Educating Marmalade and Danger: Marmalade At Work (1983 – 1984), both starred Charlotte Coleman as Marmalade Atkins – the “worst-behaved girl in the world” who made Dennis the Menace look like Softy Walter’s poodle.
Having been expelled from every single boarding school her wide-boy businessman father’s money could buy in Educating Marmalade, Mr and Mrs Atkins decided to hire wet liberal social worker Wendy Wooley (a pre T-Bag Elizabeth Estensen) to find Marmalade a vocation via a series of work experience schemes.
Marmalade was recruited into the army in one episode, only to find Windsor Davies playing a Sergeant Major. She also joined the police force (despite having a criminal record), the secret service (foiling a Nazi plot to destroy the Mona Lisa as “007 and a half”) and became a stewardess (resulting in a disaster movie scenario).
Made on a low budget but with innovative use of stylised design and video effects, the series seemed dumb and brash at first, but possessed a real spark of intelligent wit – just like its titular heroine.
Charlotte Coleman died on 14 November 2001 in Holloway, north London, from a massive attack of bronchial asthma. She was only 33.
Marmalade Atkins
Charlotte Coleman Mr Atkins (Marmalade’s Dad)
John Bird Mrs Atkins (Marmalade’s Mum)
Lynda La Plante (1)
Carol MacReady (2) Mrs Allgood
Gillian Raine Wendy Wooley
Elizabeth Estensen
