a trip to B&Q and a broken spirit. She knew it too, and she made us all feel seen.
Only Fools and Horses Wanda Ventham Signed 10x8 Photo (2) - Del Boys
Her scenes with the late Roger Lloyd-Pack (who played Trigger) were a masterclass in polite awkwardness. She’d be having a nice cup of tea, and Trigger would start explaining his broom. You saw her internal monologue flash across her face: “I’ve made a terrible mistake coming here.” We’ve all felt that at a pub quiz.
