Meet 80s sitcom star Donald Hewlett's incredibly famous daughter – who starred with Bill Nighy


80s sitcoms fans will remember You Rang, M'Lord?, which focused on the lives of an aristocratic family and their servants, and leading star Donald Hewlett has a very famous daughter


Cast members of You Rang, M'Lord?© BBC
Matthew Moore
Matthew MooreSenior Evening Writer
2 minutes ago
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One of the more unique sitcoms of the 1980s was You Rang, M'Lord?, with the classic BBC show often running for 50 minutes instead of the normal 30.

The show focused on the lives of the aristocratic Meldrum family, headed by Lord George Meldrum, as well as their servants, with the concept predating Downton Abbey by 30 years.

Known for his Victorian attitudes, alongside his affair with Lady Agatha, Lord Meldrum was played by iconic British actor Donald Hewlett. The late actor was also known for his roles in the likes of It Ain't Half Hot Mum, Now Look Here, Come Back Mrs. Noah and the Ian Fleming biopic, Goldeneye: The Secret Life of Ian Fleming.

Donald, who died at the age of 90 on 4 June 2011, was married three times during his life, including to the actress Thérèse McMurray. The star was a proud dad to five children, and his youngest, Siobhan Hewlett, ended up following both of her parents into showbusiness.

Here's all you need to know about Donald's famous daughter…

Donald's daughter Siobhan Hewlett

Siobhan is Donald's youngest child, and both of her parents were actors, with her mother being Donald's third wife, Thérèse.

The actress rose to fame in the 00s, with one of her first roles being as Karen in The Canterbury Tales, where she starred opposite Dame Julie Walters and Bill Nighy. Other early roles include The Gathering, Fortysomething and Monsieur N.

Siobhan Hewlett smiling, wearing a black dress and sequined jacket, holding a black clutch.© WireImage
Siobhan shot to fame in the 00s

The star has also appeared in the likes of Irina Palm, Dread, Hummingbird, The Lost Girls, Torchwood and Sherlock.

Speaking to The Clare Champion, Siobhan admitted that even though she knew from an early age she wanted to be an actress, her parents attempted to warn her off pursuing the art form. "My parents were against this," she explained. "My mother had been a child acting star and was very successful.

Siobhan Hewlett stands in a gold dress, hands on hips, against a yellow backdrop.© WireImage
The actress revealed her parents warned her off acting

"My father was an incredibly successful television star, but they didn't want me to go into the business because it is a brutal industry. You have to love it beyond everything because it can be a challenging life. I did feel pressure to be a great actress."

She added: "Standing in front of my family performing was terrifying because they were and are my harshest critics and biggest fans."

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