Carol Day


Carol Day was a British soap opera comic strip, created by David Wright and Peter Meriton, and published from 10 September 1956 to 25 May 1967.

History and concept

Carol Day was published in The Daily Mail and syndicated in around 70 newspapers around the world. It featured the every-day adventures of a young blonde model, Carol Day. She had a wealthy uncle in the Caribbean, Marcus, who serves as her guardian and help.
David Wright drew the stories, while Peter Meriton provided the scripts.

Cast

  • Carol Day: A young female model.

    Family members

  • Marcus Axel: Carol's uncle and guardian. He collects African art.
  • Richard Axel: Carol's uncle, who owns the Caribbean island Gabriela.
  • Cousin Hugo: Carol's cousin who is the black sheep of the family. He is an associate of con-man Vernon Flowers and always begs for money when he is at Carol's place.

    Friends

  • Michael Fletcher: A photographer and first fiancé of Carol.
  • Joe Wilson: Australian photographer and Carol's second fiancé.
  • Charles Logan: A friend of Carol whom she fancies.
  • Mark Lovell: A jazz musician. Brother of Nora Lovell.
  • Nora Lovell: Carol's schoolmate and early roommate in London. Sister of Mark Lovell.
  • Max Kessell: Mark Lovell's roommate and fellow musician.
  • Adam Boone: A friend of Carol who is a reclusive sculptor.
  • Clive Ellis: An artist and friend of Carol.
  • Jack Slingsby: An artist and friend of Carol.
  • Angela Logan: A friend of Carol who is a model.
  • Baines: Butler of Marcus Axel. Carol often takes him in confidence.
  • Humphrey Patcham
  • Oswald Patcham: Son of Humphrey Patcham, who develops a crush on Carol.
  • Vernon Flowers: A con-man and a criminal who is a bad influence on Carol's cousin Hugo.

    Side characters

  • Arnold Tracy: An older man who tries to make Carol love him.
  • Reverend William Evans: A vicar in Marcus Axel's village.
  • Commander Black: A retired commander and good friend of Uncle Marcus. He is the father of Edward Black.
  • Edward Black: Son of Commander Black. He is a spoiled man.
  • Captain Riker: Friend of the Patcham who keeps over Oswald.
  • Paul Egan: Head of a fashion house and Carol's main employer.
  • June Egan: Wife of Paul Egan.
  • Jennifer Egan: Daughter of Paul Egan.
  • Gillian Vane: Assistant of Paul Egan
  • Henry Dietz: Owns a small Caribbean island.
  • Ian Carr: Sent down from Oxford in disgrace, stays with his mother Anne.
  • Peter Castle: Playwright and friend of Paul Egan.
  • Tim Privett: Friend of Uncle Richard.
  • Doctor Gomez: A black doctor who lives on the Caribbean island Gabriela.
  • Sarah: Uncle Richard's black housekeeper.
  • Joe Wilson
  • Simon Ware: An assistant of Joe Wilson who suffers from mental problems. He develops an obsession with Carol.

