[Bounci]

This clip comes from the Michael Palin film The Missionary (1982) and sees Palin return from Africa, only to be given a job to minister London's prostitutes! His character is naturally naïve, and in this scene he finds himself visited by a mousy young girl (played by Valerie Whittington) who comes to him with a 'problem' - ie, she fancies him. "Most of the people I've ever been to bed with didn't care who I was," she tells him. "I'd just love to go to bed with a man who was kind and gentle just once." Not grasping her meaning, he replies "I'm glad you feel that way because that is what our mission is all about." This cheer up young Valerie no end, who promptly whips off her nightdress and gets into bed with him. And while he is trying to persuade her to get out, two more girls come along and they end up in bed with him too! Unfortunately Maggie Smith turns up the next day and when she looks into his room she finds 3 naked girls in his bed (though the only nudity is of Valerie). Although Valerie's nudity is brief, it is memorable, and I've slowed it down so you can get a proper viewing of the scene.

For Valerie Whittington, 1982 was her 1st year in acting, having made her debut in The Return of the Soldier, and this was only her 3rd role (and only nude role). With her childlike looks, she found herself noticed in Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983), Ordeal By Innocence (1984), The Pickwick Papers (1985) and PD James' The Black Tower (1985). Surprisingly by the end of the decade her career had ended, with her last role in Inspector Wexford's Murder Being Once Done in 1991. Mind you, she got married in 1982 to actor Pip Donaghy when starting out in the acting game, and had 3 children, so she seemed determined to pack a lot in her career in the 80's!