Meet Hi-de-Hi! star Simon Cadell’s incredibly famous sister

Although Hi-de-Hi! came to an end over 35 years ago, the BBC show is still beloved by millions, and its cast are still fondly remembered by those who tuned in all those years ago.

One of the key characters of the sitcom’s early seasons was Professor Jeffrey Fairbrother, the camp’s entertainment manager, and the beloved character was played by Simon Cadell. Simon left the show following its fifth season to focus on other projects, including another popular sitcom.

The actor starred in the likes of Life Without George, Singles, Tales of the Unexpected and a BBC adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. Between 1990 and 1994, the actor provided narration for the children’s series Bump.

The star sadly passed away at the age of 45 in 1996 after being diagnosed with lymphoma. Simon, who famously smoked 80 cigarettes a day, faced various health issues before his death, and underwent a triple heart bypass in 1993.

The late actor wasn’t the only famous face in his family, with his younger sister, Selina, also entering the entertainment industry. Here’s all you need to know about Simon’s famous sister…

Selina Cadell

Selina is Simon’s younger sister by three years, and the pair both share the actress Jean Cadell as their grandmother.

She has appeared in several of Britain’s most popular TV series, including the likes of Agatha Christie’s Marple, Victoria Wood, Jeeves and Wooster, Midsomer Murders and The Amazing Mrs Pritchard. The star’s biggest role has been as Sally Tishell in the ITV comedy-drama Doc Martin, appearing in all ten seasons.

The 72-year-old also had a film career, with credits in Not Quite Paradise, The Madness of King George, Match Point and Snow Cake.

Speaking about her late brother with The Guardian in 2017, she recounted a story of one of his stage appearances. She said: “One of my fondest memories of my brother, Simon Cadell, is of him waiting in the wings for his first entrance, clearing his throat umpteen times, then saying ‘[expletive] ’em’ rather too loudly and marching on.”

© Dave Benett/Getty Images

Selina has been friends with Hollywood icon Sigourney Weaver for over 40 years, with the actress first meeting the Alien star back in 1974. Speaking to the Radio Times about their first meeting, she explained: “When my friend Peter first mentioned Sigourney, a friend of his from Yale Drama School, I thought it was an extraordinary name. Very exotic.

“Peter and I were to meet her in a pub in London’s Swiss Cottage that looked like a chalet and was surrounded by roads. Sigourney was slightly late. I looked up to see this wonderful gazelle-like creature leaping over the small wall that separated us from the road.”