    Story Lines

Carol Day stories from David Wright were published from 1956 to 1967, last strip was #3305. Kenneth Inns then took over from 1967 to 1971. See the following story timeline:
EpisodesStart dateEnd dateNotes
1. Charles Logan1 - 104Monday, September 10, 1956Thursday, January 10, 1957There was no paper on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 25 and 26, 1956
2. Lance Hallam105 - 188Friday, January 11, 1957Thursday, April 18, 1957There was no paper on Friday, April 19, 1957
3. Paris Episode189 - 276Saturday, April 20, 1957Wednesday, July 31, 1957
4. Dangerous Currents277 - 356Thursday, August 1, 1957Friday, November 1, 1957
5. Problem Child357 - 451Saturday, November 2, 1957Saturday, February 22, 1958There was no paper on Wednesday and Thursday, December 25 and 26, 1957
6. Seconds Out!452 - 508Monday, February 24, 1958Thursday, May 1, 1958There was no paper on Friday, April 4, 1958
7. Brother Brushes509 - 609Friday, May 2, 1958Wednesday, August 27, 1958
8. Riverside Racket610 - 698Thursday, August 28, 1958Tuesday, December 9, 1958
9. Face Value699 - 777Wednesday, December 10, 1958Friday, March 13, 1959There was no paper on Thursday and Friday, December 25 and 26, 1958
10. Ebb-Tide778 - 865Saturday, March 14, 1959Thursday, June 25, 1959There was no paper on Friday, March 27, 1959
11. Cross-Currents866 - 952Friday, June 26, 1959Monday, October 5, 1959
12. Where There's A Will953 - 1045Tuesday, October 6, 1959Saturday, January 23, 1960There was no paper on Friday and Saturday, December 25 and 26, 1959
13. Last Of The Line1046 - 1149Monday, January 25, 1960Wednesday, May 25, 1960There was no paper on Friday, April 15, 1960
14. Money Matters1150 - 1246Thursday, May 26, 1960Thursday, September 15, 1960
15. Off Stage1247 - 1332Friday, September 16, 1960Saturday, December 24, 1960
16. Emergency!1333 - 1433Wednesday, December 28, 1960Tuesday, April 25, 1961There was no paper on Monday and Tuesday, December 26 and 27, 1960, and there was no paper on Friday, March 31, 1961
17. Shadow of Suspicion1434 - 1521Wednesday, April 26, 1961Saturday, August 5, 1961
18. Caribbean Captives1522 - 1620Monday, August 7, 1961Wednesday, November 29, 1961
19. The Changeling1621 - 1713Thursday, November 30, 1961Tuesday, March 20, 1962There was no paper on Monday and Tuesday, December 25 and 26, 1961
20. The Prophet1714 - 1809Wednesday, March 21, 1962Wednesday, July 11, 1962There was no paper on Friday, April 20, 1962 ; #1807, Monday, July 9, 1962 - last printed story title in the Daily Mail
21. Edgar Tracy1809 - 1881Wednesday, July 11, 1962 Wednesday, October 3, 1962
22. Friedrich Kahlenberg1882 - 1969Thursday, October 4, 1962Wednesday, January 16, 1963There was no paper on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 25 and 26, 1962
23. Simon Ware1970 - 2075Thursday, January 17, 1963Tuesday, May 21, 1963There was no paper on Friday, April 12, 1963
24. Jimmy Hayes2075 - 2205Tuesday, May 21, 1963 Saturday, October 19, 1963
25. Cousin Hugo2205 - 2315Saturday, October 19, 1963 Thursday, February 27, 1964There was no paper on Wednesday and Thursday, December 25 and 26, 1963
26. Gerald Wain2315 - 2413Thursday, February 27, 1964 Monday, June 22, 1964There was no paper on Friday, March 27, 1964
27. Jack Slingsby2414 - 2528Tuesday, June 23, 1964Tuesday, November 3, 1964
28. Rev. William Evans2529 - 2639Wednesday, November 4, 1964Monday, March 15, 1965There was no paper on Friday and Saturday, December 25 and 26, 1964
29. Adam Boone2640 - 2733Tuesday, March 16, 1965Saturday, July 3, 1965There was no paper on Friday, April 16, 1965
30. Gordon Grimes2733 - 2847Saturday, July 3, 1965 Saturday, November 13, 1965
31. Mr. Boker2848 - 2966Monday, November 15, 1965Monday, April 4, 1966There was no paper on Saturday and Monday, December 25 and 27, 1965
32. Mystery Man2967 - 3042Tuesday, April 5, 1966Saturday, July 2, 1966There was no paper on Friday, April 8, 1966
33. Max Kalman3043 - 3147Monday, July 4, 1966Wednesday, November 2, 1966
34. Uncle Richard3148 - 3250Thursday, November 3, 1966Saturday, March 4,1967There was no paper on Monday and Tuesday, December 26 and 27, 1966, and there was no paper on Friday, March 24, 1967. On Monday, March 6, 1967, the Mail reported:
David Wright, the creator of Carol Day, has been ordered to rest by his doctor. He has been drawing this immensely popular strip for the Daily Mail for 10 1/2 years, and while he takes a well-earned respite we are re-publishing one of the earlier episodes, in the Carol Day saga, beginning today. At the end of the story, David Wright will be back with a new adventure.
Shadow of Suspicion was the story they chose to reprint.
35. Spiros Londos3251 - 3346Monday, June 19, 1967Saturday, October 7, 1967Episode 3305, Monday, August 21 is David Wright's last Carol Day. As of episode 3306 the art was taken over by Kenneth Inns.
36. 3347 - 3454Monday, October 9, 1967Tuesday, February 13, 1968There was no paper on Monday and Tuesday, December 25 and 26, 1967
37. 3455 - 3544Wednesday, February 14, 1968Wednesday, May 29, 1968There was no paper on Friday, April 12, 1968. #3532, Wednesday, May 15, 1968 is a repeat of Tuesday, May 14, 1968
38. 3445 - 3642Thursday, May 30, 1968Thursday, October 31, 1968Publication of Carol Day was suspended from Thursday, August 1, 1968 through Tuesday, September 10, 1968, due to a newspaper strike. Carol Day resumed publication on Wednesday, September 11, 1968 with strip 3599.
39. 3643 - 3742Friday, November 1, 1968Thursday, February 27, 1969There was no paper on Wednesday and Thursday, December 25 and 26, 1968
40. 3742 - 3829Thursday, February 27, 1969 Wednesday, June 11, 1969There was no paper on Friday, April 4, 1969. Friday, May 2, 1969 reprints strip #3795 from Thursday, May 1, 1969. No explanation given. #3796 is printed on Saturday, May 3, 1969, so no strip is missing. Weird end of story — the plot isn't wrapped up at all but #3830 on June 12 is an abrupt transition to a completely different plot
41. 3830 - 3929Thursday, June 12, 1969Monday, October 6, 1969
42. 3929 - 4018Monday, October 6, 1969 Tuesday, January 20, 1970 There was no paper on Thursday and Friday, December 25 and 26, 1969
43. 4018 - 4106Tuesday, January 20, 1970 Monday, May 4, 1970
44. 4107 - 4192 or 4193Tuesday, May 5, 1970Tuesday, August 18, 1970
45. 4194 - 4263Wednesday, August 19, 1970Saturday, November 7, 1970
46. 4264 - 4357Monday, November 9, 1970Saturday, January 30, 1971
47. 4357 - 4406Saturday, January 30, 1971 Friday, April 30, 1971