Really Interesting People - MITZI DAVIES, aged 81

GLITZY MITZI OF TRITSI

She was born Eileen Rogers in Glasgow. Her father was Derek Rogers, and her mother was Betty Hamilton Fingland. They had married as teenagers.

During the war, Derek was conscripted, leaving Betty with two children under the age of three. Then, Betty had a terrible accident and broke her back, so was unable to look after her children.

They were sent to live with their paternal grandparents in Northamptonshire.

Grandfather was Dr John Rogers, a former personal physician to the Viceroy of India, and grandmother was also called Eileen. They were both Anglo-Indian.

Viceroys of India (courtesy UPSCSuccess)

Dr Rogers was practising as a local GP.

It turned out to be an idyllic childhood. The family had many animals, one of them being an adorable kitten named Mitzi. Eileen loved the cat so much that she changed her own name to ‘Mitzi’.

Mitzi was sent to boarding school, where she developed a love of drama and then won a scholarship to RADA.

She was a tiny woman, under 5 feet tall, but bursting with energy. She also had a great sense of humour. People always commented on her beautiful eyes.

After graduating from RADA, Mitzi immediately got work in television and appeared in the some of the most popular programmes of the 1960s including The Avengers, Z- Cars, and Dr Finlay’s Casebook. She was billed as Mitzi Rogers.

The Avengers (courtesy The Movie Database)

Dr Finlay’s Casebook (courtesy Scotland On Air)

During this period, Mitzi married veterinary surgeon Keith Butt.

Keith Butt (courtesy British Veterinary Asscociation)

In 1965, she fell in love with television drama director John Davies. After a divorce from her first husband, she married John in 1969. They had two children, Sophie and Ben.

By that time, she had joined the cast of the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She played Jenny Sutton who married Elsie Tanner’s son Dennis (played by Philip Lowrie).

Coronation Street (courtesy Coronation St Wiki)

Mitzi as Jenny Tanner (courtesy Coronation Street Wiki)

Philip Lowrie as Dennis Tanner (courtesy Coronation Street Blog)

Mitzi in Dennis Tanner’s arms (courtesy The Guardian))

A loving kiss on the Street (courtesy Shutterstock)

Coronation street cast – with Mitzi (courtesy Getty Images)

In the snug at the Rover’s Return (courtesy Shutterstock)

Philip Lowrie and Mitzi on set (courtesy Daily Star)

Coronation Street (courtesy Coronation Street Blog)

Mitzi and her screen husband (courtesy Shutterstock)

In the 1970s, Mitzi appeared in The Sweeney, The Professionals and Minder (amongst other programmes), and in the 1980s appeared in an adaptation of Agatha Christie’s ‘Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?’.

With John Thaw in The Sweeney (courtesy The Guardian)

With Richard Beckinsale (courtesy Shutterstock)

The Professionals (courtesy The Movie Database)

Why Didn’t They Ask Evans (courtesy IMDb)

By this time, John and Mitzi were spending more time in their holiday home in Corfu – and there, they gradually grew apart.

In the 1990s, Mitzi appeared in the Ruth Rendell Mysteries and the TV adaptation of P.D. James’ ‘Devices and Desires’ (directed by her husband John, who was more noted for the Miss Marple TV series).

John Davies in later life(courtesy Centre for Independent Documentary)

Miss Marple TV series (courtesy TV Tropes)

Then, Mitzi retired and moved permanently to Corfu. She had worked constantly since 1963 – over 30 years of acting.

By now, her husband John had met a new partner, and so had she, and then they divorced.

Mitzi’s new girlfriend was Judith (Judy) Mackrell, who had worked with the author Gerald Durrell.

Judy and Mitzi bought a villa in Tritsi, which had stunning views over the Corfu channel to Albania. They drove around the island in a battered old Citroen 2CV, visiting their many friends. They were usually seen socialising in the many taverns of Corfu.