There’s something wonderfully authentic about Nina Saville’s approach to her craft that perfectly embodies the spirit of 1970s British television. In our recent conversation, this accomplished actress and newly published author shared insights that illuminate not just her own remarkable journey from “Are You Being Served?” to novelist, but the entire landscape of British entertainment during television’s most formative decade.
Nina’s story begins in the most traditional way possible – through proper training at Arts Educational school, followed by the rigorous discipline of repertory theatre. This was the old school path that created generations of versatile British performers, complete with uncomfortable digs, nylon sheets, and less-than-welcoming landladies. Yet this challenging apprenticeship provided something invaluable: the technical skills and professional discipline that would serve her throughout her career.
The breakthrough that would define her place in British television history came with her role as Mr. Rumbold’s secretary in “Are You Being Served?” What makes Nina’s recollections particularly fascinating is her emphasis on how different television production was in that era. The show was performed live, without canned laughter, creating an organic chemistry between performers that simply cannot be replicated in today’s heavily produced environment.
Working alongside legends like Molly Sugden and John Inman, Nina experienced what she describes as a genuinely collaborative atmosphere. These established stars were generous with their knowledge, offering tips and creating an ensemble dynamic rather than competing for attention. This professional generosity helped create the authentic chemistry that made “Are You Being Served?” such an enduring success.
Nina’s honesty about not initially realising the show’s cultural significance is refreshing. Like many performers of that era, she was simply doing her job professionally without anticipating that these programmes would become such an integral part of British cultural memory. The fact that “Are You Being Served?” continues to appear worldwide, with books and merchandise still being produced, demonstrates the lasting appeal of that particular brand of British comedy.
Her personal life took a dramatic turn when she met director Philip Saville during an audition for his production of “Dracula.” Their meeting – complete with the director emerging from an audition covered in lipstick from an actress “practising being a vampire” – sounds like something from a romantic comedy. Their subsequent professional and personal partnership led to collaborations on significant productions like “The Lives and Loves of a She-Devil,” where Nina not only acted but contributed to the writing process.
This creative partnership clearly influenced Nina’s development as a writer, culminating in her recently published debut novel, “A Night with Damien Spur.” The book, inspired by her late husband’s character and their shared experiences, explores themes of love, obsession, and redemption through the story of a complex protagonist guided by an inner voice of reason. Nina’s transition from the beloved secretary of Grace Brothers to accomplished novelist demonstrates how the storytelling skills developed through years in theatre and television can find new expression in literature.
The novel represents more than just a career change – it’s a culmination of decades of experience in British entertainment, filtered through Nina’s unique perspective as both performer and observer. Her ability to create compelling characters draws directly from her years working alongside some of Britain’s finest comedy actors, understanding what makes characters memorable and authentic.
What emerges from Nina’s story is a portrait of an era when British television was more intimate, more collaborative, and perhaps more authentic than today’s heavily produced entertainment. The live broadcasts, the smaller casts, the genuine chemistry between performers – all of these elements contributed to creating programmes that have endured far longer than anyone anticipated.
Nina’s journey from repertory theatre through television stardom to novelist also illustrates the importance of traditional training in the arts. Her emphasis on the value of theatrical discipline, the ability to reproduce performances night after night, and the technical skills learned through repertory work highlights what may be missing from today’s more direct routes into television.
The conversation with Nina Saville offers more than just nostalgic reminiscences about a beloved sitcom. It provides insight into a vanished world of British entertainment where professionalism, collaboration, and traditional craft skills created television that continues to bring joy to audiences decades later. Her transition into novel writing proves that the storytelling skills developed through years in theatre and television can find new expression, creating fresh narratives while drawing on a lifetime of experience in British entertainment.
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