Wickedly Delicious

BY ELIZABETH REVILL
I have only just discovered that Tony Cornish has died and I am deeply saddened. I owe him a huge debt of gratitude.

Tony gave me my very first radio job after I auditioned for him when I was still in Drama School. In fact, it was my very first professional acting job and he gave me an abundance of opportunities to develop my skills by casting me in numerous plays during his time at the BBC Pebblemill and recommending me to other directors. I then went on to win the Carlton Hobbs award and spent a brilliant six months on the BBC Radio Rep.

His skill in directing was second to none as he always knew how best to approach each actor and what advice would prove successful. I remember him saying to me on one occasion, 'Yes, Liz, just think dirty fingernails'. And I knew EXACTLY what he meant.

He had a wickedly delicious dry sense of humour, which sometimes left me wondering, 'Did he really mean that?'

I was also lucky enough to work with Linda Polan on a number of occasions and I learned so much from watching and listening to her, too.

It is a great loss and I know if George Woolley was alive he would pay his own tribute to Tony so I will do it for him. George worked on nearly every radio
play that Tony produced and it was George who got me that audition, which meant so much, after teaching me at BSSD in microphone technique. The two of them had such an amazing rapport, George with his blue rinsed coiffure and Jeannie, his little terrier ( named after Jean Alexander, his close friend) in tow and Tony,with his clipboard and script, precise and crisp. Two steps following behind them would be Tony's secretary, Clara.

George always spoke so highly of Tony and advised me to watch and learn as Tony was the master of direction. Thanks to the two of them I learned much about character and voice.

I am deeply saddened by his passing. Please send my sincere condolences to his wife, Linda and their son.