The entertainment world is mourning the loss of Sheila Bernette, a versatile singer and actor whose career spanned more than seven decades. She has died at the age of 94, leaving behind a legacy of laughter and song across theatre, television and film.
A Life in the Limelight: From Child Star to West End
Born Sheila Mary Poncini in London on 30 March 1931, her journey into performance began extraordinarily early. She trained in ballet at the famed Italia Conti Stage Academy from the tender age of two. By the time she was twelve, she was already appearing in a London Palladium pantomime, setting the stage for a lifelong dedication to entertainment.
Her professional path quickly took shape through repertory companies and touring shows. A significant early milestone came in 1953 with her West End debut in the musical revue 'Over the Moon' at the Piccadilly Theatre. However, it was her association with the iconic Players’ theatre club in London that became a defining thread. Joining in 1955, she became a mainstay of their Victorian music-hall productions for five decades.
Her talent shone brightly in 1957 when she took over the role of Dulcie in the Players’ West End production of 'The Boy Friend' at Wyndham's theatre, a part she played until the show closed in 1959. Her connection to this nostalgic style of entertainment was so powerful that she and fellow performers took it to a national audience on the beloved BBC television show 'The Good Old Days' from 1968 to 1983.
Television Fame: Comedy, Cameras and Soap
While she took on dramatic television roles from the mid-1950s, including a part in the 1960 film 'Sons and Lovers', it was in comedy that Sheila Bernette truly found her television footing. She enjoyed a long and fruitful professional partnership with comedian and host Leslie Crowther, who championed her talents.
She showcased her skills alongside him in numerous shows including 'Crowther Takes a Look…' (1965), 'The Black and White Minstrel Show' (1967-69), and 'The Leslie Crowther Show' (1971). Their collaboration extended to summer seasons and even the 1970 Royal Variety Performance, where they performed a hilarious ballet sketch.
Bernette became a familiar face across the light entertainment spectrum, working with an array of comedy greats:
- Morecambe and Wise in their shows in 1968.
- Dick Emery in his sketch show in 1972 and 1973.
- Tommy Cooper in 'Cooper – Just Like That!' in 1978.
One of her most memorable TV appearances came in the 1974 revival of 'Candid Camera', where she played a prankster. Her character, an elderly woman sweeping the pavement and whacking men with her brush, was so successful she was invited to perform it for the American version of the show in New York.
She also made brief forays into soap opera, appearing in six episodes of 'Coronation Street' in 1973 as Sister Delaney, and later enjoyed a late-career role in the children's sitcom 'Hotel Trubble' from 2008 to 2011.
A Lasting Legacy of Variety
Sheila Bernette's career was a testament to the enduring appeal of variety. Standing at just five feet tall, she was known for her vivacious personality and impeccable comic timing, which captivated audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. In the early 1960s, she was part of a select group from the Players’ theatre who performed at the Strollers theatre club in New York, bringing a touch of old England to American audiences.
Her final film role was in the 2009 romantic comedy 'My Life in Ruins', and she made her last stage appearances with the Players’ theatre company on tour in 1994 and 1995. Sheila Bernette died on 12 January 2026, leaving behind a rich tapestry of work that celebrated comedy, music and the sheer joy of performance.
