Island Life Magazine Ltd November/December 2005 | Page 7

INTERVIEW

Jack and his alter-ego
just keep “Carrying on”…
The hand of fate was at work when comedian Jack
Douglas stepped off the Isle of Wight ferry in 1996 to
appear in the stage show “Me and My Girl” at the
Shanklin Theatre. Little did he know it then, but his
leading lady in the show, Vivien, was destined to
become his wife – and the bewitching Isle of Wight, his
home.
Stage and screen veteran Jack, whose memorable twitchafflicted character Alf Ippititmus became a national
institution in the 1970s, fell for both Vivien and the Island,
and promptly sold his 16th century home in Godalming,
Surrey, to cross the Solent for a new life.
Now, he says, he wouldn’t live on the mainland even if it
were “rent free”.
“I’ve never been so happy anywhere,” declares Jack, who
has made Shanklin his home.
“Okay, the Island may be 20 years behind the times – but
so am I! Where else could you still leave your car unlocked,
or walk around the streets without worrying after dark?”
Jack and Vivien, a versatile singer/dancer/actress, loved
working together so much that they now come almost as a
professional “package”, choosing shows in which they can
appear together. In fact, the only reason Jack isn’t doing a

Jack featured in 8 Carry
On films:
Carry On Columbus
Carry On Emmanuelle
Carry On England
Carry On Behind
Carry On Dick
Carry On Abroad
Carry On Girls
Carry On Matron

Left: Enjoying the Autum sunshine with Vivien
Above: Time out for a glass of wine.
Top: In character as Alf.

Carry On Star

Jack Douglas
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