
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Born
August 5, 1948 (age 77)
Place of Birth
Hastings, East Sussex, England, UK
Also Known As
Barbara Joy McMurray
Barbara Flynn
Biography
Barbara Joy Flynn (born 5 August 1948) is an English actress. She first came to prominence playing Freda Ashton in the ITV drama series A Family at War (1970–1972). She went on to play the milk woman in the BBC comedy Open All Hours (1976–1985), Jill Swinburne in The Beiderbecke Trilogy (1985–1988), Dr. Rose Marie in the BBC series A Very Peculiar Practice (1986–1988), Judith Fitzgerald in the ITV drama Cracker (1993–1995), and Mrs. Jamieson in Cranford (2007–2009). In 2021, she appeared in Doctor Who: Flux as Tecteun, a founder of Time Lord society and The Doctor's adopted mother. Starting in 2023, she acted in Beyond Paradise, playing the mother of the detective's girlfriend. This included some episodes in 2024 where she was reunited with Peter Davison, her A Very Peculiar Practice co-star.
In her own words, she tends to play "feisty, strong women"
Known For

TV
Doctor Who
Awsok
2005

TV
Death in Paradise
Patti Grenson
2011

TV
Agatha Christie's Poirot
Mrs Allerton
1989

TV
Silent Witness
Carol Fisher
1996

TV
Playhouse
Heather
1974

TV
Play for Today
Monica Potter
1970

TV
Play for Today
Margaret Hanson
1970

TV
Play for Today
Jill
1970

TV
Killing Eve
Julia
2018

TV
Cranford
Mrs Jamieson
2007

TV
Inspector Morse
Monica Height
1987

TV
Performance
Goneril
1991

TV
Celebrity Antiques Road Trip
Self - Participant
2011

TV
The Borgias
Isabella
2011

TV
Moving On
Carol
2009

TV
The Inspector Lynley Mysteries
Maureen Finnegan
2002

TV
Cracker
1993

TV
Cracker
Judith Fitzgerald
1993

TV
Cracker
Judith
1993

TV
The Durrells
Aunt Hermione
2016
Filmography
2025TVSecrets of the Royals: Births, Marriages and Deathsas Narrator2023TVBeyond Paradiseas Anne Lloyd2022FilmDiana: The Curse of the Spencersas Narrator2022Film1978: The Winter of Discontentas Narrator2018TVKilling Eveas Julia2016TVThe Durrellsas Aunt Hermione2014TV1864as Queen Victoria2013FilmThe Christmas Candleas Lady Camdon2013TVPat & Cabbageas Pat2013FilmThe Flying Scotsman: A Rail Romanceas Narrator (Voice)2012FilmCheerful Weather for the Weddingas Aunt Bella2012TVJet! When Britain Ruled the Skiesas Herself - Narrator2011FilmJust Henryas Mrs Beaumont2011TVDeath in Paradiseas Patti Grenson2011TVCelebrity Antiques Road Tripas Self - Participant2011TVThe Borgiasas Isabella2010TVMy Big Fat Gypsy Weddingas Narrator (voice)2010FilmBurlesque Fairytalesas Mrs. Argyle2009TVThe Queenas The Queen2009TVMoving Onas Carol2009FilmA Lion Called Christianas Self - Narrator(voice)2008FilmThe Marchioness Disasteras Eileen Dallaglio2007FilmChristmas at the Rivieraas Rita2007TVCranfordas Mrs Jamieson2007TVGuarding The Queenas Narrator2006FilmMiss Potteras Helen Potter2006FilmCracker: Nine Elevenas Judith Fitzgerald2006TVThe Line of Beautyas Sally Tipper2005FilmThe 7/7 Bombers: A Psychological Investigationas Voice2005TVElizabeth Ias Mary Queen of Scots2005TVMalice Aforethoughtas Julia Bickleigh2005TVThe Queen's Castleas Narrator (Voice)2005TVDoctor Whoas Awsok2004TVHe Knew He Was Rightas Mrs. French2004TVSea of Soulsas Lt Col Petra Summers2003FilmGeorge Orwell: A Life In Picturesas Narrator2003FilmRosalind Franklin: DNA's Dark Ladyas Narrator2003FilmHornblower: Dutyas Mrs. Mason2003FilmHornblower: Loyaltyas Mrs. Mason2002TVThe Inspector Lynley Mysteriesas Maureen Finnegan2002TVThe Forsyte Sagaas Emily Forsyte2002FilmNight Flightas Moira2001TVPerfectas Imogen2001TVMurder in Mindas Grace Fisher2001FilmLorna Dooneas Sarah Ridd2000TVLorna Dooneas Sarah Ridd1999TVWives and Daughtersas Miss Browning1999FilmThe Escortas Kim's Mother1999FilmYou're Dead...as Prof. Corner1999FilmThe Man Who Would Be Kubrickas Self - Narrator1998TVHornbloweras Mrs Mason1998FilmKing Learas Goneril1998FilmDear Nobodyas Chris' Mother1997TVThe Vanishing Manas Dr Jeffries1997FilmThe Vanishing Manas Me Jeffries1996TVSilent Witnessas Carol Fisher1994TVChandler & Coas Dee Tate1993TVCracker1992TVMaigret1991TVPerformanceas Goneril1991TVJoshua Jones1989TVAgatha Christie's Poirotas Mrs Allerton1989FilmBenefactors1989FilmBosses From Hell1988TVThe Beiderbecke Connectionas Jill Swinburne1987TVThe Beiderbecke Tapesas Jill Swinburne1987TVInspector Morseas Monica Height1986FilmSeason's Greetingsas Belinda1986FilmDay To Rememberas Judy1986TVA Very Peculiar Practiceas Dr Rose Marie1985TVThe Beiderbecke Affairas Jill Swinburne1982FilmA Mother Like Himas Jill1982TVThe Barchester Chroniclesas Mary Bold1982TVThe New Adventures of Lucky Jimas Joanna Lassiter1982FilmBritannia Hospitalas Private Nurse1981FilmNo Visible Scaras Margaret Hanson1980FilmStanding in for Henryas Heather1977TVMurder Most English: A Flaxborough Chronicleas Pauline Sutton1977FilmLove on a Gunboatas Monica Potter1976TVOpen All Hoursas The Milk Woman1975FilmThe Flight Fundas Angie1974TVPlayhouseas Heather1973TVCentre Playas Angie1970TVPlay for Todayas Monica Potter1970TVA Family at Waras Freda MacKenzie