- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- April 8, 1937
- Place of Birth
- Scotland, UK
- Died
- April 29, 2026
Claire Nielson
Claire Nielson (née Isbister) was a Scottish actress primarily known for her television roles. On television, she played the wife of the belligerent American guest, Mr. Hamilton, in the "Waldorf Salad" episode of Fawlty Towers, appeared as Jean 'Porridge' Carter, Geoffrey Stock's secretary, in the popular 1960s crime series Ghost Squad and played the wife of Rikki Fulton's character in many sketches of the Scottish Hogmanay show Scotch and Wry from 1978 until 1993. Other TV credits include Warship, Sutherland's Law, Upstairs, Downstairs, Monarch of the Glen, The Brothers, The Two Ronnies, Take The High Road, Z-Cars, Special Branch, Thriller and Taggart. She also appeared as Barbara Grant in the 1971 film version of Kidnapped, opposite Michael Caine and Trevor Howard.and an episode of Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads.
Filmography
movieRikki
2024 · Self
The Very Best of Scotch And Wry
tvThe Very Best of Scotch And Wry
2005
movieA Is for Acid
2002 · Amy McSwan
tvThe Jury
2002 · Eleanor Colchester
tvMonarch of the Glen
2000 · Edith Rankin
tvThe Crow Road
1996 · Aunt Antonia
tvPie in the Sky
1994 · Anita Block
tvI, Lovett
1993 · Mrs. Lovett
movieRikki Fulton - Prince of Pochlers in Scotch & Wry 4
1992 · Various
tvTaking the Floor
1991 · Mrs. Tranter
movieTriple Scotch & Wry
1990 · Various
movieDouble Scotch & Wry
1987 · Various
movieScotch & Wry
1986
tvTaggart
1983
movieDegree of Uncertainty
1979 · Diana
tvScotch and Wry
1978
movieClay, Smeddum and Greenden
1976 · Ellen Simpson
tvFawlty Towers
1975 · Mrs. Hamilton
movieThe Crazy Kill
1975 · Hilary
tvThriller
1973 · Hilary
tvWhatever Happened to the Likely Lads?
1973 · Miss Dixon
tvCrown Court
1972 · Terry Greene
Late Night Theatre
tvLate Night Theatre
1972 · Helen
The Scobie Man
tvThe Scobie Man
1972 · Judy
movieKidnapped
1971 · Barbara Grant
tvUpstairs, Downstairs
1971 · Ellen Bouverie
tvJustice
1971 · Mary Lurcock
movieOrkney
1971 · Ingi
The Revenue Men
tvThe Revenue Men
1967 · , Luke Frazer
movieThe Wild Affair
1965 · Perfume Saleslady
tvThe Wednesday Play
1964 · Alison Grant
movieBackfire!
1962 · Valentina Chenko
tvGhost Squad
1961
movieThe Kitchen
1961 · Waitress
tvNo Hiding Place
1959