IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF MORSE - Planning a trip to Oxford? Carol Downs reminds us how Oxford earned a starring role in the television series based on Colin Dexter's best-selling crime novels -
Oxford is famous as the city of dreaming spires and one of the great seats of learning. It also introduced us to the complex, cultured Inspector Morse created by author Colin Dexter, who has himself been an Oxford resident since 1966.
When he was not solving murders, Morse spent his time listening to opera, reading literature and frequenting his favourite ale-houses in and around the city. He was heard, on more than one occasion, telling his sidekick Lewis "When I'm thinking, I get thirsty".
The Trout Inn at Godstow, Lower Wolvercote was one watering hole where he liked to quench his thirst, as featured in the episode The Wolvercote Tongue.
This popular 16th century tavern was once a fisherman's house, later converted to an inn. Built of grey stone with a pitched roof of Stonesfield slate, flagstone floors, leaded windows and large oak beams, the cosy fireplaces complete the homely ambience.
The Trout is famed for its river terrace and wandering peacocks, and even featured in Matthew Arnold's poem The Scholar Gipsy.
Morse introduced viewers to countless hostelries during his travels. The Bear Inn, once called Parne Hall, then Le Tabard, was one of the largest taverns in Oxford in the mid-16th century.
It became a coaching inn during the 18th century, and was home to the "Oxford Machine' coach, later closing in 1801. The present Bear Inn is a former ostler's house which became the Jolly Trooper in 1774, then the Bear in 1801.
Today it has a famous collection of ties which the landlord has gathered since 1952. Morse visits the Bear Inn for refreshment in Death is Now My Neighbour, and helps to identify a tie from the collection to further a murder enquiry. The Kings Arms on the corner of Holywell Street and Parks Road featured in Service of all the Dead and Deadly Slumber.
The Eagle and Child in St Giles has been an inn since 1650, and gets its name from the Earl of Derby, whose crest was a coronet containing an eagle and child. Known locally as the Bird and Babe, it was once a favourite hostelry of the diarist Anthony Wood in the 17th century, and was popular with a group of friends called the Inklings, which included CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien.
In The Secret of Annexe 3, Morse and Lewis have lunch in the Eagle and Child, as Lewis reads the commemorative plaque of CS Lewis and his companions.
The Mitre on the High Street is one of three ancient inns in the city still surviving. Built around 1300, it comprises several buildings in the High Street and Turl Street, and is the property of Lincoln College.
The Mitre has featured in numerous episodes including Happy Families and The Last Enemy, when Morse leaves a buffet celebration to the new Master of Lonsdale College, to spend half an hour on his own at the pub.
In The Secret of Annexe 3, Margaret Bowman visits The Mitre for a couple of whiskies to calm her nerves before a mystery visit to the tower.
The Boat Inn, another well-known Oxfordshire pub in the tiny hamlet of Thrupp, on the Oxford Canal, was also frequented by the inspector and his sidekick.
In The Riddle of the Third Mile, a mystery corpse is discovered in the canal, and Morse and Lewis visit The Boat Inn to ponder further on its possible identity.
In contrast to this tiny settlement, just eight miles north of Oxford in the town of Woodstock on the southern edge of the Cotswolds stands magnificent Blenheim Palace. Designed by architect Vanbrugh with gardens landscaped by Capability Brown, the palace featured in The Way Through the Woods.
It employed the blackmailer George Dale, who was later found dead on the estate in an attempt by the killers to throw Morse off the scent.
The town of Woodstock, not surprisingly, featured heavily in The Last Bus to Woodstock, with the Marlborough Arms often used as a location in the TV series, continuing Morse's investigative pub crawl.
The Morse series also provided a brilliant showcase for the stunning architecture of Oxford, with its colleges, churches and museums.
Brasenose College becomes Lonsdale College in the Morse novels and TV adaptations. The college name Brasenose comes from the bronze sanctuary knocker, dated from 1279, which was originally attached to the main gate of Brasenose Hall.
It signified that colleges, as well as churches, were seen as places of sanctuary where fugitives could escape from the authorities.
Today, the sanctuary knocker hangs in the hall over the high table. The college has played a part in The Dead of Jericho, where Catherine Edgeley was an undergraduate, and in The Way Through the Woods, when Dr Alan Hardinge lectured and had rooms there.
In The Riddle of the Third Mile, the plot involves a contest for the master of Lonsdale, with Morse invited to supper to celebrate the election of the successful candidate.
