British Pathe

C/U of Ruxton Hayward, a large man with glasses and a big red beard, wearing a kind of school uniform and walking along Victoria Street; he waves at people as they stare at him. M/S as he walks across a zebra crossing and we see he is wearing short trousers and long socks.

M/S of large men...

C/U of Ruxton Hayward, a large man with glasses and a big red beard, wearing a kind of school uniform and walking along Victoria Street; he waves at people as they stare at him. M/S as he walks across a zebra crossing and we see he is wearing short trousers and long socks.

M/S of large men being ticked off a list by producer Michael Anthony and walking through the stage door of the Victoria Palace Theatre (posters for the show 'Rose Marie' are seen outside), as commentator tells us "There's an audition here" - for the part of Billy Bunter in a production of 'Billy Bunter's Swiss Roll'. RH is the last to arrive and runs in as MA points at his watch and attempts to kick him in the pants.

M/S inside the theatre of Ellen Pollack sitting at a table backstage with the hopeful Billy Bunters sitting in a row next to her and reading scripts. We can see totem poles and various props in the background that must be from 'Rose Marie'. Some of the actors are eating buns; Keith Banks leaps about in excitable Billy Bunter style. RH sits next to the others, takes a bun from his satchel and starts to eat furtively, while Ronald Peat looks on.

EP auditions Malcolm Taylor, who eats a bun and rubs his stomach happily. Next up is RP who is measured around the waist by EP - 50 inches, which is the size they are looking for. C/U of EP talking to RP; she wears a navy turban; C/U of RP eating a bun, greedily stuffing it all in his mouth in one go. M/S of Joseph Behrmann taking a bun from the table and biting into it; he tries to take another but EP sees him and slaps his hand. Next to audition is RH; he is about to be measured when EP realises he has a cushion stuffed down his shirt and pulls it out; C/U of Martin Matthews
looking shocked and shaking his head. C/U of RH shrugging as he tucks into another bun.

Note: print is in isolation/vinegar syndrome vault. On file is an article from the Evening Standard about the audition, plus a note from a PR company detailing audition specifications. Cuts exist - see separate record.