Penrose Phillips Presents... Miss Cashmere

Penrose Phillips Presents... Miss Cashmere, broadcast in some countries as simply Miss Cashmere, is a British crime drama television series based on the Miss Cashmere novels by Penrose Phillips. The series focuses on Joan Cashmere, the spinster amateur sleuth and former hospital matron who has retired in the quaint English village of St. Andrew's Mill after life in a busy London hospital. All 56 novels and 29 short stories were adapted into 10 eight-episode series and 5 feature length television movies between 1987 and 2010, with 6 actresses taking on the title role at various points.

Premise
Each episode of the series is an adaptation of a novel or short story from the Miss Cashmere series by Penrose Phillips. Each story centres around a crime, often a murder but occasionally jewellery theft and espionage have been featured storylines.

Miss Joan Cashmere

 * Series 1 - 2: Betty Wainwright
 * Series 3: Sandra Duckworth
 * Series 4 - 7: Angela Walthamstow
 * Series 8 - 9: Helen Morris
 * Series 10 - S2: Jane Sylvester
 * S3 - S5: Donna Bestfield

Other Recurring Characters

 * John Basher as Colonel Jack Shaw (series 1 - 7)


 * Gertrude Hannah as Jessica Cashmere (series 1 - S5)


 * Sally Bennett as Diana Cashmere (series 1 - S5)
 * Alexander Valance as Frederick Cashmere (series 2 - 9)
 * Carrie Molner as Deidre Manners (series 3 - S5)

Production
BBC Two announced the commissioning of Miss Cashmere in a June 1986 issue of Radio Times. The adaptation agreement was made between Thames Television and the head of the Penrose Phillips Estate, Phillips' daughter Vera Phillips, with the adaptation only allowed to go ahead if Penrose Phillips' name was used in the series' title.

Veteran stage actress Betty Wainwright was cast as Miss Cashmere in July 1986, in what she described as "the role of a lifetime". At 87, Wainwright was the oldest regularly employed BBC star and continued in the role of Joan Cashmere for the first two series and began production on series 3 in 1989 but passed away shortly before filming on the first episode started.

Production was halted indefinitely until in 1991, the BBC announced that series 3 of the show would go ahead, this time with popular soap actress Sandra Duckworth taking over from Betty Wainwright. The series was critically panned, with Duckworth's performance receiving particular scrutiny from critics and fans alike. However, the BBC could not cancel the series due to a contractual agreement with Thames Television and the Penrose Phillips Estate.

A fourth series was delayed, and did not begin production until late 1993, it was also confirmed that Sandra Duckworth had not been invited to reprise her role as the title character, and it was announced that 1950s super model and popular Hollywood movie star Angela Walthamstow would take on the role. When series 4 premiered in a quiet slot on BBC Two in 1995, it was a surprise hit for the channel and Walthamstow was critically acclaimed in the role. She continued in the role until 1998, when she decided to stand down after 4 series to pursue other interests, and it was confirmed that Helen Morris was cast to replace her.

Morris proved to be equally popular, and her debut was the first episode of the series to air on BBC One, starting in 1999. Helen Morris fell ill during production of series 9, and opted to leave the series at the end of series 9 as a result. Shortly after series 9 concluded broadcast, Morris passed away.

Series 9 saw the end of the BBC's contract with Penrose Phillips' estate and the decision was made to not produce a tenth series after the death of Helen Morris.

In 2004, it was announced that a deal had been made and that a tenth series would be produced and air in 2005, with popular West End actress Jane Sylvester taking on the title role. Sylvester proved popular in the role, but found the production schedule gruelling.

When the BBC announced that no further episodes of the series would be produced beyond adaptations of the books and short stories, of which there were only 5 left at the conclusion of series 10, it was announced that only one episode, albeit extended, would air annually. After starring in 2 specials, Jane Sylvester quit the role to return to theatre work, the BBC swiftly replaced her with Donna Bestfield, the acclaimed Oscar-winning British movie actress, who would keep the role right through until the series' final episode.

Production on the final story finished in March 2010 and aired on Boxing Day of that year.