Exeter College has been used in a number of scenes in The Settling of the Sun, where an Oxford summer school unites students and college staff with dark secrets and scores to settle.
Probably the college's most memorable Morse scene appears in the final episode The Remorseful Day.
Morse had just listened to In Pardisum in the college chapel, when he suddenly collapses on the lawn outside and is rushed to the John Radcliffe Hospital where he later died. Other scenes for this episode were filmed at Thorntons bookshop in Broad Street.
The Ashmolean Museum once stood in Broad Street, but now boasts a neo-classical building in Beaumont Street, designed by Charles Robert Cockerell, which opened in 1845.
The first floor picture gallery was named after one of its main benefactors - Rev Dr Francis Randolph, after whom the hotel opposite is also named.
The Morse episode The Wolvercote Tongue was based on the Alfred Jewel - an Anglo-Saxon gem consisting of an enamel plaque set under a large rock salt crystal with a gold mount. Its inscription translates as: "Alfred ordered me to be made'.
The Pitt Rivers and University Museums began when about 20,000 ethnographic and archaeological objects were given to the University by General Pitt Rivers.
The museum today is considered to have one of the finest collections in the world, including those of explorer William Burchell and geologist William Buckland.
In The Daughters of Cain, Ted Brooks finds employment at the Pitt Rivers Museum, where he steals a knife to kill Dr McClure.
The Bodleian is one of Europe's oldest libraries, having opened back in 1602. The Bodleian features in an episode where Morse lies ill in hospital with a perforated ulcer, while "investigating' the historical murder of Joanna Franks on the Oxford Canal in 1859.
The Sheldonian Theatre was commissioned by Gilbert Sheldon, Chancellor of the University, as a building to be used for university purposes and ceremonies.
It was completed in 1669, with the lower half constructed of high quality stone and the rest of cheaper Headington stone because funds had run out - the latter required renovation in 1959/60.
Sir Christopher Wren asked Oxford mason, William Byrd, to carve the 14 stone heads at the front of the building, which were erected on stone columns in 1669. It is not known who they represent, but they have been given many
names over the years - the Emperors' Heads, the Faceless Caesars, the Philosophers, and the Twelve Apostles. The original heads lasted 200 years before needing to be replaced, and in 1970 they were taken down, to be replaced by new heads each weighing about a ton, carved in Clipsham stone by Oxford sculptor Michael Black.
In the episode Twilight of the Gods, Andrew Baydon is due to receive an honorary doctorate of Law by the University of Oxford in the Sheldonian.
As he enters the theatre, his companion opera diva Gladys Probert is shot by an assassin - but you are left wondering just who was the bullet intended for?
The Randolph Hotel, boasting 109 bedrooms, opened on February 17 1866, with the iron porch and ballroom added in 1899. It was noted as a "first-class hotel for families and gentlemen" containing "many handsome suites of rooms with very charming prospects".
In The Wolvercote Tongue, a group of American tourists were staying at the Randolph whilst on a "historic cities of England' tour.
In room 310, the Wolvercote Tongue vanishes and its owner is found dead. Other scenes at the Randolph include a medieval dinner, and an ill-fated date
for Morse.
Many other less well known Oxford locations were used during the filming of the series - but as well as the beauty of the city, this series owes much of its success to the actors who starred in it.
The late John Thaw was outstanding in the title role and the casting of Kevin Whately as Sergeant Lewis led to an inspired partnership which captivated viewers.
Although the last episode of Inspector Morse was screened a few years ago, the interest generated by this drama continues to draw visitors to our city. -
Guided Morse Tours of the City are available every Saturday at 1.30pm. Tickets are £7.00 for adults and £3.50 for children (6-16) and last 2 hours. They are very popular so it is advisable to book in advance. Please contact the TIC, Tel: 01865 726871 or email tic@oxford.gov.uk
A guidebook to sites connected with the filming of Inspector Morse is also available from the Tourist Information Centre for £4.00 including postage and packing.
© Newsquest (Oxfordshire) Ltd. 2003
JOHN THAW PHROPHETICALLY SPOKE OUT AGAINST CANCER IN A TV COMMERCIAL -
During July 1998 - and again in July 2000 - television viewers living in the UK's Granada TV region had many chances to see the Christie's against Cancer commercial, the first venture into TV advertising by an NHS hospital trust. Both times the campaign, reaching a television audience of 2.5 million was accompanied by a mailshot to almost a million homes in the region, and has reaped substantial rewards in terms of cash donations, and an increase in public awareness.
