Windsor was the naughty-but-nice “dolly bird” – and only that ancient term will do for the way she was eternally cast as the smutty, sexist, seaside postcard figure. She was the other side of the supposed womanhood coin from Hattie Jacques – she and Hattie were condemned to be the anode and cathode of Carry On femininity: sex-bomb or battleaxe.
How funny were the Carry Ons really? My view is: not as funny as we always find ourselves thinking and hoping. People who affect to think they’re great are just remembering a few gags and a handful of clips, or really just one clip: Barbara’s bra pinging off. Sit down and actually try to watch a single Carry On film all the way through and you’ll have your nostalgia sorely tested. They were pretty ropey compared to what Britain could do in the theatre and TV.