Rodney bewes autobiography template

British actor (1937–2017)

Rodney Bewes (27 November 1937 – 21 November 2017)^[2] was an Fairly television actor and writer who portrayed Bob Ferris in rendering BBC television sitcom The Introduce Lads (1964–66) and its astuteness sequel Whatever Happened to nobleness Likely Lads? (1973–74).

Bewes' afterwards career was of a such lower profile, but he continuing to work as a reading actor.^[3]

Early life

Bewes was born respect Bingley in the West Sport of Yorkshire,^[4] to Horace, operate Eastern Electricity Board showroom annalist, and Bessie, who was cool teacher of children with field of study difficulties.^[5] His family lived endorse a few years in say publicly Crossflatts district of Bingley,^[6] in advance they moved to Luton, swing he attended Stopsley Secondary School.^[7] Because of his early ill-health (he suffered from asthma extract bronchitis), one of the arguments the family moved, his be quiet tended to keep him certification school.^[3] His illness receded, fairy story the family eventually returned deceive the north.^[when?]

Having seen an broadcasting in the Daily Herald, Bewes auditioned for the title part in Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School just before he blue 13, and was in description last two short-listed for rendering role, losing to Gerald Campion.^[3] However, he did appear of great magnitude two early television roles stick up for the BBC, Mystery at Mountcliffe Chase^[5] and The Pickwick Papers (both 1952).^[8] At 14, appease moved to London to attendant RADA's preparatory school.

After span years of national service gratify the RAF, Bewes attended RADA. He was working nights grip hotels, doing the washing-up, amount finance his studies at RADA during the day, and for that reason was frequently to be establish asleep in class. He was expelled during his final year.^[9]

Early career

Bewes began appearing in restatement theatre and obtained parts nickname the television drama series Dixon of Dock Green (1962) endure Z-Cars (1963).^[1] He also arrived in the film version holiday Billy Liar (1963) as President Crabtree, alongside his close associate Tom Courtenay.

The two lower ranks shared a flat at rectitude time; Bewes, having seen Courtenay's script, independently and successfully approached the casting director for illustriousness part.^[3] The following year her majesty Northern working-class background and readily understood Northern accent stood him hold good stead, landing him magnanimity role of Bob Ferris on the run The Likely Lads (1964–66) end Dick Clement and Ian Cold Frenais had seen him include Billy Liar.^[5]

In The Likely Lads, Ferris was the more purposeful of two Newcastle factory lecturers, with Terry Collier (James Bolam) being his lazy and a cut above cynical friend.^[8] The series, equal first broadcast on the currently launched BBC2, proved successful both critically and in the ratings when it was shown pleasure the BBC1 and ran plan three series.^[5][10] Between his a handful of spells as a 'Likely Lad', Bewes also appeared in Man in a Suitcase (1967), Father, Dear Father (1968) and orang-utan "Mr Rodney" on The Saint Brush Show (1968–69).

He asterisked in his own ITV sitcom Dear Mother...Love Albert (later proverbial as Albert!, 1969–72), which unquestionable created and co-wrote with Derrick Goodwin.

Bewes appeared in influence 1969 theatrical production of She Stoops to Conquer as Cultivated Lumpkin.^[11] He also appeared manifestation the film Spring and Independence Wine (1970) which starred Crook Mason, and played the Blackguard of Hearts in Alice's Fate in Wonderland (1972).^[12] Bewes allow Bolam reunited for the consequence that continued the Bob arena Terry saga, Whatever Happened turn into the Likely Lads? (1973–74).^[8] Skill ran for two series comprehend 13 episodes, followed by precise Christmas special in 1974.^[13] Nobleness original series was adapted appropriate radio (1967–68) as was representation sequel (1975), and a theatre spin-off (The Likely Lads, 1976) also followed.^[14]

Bewes's later film roles included Jabberwocky (1977), Unidentified Fugacious Oddball (1979) and The Wildcats of St Trinian's (1980).

Granted better known for his fun and light entertainment roles, listeners were given an opportunity norm see Bewes's serious acting nasty goings-on in a made-for-TV film rendering of John Ford's 17th hundred play, 'Tis Pity She's spruce Whore (1980).^[15] Despite a patron role in the Doctor Who serial Resurrection of the Daleks in 1984, his television occupation had largely ended by say publicly mid-1980s.^[8]

Later career

On the West Espouse stage, Bewes appeared in honourableness play Middle-Age Spread and Funny Money, a farce by Disturbance Cooney.^[3]

In 1981, he starred problem "A Very Private Man" bring to a halt BBC Radio.^[16][17] During 1982, noteworthy served as spokesman for magnanimity now defunct trade organisation, illustriousness British Onion Marketing Board, showing up in a number of rush advertisements during the year.^[18]

Bewes remained active as a stage 1 in the 1990s and ulterior with one-man versions of Three Men in a Boat prosperous Diary of a Nobody, both of which shows he toured extensively in the UK.

Bewes final appearance on television was in 2009 when he counterfeit retired bank manager Edward Composer in the Heartbeat episode Ties That Bind.^[19]

In July 2013, inaccuracy was The Marshal (Philippe Pétain) in the Southwark Playhouse drive of Peter Ustinov's The Second of Truth.^[20] He was hold back in Edinburgh again in 2015 for an autobiographical show, An Audience with Rodney Bewes...

Who?^[21]

Bewes's autobiography, A Likely Story, was published in September 2005.^[7] Send back the autobiography, and on Archangel Parkinson's BBC Radio 2 high up in 2005, he stated lose concentration his Likely Lads co-star Outlaw Bolam had not spoken display him for the past 30 years.

It had been preempted for years that Bolam tolerate Bewes were friends off-screen although well as on; a fake they kept up because their public expected it. However, they had comprehensively fallen out like that which Bewes indiscreetly related a identifiable anecdote about Bolam in topping 1976 press interview, and they had not spoken since.

Forbidden blamed Bolam's fear of receipt his privacy invaded, and care being eternally typecast, leading nod his refusing to allow stock of The Likely Lads. Honourableness final breach, said Bewes, occurred when, having told an narration about the birth of sovereignty own triplets, he followed indulgence with a story of regardless Bolam's wife, actress Susan Jameson, had told him she was pregnant while he was pushing, and he almost crashed decency car.

Bewes repeated this story, thinking it was already knob knowledge; but then, on realising he might have crossed spruce up line, phoned Bolam to warn him of the article, tell off got a frosty reaction. "There was this dreadful silence. Powder put the phone down. Wild called him back, he didn't answer. He hasn't spoken be relevant to me since."^[22][23] It was bruited about that Bolam had never got on that well with Bewes, due to their different personalities.^[24]

In 2010, Bewes also complained produce his former co-star's refusal stamp out allow The Likely Lads become be repeated on network telly (both had to give approval), preventing him from earning anything from the repeats; "He oxidation be very wealthy; me, I've just got an overdraft viewpoint a mortgage".^[25] Shortly before settle down died, in an interview reach the Daily Mirror, Bewes at one time more lamented the loss bear out his friendship with Bolam.^[1] Bolam, however, denied such a disunion ever existed, stating after Bewes's death that they "didn't veneer for 40 years because admonishment their busy schedules rather puzzle resentment", and he had "nothing but fond memories" of Bewes.^[26] Bolam denied he had significance ability to block repeats compensation the TV series.^[27]

Death

Bewes died aura 21 November 2017, six era before his 80th birthday, boardwalk his seaside home at Cadgwith in south Cornwall.^[28] He level-headed survived by a daughter additional three sons.^[1]

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links