John Thaw, star of Morse and Kavanagh QC gave his services free for the "voice-over" urging viewers to phone the Donationline on 0500 55 70 55. And the music behind the pictures was instantly recognisable to almost everyone. Robbie Williams allowed the Appeal to use his poignant hit song Angels without charge.
The advertisement was filmed at the hospital over a hectic weekend by a team from the Quentin Morrissey production company. Professional actors, crews, Christie patients and staff all gave their services voluntarily, with local hotels making no charge for accommodating the production crews. The film encapsulates a day in the life of the Christie hospital, managing to make the viewer smile, laugh, cry and smile again all in sixty seconds. Leading advertising agency and stalwart Christie supporters - McCann-Erickson Manchester - negotiated the TV package and waived their own origination and creative costs.
MORSE STAR'S ANGER AT MOTHER WHO DESERTED HIM - by Anthony Barnes (10/21/98) - INSPECTOR MORSE star John Thaw has opened his heart about the mother who deserted him as a child and said he doubts he can ever forgive her.
The actor was only six when his mother Dorothy walked out on him and his brother Raymond, leaving them to be brought up by his father John. They met only twice before she died in 1974, Mr Thaw told TV Times magazine, and he felt nothing for her.
"As a child you blame yourself when a parent leaves," Mr Thaw, 56, said. "The time I wanted to ask her why she left had passed by the time we met. It was like meeting a woman who used to live next door. I didn't feel anything for her. I was sitting there thinking, 'You're my mother. I came from your loins. I don't know you and you don't know me'. You get to the point when you say, 'I don't want to know, I don't really care because all that matters to me is where I am now as a person'.
"That was the past and it's gone and I'm very sad about it. But I thought, 'I'm not going to let it affect my life and my relationships because they are important and you are not important because you decided to opt out. So I don't care about you any more than you cared about me'."
He never found out why she left. "And I never found an answer to why I didn't get a birthday card ever and why I didn't get a Christmas card ever and why she never acknowledged she had grandchildren."
Mr Thaw said he was upset by claims in a new biography that he snubbed her funeral and stood by her death-bed while she begged to be forgiven for deserting him as a child — both claims he denies.
The actor, who stars in Kavanagh QC, said he would never do anything unkind towards his mother. "As an adult I can understand logically why it happened. It was something she felt she had to do. I didn't hate her. But I don't think I'll ever forgive her. It's an unforgivable act."
THE SWEENEY FLIES INTO ACTION WITH NEW VIDEO AND DVD DEAL (3/26/03) -
Fremantle Home Entertainment, Worldwide part of leading international production company FremantleMedia has concluded a major deal with UK video and DVD distributor, Network at MIP-TV. This will see Network remaster and repackage 100 hours of classic programming on video and DVD from the catalogue of Thames, FremantleMedia’s UK production company. Highlights include The Sweeney, the cult drama series that first premiered in the UK in the 1970s.
Starring John Thaw and Dennis Waterman, the action-packed drama The Sweeney follows the activities of the British Flying Squad – the elite crime investigation unit of London’s police force. The show centres on Jack Regan (Thaw), a gritty, uncompromising detective always willing to bend the rules to get what he wants, and his right-hand-man George Carter (Waterman), who does his best to keep Regan in line and out of trouble. Together they infiltrate the underworld in the fight against organised crime.
All 53 episodes of The Sweeney will be re-mastered and offered on video and DVD with a range of added extras, including documentaries about the show, previously unseen footage and out-takes. As such the video and DVD are likely to prove a big hit amongst fans of the gritty crime-drama, offering them the chance to enjoy the antics of Jack Regan and George Carter all over again and in a whole new light.
Pete Kalhan, Senior Vice President, Fremantle Home Entertainment, Worldwide commented: “The Sweeney is without a doubt one of the best crime drama series ever produced. We are delighted to have concluded this deal with Network which will enable both those who remember the series from when it was first broadcast, and a whole new generation of fans to enjoy this classic series. Network has excellent credentials and is the perfect partner to work with in re-mastering not just The Sweeney but many of Thames’ other classic titles on video and DVD.”
Tim Beddows, General Manager, Network, added: “We look forward to presenting The Sweeney in a way that it has never been seen before. It is extremely exciting to have the opportunity to re-master some of the classic programming from Thames on video and DVD, particularly The Sweeney which is undoubtedly one of the jewels in its catalogue.”
