Liza Goddard


Louise Elizabeth Goddard, professionally known as Liza Goddard, is an English television and stage actress, best known for her work in the 1970s and 1980s.

Early life

Goddard was born in Smethwick, Staffordshire, but spent most of her early years in Surrey. She is the daughter of David Goddard, who produced and directed numerous TV shows and programmes, and his wife Clare. They have another daughter, Maria.
Her parents met in Germany. Clare trained in rep, and appeared in television adverts. They lived at Heath End, Surrey then at 10 Weybourne Rd in Weybourne, Surrey, and in Frensham, then 'Huffins' in Tilford. Maria and Liza performed in the Junior Tilford Players.
She attended Farnham Girls' Grammar School, before her father moved the family to Sydney, when she was 15 in April 1965, upon his appointment as Head of Drama at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Career

Goddard made early television appearances in Australia, including episode 100 of Homicide, and the ABC drama play Romanoff & Juliet, and a brief appearance in the feature film They're A Weird Mob. She played the title role in a 1966 production of Antigone.
However, she is best remembered in Australia for her role as Clarissa "Clancy" Merrick in Skippy the Bush Kangaroo, in which she appeared in the first two series and 48 episodes between 1968-70.
After returning to the UK in 1969 as an adult, she was cast as Victoria Edgecombe, the character created by Terence Brady and Charlotte Bingham in Take Three Girls, later appearing in its sequel Take Three Women. She also had a supporting role in the 1972 comedy film Ooh… You Are Awful, starring Dick Emery. Her career breakthrough was as April in The Brothers, which also featured her first husband, Colin Baker.
A comedy role alongside Donal Donnelly in Yes, Honestly, by Terence Brady and Charlotte Bingham followed, as did a role with Christopher Biggins in a BBC1 sitcom Watch This Space, by Ronald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe. Later the same year, she also appeared as Jocelyn in "National Pelmet", the Series 2 opener of the ITV drama Minder. This was followed by Pig in the Middle written by Terence Brady and Charlotte Bingham.
Goddard was one of the 'explorers' who were 'evaporated' in a episode of the BBC science fiction quiz programme The Adventure Game, played a space pirate in the Doctor Who story Terminus, and appeared in Roll Over Beethoven, opposite Nigel Planer. She later had a recurring role as Philippa Vale in Bergerac.
Goddard played a humanist in the 1987 biographical film Testimony, starring Ben Kingsley.
The following year, she played Barbara Colport in the Tales of the Unexpected (TV series) episode #9.6 "Wink Three Times". She then appeared in Woof!, a Children's ITV programme first broadcast in 1989. Her third husband, producer and director David Cobham, created this series. She had earlier appeared in the TV adaptation of Brendon Chase, also produced and directed by Cobham.
She was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1984 when she was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the Ambassador's Theatre in London for the shows recording nearby, at the Regent Theatre. Between 1988-92, she was the female team leader on the long-running quiz/panel show Give Us A Clue, replacing Una Stubbs in the role.
In 1990, Goddard appeared as Laurel Manasotti in the ITV sitcom That's Love.
Goddard appeared as Gilly in Wild West, alongside Dawn French and Catherine Tate. In 2007 she appeared in the Midsomer Murders episode "A Picture of Innocence", reuniting her with Bergerac star John Nettles. In 2012 she had a cameo role in the all-star comedy film Run for Your Wife, and in 2013 she toured with the official Agatha Christie Theatre Company in Go Back for Murder, an adaptation of the book Five Little Pigs.
In September 2016, Goddard played the guest role of Gloria Francis in the BBC1 drama series Casualty. In March 2023 she again appeared in Casualty, this time playing Christine Robinson in the series 37 episode "No Regrets". In July 2023 Goddard was announced as taking the role of Dotty Otley in a national tour of Michael Frayn's farce Noises Off, directed by Lindsay Posner, following its run at the Phoenix Theatre, London.

Personal life

Goddard's first marriage was to Doctor Who actor Colin Baker.
In 1981 she married Bernard William Jewry, the pop star Alvin Stardust.
Goddard's third marriage was to producer and director David Cobham.
In 2004, Goddard was locked in a giant kennel with MPs Paul Burstow, Evan Harris and Ivan Henderson and BBC Newsround presenter Lizzie Greenwood, TV presenter Liz Bonnin and DJ Becky Jago in a stunt to launch the annual RSPCA Week to raise awareness and funds.
As of 2021, she lives near Dereham, Norfolk, and also works with the RSPCA, amongst other charities. She recovered from breast cancer in 1997. She has two children.

Select credits

  • ''Point of Departure''