Barbara Flynn

Biography

Barbara Joy Flynn (born 5 August 1948) is an English actress. She first came to prominence playing Freda Ashton in the ITV drama series A Family at War (1970–1972). She went on to play the milk woman in the BBC comedy Open All Hours (1976–1985), Jill Swinburne in The Beiderbecke Trilogy (1985–1988), Dr. Rose Marie in the BBC series A Very Peculiar Practice (1986–1988), Judith Fitzgerald in the ITV drama Cracker (1993–1995), and Mrs. Jamieson in Cranford (2007–2009). In 2021, she appeared in Doctor Who: Flux as Tecteun, a founder of Time Lord society and The Doctor's adopted mother. Starting in 2023, she acted in Beyond Paradise, playing the mother of the detective's girlfriend. This included some episodes in 2024 where she was reunited with Peter Davison, her A Very Peculiar Practice co-star. In her own words, she tends to play "feisty, strong women"

Known For

Doctor Who

Death in Paradise

Agatha Christie's Poirot

Play for Today

Play for Today

Play for Today

Silent Witness

Killing Eve

All Movies (36)

• Open All Hours: Inside Out2026
• Diana: The Curse of the Spencers2022 · as Narrator
• 1978: The Winter of Discontent2022 · as Narrator
• The Christmas Candle2013 · as Lady Camdon
• The Flying Scotsman: A Rail Romance2013 · as Narrator (Voice)
• Cheerful Weather for the Wedding2012 · as Aunt Bella
• Just Henry2011 · as Mrs Beaumont
• Burlesque Fairytales2010 · as Mrs. Argyle
• A Lion Called Christian2009 · as Self - Narrator(voice)
• The Marchioness Disaster2008 · as Eileen Dallaglio
• Christmas at the Riviera2007 · as Rita
• Miss Potter2006 · as Helen Potter
• Cracker: Nine Eleven2006 · as Judith Fitzgerald
• The 7/7 Bombers: A Psychological Investigation2005 · as Voice
• George Orwell: A Life In Pictures2003 · as Narrator
• Rosalind Franklin: DNA's Dark Lady2003 · as Narrator
• Hornblower: Duty2003 · as Mrs. Mason
• Hornblower: Loyalty2003 · as Mrs. Mason
• Night Flight2002 · as Moira
• Lorna Doone2001 · as Sarah Ridd
• The Escort1999 · as Kim's Mother
• You're Dead...1999 · as Prof. Corner
• The Man Who Would Be Kubrick1999 · as Self - Narrator
• King Lear1998 · as Goneril
• Dear Nobody1998 · as Chris' Mother
• The Vanishing Man1997 · as Me Jeffries
• Benefactors1989
• Bosses From Hell1989
• Season's Greetings1986 · as Belinda
• Day To Remember1986 · as Judy
• A Mother Like Him1982 · as Jill
• Britannia Hospital1982 · as Private Nurse
• No Visible Scar1981 · as Margaret Hanson
• Standing in for Henry1980 · as Heather
• Love on a Gunboat1977 · as Monica Potter
• The Flight Fund1975 · as Angie

All TV Shows (59)

• Secrets of the Royals: Births, Marriages and Deaths2025 · as Narrator
• Beyond Paradise2023 · as Anne Lloyd
• Kate & Koji2020 · as Councillor Lavinia Bone
• Killing Eve2018 · as Julia
• The Durrells2016 · as Aunt Hermione
• 18642014 · as Queen Victoria
• Pat & Cabbage2013 · as Pat
• Jet! When Britain Ruled the Skies2012 · as Herself - Narrator
• Death in Paradise2011 · as Patti Grenson
• Celebrity Antiques Road Trip2011 · as Self - Participant
• The Borgias2011 · as Isabella
• My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding2010 · as Narrator (voice)
• The Queen2009 · as The Queen
• Moving On2009 · as Carol
• Cranford2007 · as Mrs Jamieson
• Guarding The Queen2007 · as Narrator
• The Line of Beauty2006 · as Sally Tipper
• Elizabeth I2005 · as Mary Queen of Scots
• Malice Aforethought2005 · as Julia Bickleigh
• The Queen's Castle2005 · as Narrator (Voice)
• Doctor Who2005 · as Awsok
• He Knew He Was Right2004 · as Mrs French
• Sea of Souls2004 · as Lt Col Petra Summers
• The Inspector Lynley Mysteries2002 · as Maureen Finnegan
• The Forsyte Saga2002 · as Emily Forsyte
• The Forsyte Saga2002 · as Emily
• Perfect2001 · as Imogen
• Murder in Mind2001 · as Grace Fisher
• Lorna Doone2000 · as Sarah Ridd
• Wives and Daughters1999 · as Miss Browning
• Hornblower1998 · as Mrs Mason
• The Vanishing Man1997 · as Dr Jeffries
• Silent Witness1996 · as Carol Fisher
• Chandler & Co1994 · as Dee Tate
• Cracker1993
• Cracker1993 · as Judith Fitzgerald
• Cracker1993 · as Judith
• Maigret1992
• Performance1991 · as Goneril
• Joshua Jones1991
• The Justice Game1989 · as Eleanor Goodchild
• Agatha Christie's Poirot1989 · as Mrs Allerton
• The Beiderbecke Connection1988 · as Jill Swinburne
• The Beiderbecke Tapes1987 · as Jill Swinburne
• Inspector Morse1987 · as Monica Height
• A Very Peculiar Practice1986 · as Dr Rose Marie
• The Beiderbecke Affair1985 · as Jill Swinburne
• The Barchester Chronicles1982 · as Mary Bold
• The New Adventures of Lucky Jim1982 · as Joanna Lassiter
• The Bagthorpe Saga1981 · as Sue
• Murder Most English: A Flaxborough Chronicle1977 · as Pauline Sutton
• Open All Hours1976 · as The Milk Woman
• Playhouse1974 · as Heather
• Centre Play1973 · as Angie
• Play for Today1970 · as Monica Potter
• Play for Today1970 · as Jill
• Play for Today1970 · as Margaret Hanson
• A Family at War1970 · as Freda MacKenzie
• A Family at War1970 · as Freda Ashton