INSPECTOR MORSE VISITS JERICHO - from the Jericho Echo (June 2003) - Kevin Whately (Sergeant Lewis, left) and John Thaw (Inspector Morse, centre) during the filming of The Dead of Jericho.
Lucy Sholl recalls Combe Road’s starring role in the historic TV series:
It’s been a few years now since Inspector Morse was a regular feature of Oxford life, and John Thaw’s death last year prompted many Oxford residents to remember him and the series fondly.
When Morse was shown regularly it was compulsory viewing for most of Oxford, as we hoped to catch glimpses of friends and neighbours, and smirked knowingly as Morse’s Jag glided effortlessly from Longwall Street only to end up in Headington moments later.
Many Oxford people were also involved in the filming as extras, or offered up their houses as makeshift film sets. Here in Jericho, residents remember the filming of the first episode of Morse, The Dead of Jericho, which was set in Combe Road, which leads from Canal Street down to the boatyard. The street was renamed Canal Walk, but that was the only change made and the episode was filmed in situ.
Unusually for novels and dramas set in Oxford, Morse didn’t just focus on the university, but came out into the town areas of Oxford like Jericho and Cowley. In an interview for the Jericho Echo, Colin Dexter, the author of the Morse novels on which the television series is based, says he’d noticed that most Oxford detective stories were all about ‘murderous undergraduates and dons’, and wanted to write something which would celebrate both sides of Oxford. People unfamiliar with Oxford, thinking of it as just a university town, must have been surprised, tuning in to the first episode of Morse, to see how little the university featured. Instead they saw the narrow streets and Victorian terraces of Jericho.
The Dead of Jericho was filmed around Canal Street in the hot summer of 1985, and the area was overtaken by the film crews and equipment. Residents remember the Bookbinders filled with actors and crew, and floodlighting on top of a crane at the end of Canal Street illuminated the whole of Jericho. Local children were in their element. Patrick Troughton, who had played Doctor Who, appeared in the episode as George Jackson, and John Thaw spent a lot of time in and around the Bookbinders.
Matthew Broadway, then eleven, remembers it as an exciting time. Apart from star spotting, a fire engine was parked throughout the filming, and the firemen humoured the children by spraying them with water from their hoses as they ran about in the sun. Many were also thrilled to see that they appeared as unofficial extras in a crowd scene outside the Bookbinders. Unusually for an author, Colin Dexter was closely involved in filming. He too remembers the air of anticipation and upheaval in a usually quiet area.
When The Dead of Jericho was first shown on ITV, Colin Dexter was unprepared for the impact it would have. He remembers the phone ringing continuously. One caller was convinced that one of the characters in the book was inspired by his wife, and accused Dexter of having an affair with her.
The line between fact and fiction seems to have been blurred for many. Some years later Dexter spoke to an estate agent who was trying to sell a property in Combe Road. She was having difficulties selling the house because of rumours that the quiet little road had seen both a murder and a suicide—rumours entirely based on the fictional Inspector Morse story.
Reading the original novel The Dead of Jericho now is interesting, particularly for those of us who aren’t Jericho born and bred. It was first published in 1981, and although many features are very familiar —the narrow streets and impossibility of parking—it is also clear just how much the area has changed. Jericho is presented as a bohemian place where tradesmen and private tutors live side by side and front doors were left unlocked. Women spend their days polishing their front door handles and popping down to the corner shops, and the pubs are quiet little places with just a few regulars propping up the bar. It’s a lovely, idealised view of Jericho’s recent past (apart from the murder and suicide) and well worth a read for those who want to wallow in nostalgia.
INSPECTOR MORSE DRINKING GAME - (Said to be a real favorite pastime at Inspector Morse Mystery parties) - Inspector Morse is a pretty legendary drinker. In one episode he drinks three bottles of vodka and eight pints of bitter. Now you too can go drinking with Oxford’s favourite alcoholic detective – watch an episode on video with your drinking buddies and fine yourself according to the table below. Fantasize about keeping Morse company in a corner of the White Horse and buying him drinks all night while he tells you about his fascinating career in the police, and his current perplexing case. And later, exactly why he can never make it with women, that he can do the Times crossword in ten minutes because he’s much cleverer than you are, and that he used to go to Oxford as well, you know. If you get him sufficiently smashed he might even tell you his secret first name. Or he might tell you that he really loves you because you’re a mate, and then be sick on your shoes.
FINES
Drink one finger…
…every time reference is made to a college or location that does not exist.
