Barbara Flynn
Born
August 5, 1948 (age 77)
Birthplace
Hastings, East Sussex, England, UK

Barbara Flynn

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"

Movies

TV Series

Secrets of the Royals: Births, Marriages and Deaths
Secrets of the Royals: Births, Marriages and Deaths
2025
Narrator
10 Episodes
Beyond Paradise
Beyond Paradise
2023 ★ 6.6
Anne Lloyd
9 Episodes
Killing Eve
Killing Eve
2018 ★ 7.9
Julia
1 Episode
The Durrells
The Durrells
2016 ★ 7.4
Aunt Hermione
5 Episodes
1864
1864
2014 ★ 6.3
Queen Victoria
1 Episode
Pat & Cabbage
Pat & Cabbage
2013
Pat
6 Episodes
Death in Paradise
Death in Paradise
2011 ★ 7.5
Patti Grenson
1 Episode
My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding
My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding
2010 ★ 4.8
Narrator (voice)
14 Episodes
The Queen
The Queen
2009 ★ 7.0
The Queen
5 Episodes
Moving On
Moving On
2009 ★ 7.1
Carol
1 Episode
Cranford
Cranford
2007 ★ 8.2
Mrs Jamieson
7 Episodes
The Line of Beauty
The Line of Beauty
2006 ★ 6.3
Sally Tipper
1 Episode
Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I
2005 ★ 7.2
Mary Queen of Scots
2 Episodes
Malice Aforethought
Malice Aforethought
2005 ★ 4.1
Julia Bickleigh
2 Episodes
The Queen's Castle
The Queen's Castle
2005
Narrator (Voice)
3 Episodes
Doctor Who
Doctor Who
2005 ★ 7.6
Awsok
2 Episodes
He Knew He Was Right
He Knew He Was Right
2004 ★ 7.6
Mrs. French
4 Episodes
Sea of Souls
Sea of Souls
2004 ★ 7.6
Lt Col Petra Summers
2 Episodes
The Inspector Lynley Mysteries
The Inspector Lynley Mysteries
2002 ★ 7.2
Maureen Finnegan
1 Episode
The Forsyte Saga
The Forsyte Saga
2002 ★ 7.9
Emily Forsyte
10 Episodes
Perfect
Perfect
2001
Imogen
2 Episodes
Murder in Mind
Murder in Mind
2001 ★ 8.4
Grace Fisher
1 Episode
Lorna Doone
Lorna Doone
2000 ★ 7.7
Sarah Ridd
2 Episodes
Wives and Daughters
Wives and Daughters
1999 ★ 7.3
Miss Browning
6 Episodes
Hornblower
Hornblower
1998 ★ 7.7
Mrs Mason
2 Episodes
The Vanishing Man
The Vanishing Man
1997
7 Episodes
Silent Witness
Silent Witness
1996 ★ 7.5
Carol Fisher
2 Episodes
Chandler & Co.
Chandler & Co.
1994
12 Episodes
Cracker
Cracker
1993 ★ 6.6
Maigret
Maigret
1992 ★ 7.1
2 Episodes
Performance
Performance
1991 ★ 6.0
Goneril
1 Episode
Joshua Jones
Joshua Jones
1991 ★ 6.0
12 Episodes
Agatha Christie's Poirot
Agatha Christie's Poirot
1989 ★ 8.2
Mrs Allerton
1 Episode
The Beiderbecke Connection
The Beiderbecke Connection
1988 ★ 7.3
Jill Swinburne
4 Episodes
The Beiderbecke Tapes
The Beiderbecke Tapes
1987 ★ 6.6
Jill Swinburne
2 Episodes
Inspector Morse
Inspector Morse
1987 ★ 7.8
Monica Height
1 Episode
A Very Peculiar Practice
A Very Peculiar Practice
1986 ★ 8.0
Dr Rose Marie
14 Episodes
The Beiderbecke Affair
The Beiderbecke Affair
1985 ★ 7.8
Jill Swinburne
6 Episodes
The Barchester Chronicles
The Barchester Chronicles
1982 ★ 7.0
Mary Bold
7 Episodes
The New Adventures of Lucky Jim
The New Adventures of Lucky Jim
1982
Joanna Lassiter
1 Episode
Murder Most English: A Flaxborough Chronicle
Murder Most English: A Flaxborough Chronicle
1977 ★ 5.5
Pauline Sutton
1 Episode
Open All Hours
Open All Hours
1976 ★ 7.9
25 Episodes
Playhouse
Playhouse
1974 ★ 7.0
Heather
1 Episode
Play for Today
Play for Today
1970 ★ 6.3
Monica Potter
1 Episode
A Family at War
A Family at War
1970 ★ 6.6
Freda MacKenzie
8 Episodes