[1] She first came to prominence playing Freda Ashton in the ITV drama series A Family at War (1970–1972).

[2] She went on to play the milk woman in the BBC comedy Open All Hours (1976–1985), Jill Swinburne in The Beiderbecke Trilogy (1985–1988), Dr. Rose Marie in the BBC series A Very Peculiar Practice (1986–1988), Judith Fitzgerald in the ITV drama Cracker (1993–1995), and Mrs. Jamieson in Cranford (2007–2009).

[3] Flynn was born as Barbara Joy McMurray, in St Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex.

She then trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (where she was awarded the Gold Medal in 1968) before appearing in repertory theatre.

[4] Flynn married television producer and science writer Jeremy Taylor in 1982.