…every time Morse drives under the Bridge of Sighs. Again. (double if driving at speed).
…every time Morse says "Let’s go through it again…" or "Now, if I were the criminal…" or "Put yourself in the place of the victim…".
…for identifying the famous actors playing minor roles.
…for every time Morse complains that he needs a drink.
…for every pub. (Double if you’ve had a drink there, treble if it is a regular haunt).
…every time there is an impossible scene change (eg walks out of the Bodleian Library into Peckwater Quad in Christ Church).
…every time Morse drives under the Bridge of Sighs (double if driving at speed).
…whenever Morse patronises Lewis. Double if he uses his really growly voice.
…for every shameful Oxford stereotype – mad old scouts, ambitious young tutors with floppy hair, jolly hockey sticks female students, eccentric dons, rich nancy boys with no chins and wobbly lower lips. Drink for every stereotype on every appearance. Fine doubles if they become an important character.
Drink three fingers…
…every time someone gets killed.
…every time students are portrayed as more keen than they really are.
…every time Morse does the crossword rather than getting on with solving some crimes.
…every time Morse finds an important clue.
…every time Morse says "Good God, Lewis!".
…every time Morse makes a classical or literary allusion that Lewis (or anyone else) fails to understand.
…every time Morse is frustrated by petty bureaucracy or corruption and gets really indignant.
…every time Morse realises that he has arrested the wrong person. Again.
…for identifying scenes that are not actually shot in Oxford or its environs (eg scenes in Cambridge or Westminster College).
…every time Morse extracts a confession that would be inadmissible in court (no tape recorder, with only Lewis and Morse present).
…every time Morse drives having clearly had too much to drink.
Finish your drink…
…for identifying the killer the first time he/she makes his appearance.
…every time Morse strikes out with a woman. Again.
…every time Morse gets paranoid about the Masons.
…every time Morse grudgingly makes an embarrassing personal revelation.
…when the murderer is arrested.
Matching Morse…
…to show solidarity with our hero every time Morse drinks you match him, pint for pint. If he goes home and polishes off a bottle of gin, so do you. This will make some episodes considerably more difficult than others.
The Morse Cocktail…
2 measures of intellectualism, Oxford Aesthetic brand.
3 measures of bitterness. Chilled.
1 measure of despair at the human condition.
1 measure of sarcasm. Public school flavour, if you have it.
1 measure of sexual frustration.
Hint of secret troubled past, to taste.
Mix together, and serve in a bizarre rose-tinted misconception.
(by Harry Blanchard, Brasenose College, Oxford.)
KAVANAGH & SWEENEY TRIVIA - (Monday 25th November 2002, by Jo Richards) -
Kavanagh QC is British courtroom drama at its best. The series sees the late, great John Thaw as top barrister, James Kavanagh whose cases are as challenging as his private life. Kavanagh QC was an immediate hit with the British public and ran for 29 episodes over 5 seasons.
Kavanagh is a sharp witted yet down to earth and charming barrister, who is always on hand to defend the underdog in any given situation. Home life however is not plain sailing for this high flying barrister, he may come out on top in the professional domain, but he struggles to maintain the peace within his personal life.
James Kavanagh was wonderfully portrayed by John Thaw, who was initially reluctant about taking the role because he could not bear the thought of having to wear the barristers wig. Thankfully Producer Ted Childs managed to convince him, because no one else could have brought the same depth and characteristics to Kavanagh, to make him such a beloved character.
John Thaw was a talented actor who had created many well loved characters; on June 19th 2001 he announced to the nation that he was battling cancer of the Oesophagus, the same thing his father had died from in 1997. After celebrating his 60th birthday on January the 3rd 2002 everyone felt encouraged that he was making good progress after the media reported that he was in talks to reprise his role of Kavanagh QC, however the nation was soon in mourning, John Thaw died on February 21st 2002.
Kevin Whately, Thaw’s colleague and friend, remarked that “The nation had lost its finest screen actor.” And perhaps we have, but because of John’s everlasting love and support for his profession he left funds in his will to set up the John Thaw Foundation as a scholarship fund for young actors, so perhaps through him we will be able to discover even more rich acting talent.
Some Kavanagh Q.C. trivia:
Did you know... After the end of the fifth and final series of Kavanagh QC John Thaw kept the barrister’s wig and silks.
Did you know... Barrister David Etherington became the legal advisor on Kavanagh QC after his junior left the legal profession and wrote two stories for Kavanagh.
Did you know... Ewan Macgregor, ex roommate of Jude Law, met his wife, set designer Eve Mavrakis while filming Kavanagh QC.
Did you know... Legal advisor David Etherington had trouble with the sets on Kavanagh as fake doors would lead nowhere and rails would be unsecured.
Did you know... Legal advisor James Etherington once defended a dog against being put down for biting people, it bit Etherington before the trial but he still won the case.
Did you know... James Etherington, the show’s legal advisor, would continually have difficulties finding the crew when they were filming on location.
Did you know... Anna Chancellor has also appeared as Anna Griffiths in Cold Lazarus and Karoke, but her breakthrough came as Henrietta in Four Weddings and a Funeral.
Some Sweeney trivia:
Did you know... Ian Kennedy Smith originally approached Thames TV with the idea for The Sweeney originally to be called The Outcasts.
Did you know... Aged 14 Dennis Waterman appeared in the title role of the first series of William, based on the classic Just William stories.
Did you know... The episode On The Run is a direct sequel to The Taste of Fear an earlier episode in series three.
Did you know... The episode Selected Target received the highest rating ever when it was repeated a year after initial release with over 19 million viewers tuning in.
Did you know... The Sweeney, along with another Plus favourite The Professionals, was the basis for the Comic Strip’s parody, “Detectives On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown."
Did you know... John Thaw married actress Sheila Hancock on Christmas Eve 1973, during the filming of the pilot film Regan.
Did you know... The majority of the newspaper headlines in The Sweeney were taken from true events, but in this episode the headline Old Folks Terrorised by Flying Squad was made up.
Did you know... Sweeney producer Ted Childs also worked with John Thaw on Inspector Morse, Kavanagh QC, Goodnight Mister Tom, Into The Blue and The Waiting Time.
Did you know... The staircase in Shirley’s flat in the episode Pay Off is the same one used for Ray Doyle’s flat in The Professionals episode Involvement.
Did you know... George Sweeney was one of two actors named Sweeney to be in The Sweeney, the other being Maureen Sweeney. Sadly Birdy Sweeney and Father Terrance Sweeney never made it near The Sweeney set.
Did you know... John Thaw won the Evening Standard Film Actor of the year award in 1977 for the film version of The Sweeney.
Did you know... The Sweeney was parodied in a 1996 car advertisement with comedian Phil Cornwell replying to being asked to stop shouting by shouting “I Can’t”.
Did you know... John Thaw had previously appeared in the police standard bearer Z-Cars.
Did you know... Dennis Waterman’s daughter Hannah plays Laura Dunn the ever down trodden nanny in Eastenders.
Did you know... Dennis Waterman reached number 3 in the singles charts in 1980 with the theme song to Minder, his follow up duet with George Cole reached number 21.
Did you know... Comedian Harry Hill played a weekly homage to The Sweeney by using its theme tune to introduce his guests each week.
Did you know...
Former Flying Squad Officer Jack Quarrie was employed as advisor on The Sweeney.
Did you know...
The Sweeney was developed from a pilot aired as part of The Armchair Cinema series entitled Regan.
Did you know... Sinbad’s secondhand bookstore in Brookside was called The Sweeney.
Did you know... George Cole appeared in the Tomorrow Man. He would later appear with Dennis Waterman in Minder.
Did you know... Before The Sweeney both leads had played characters on the correct side of the Law, John Thaw in “Redcap” and Dennis Waterman in "The Special Branch".
Did you know... The appearance of Morecambe and Wise on “The Sweeney” episode Hearts and Minds was a returned favour for John Thaw and Dennis Waterman appearing on The Morecambe and Wise Christmas Special.
Did you know...
Blue Peter presenters Janet Ellis and Tina Heath have appeared in The Sweeney.
And some general John Thaw trivia:
Did you know... When John Thaw was summoned for jury service he was unable to attend due to moving house.
Did you know... John Thaw talked his way onto the course at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts while still underage. He was 16 at the time.
Did you know... For the majority of John Thaw’s acting career he has been plagued by female stalkers, one even changed her name to John Thaw via deed poll.
Did you know... According to a biography on John Thaw he ran a protection racket at school in exchange for pupil’s sandwiches.
Did you know...
John Thaw has won two BAFTA’s for playing Inspector Morse. He was also nominated twice more for the character and once for the film Cry Freedom.
Did you know...
John Thaw left School aged 16 with one O-Level in English. His first job was as a porter in a Manchester fruit market.
TALKING WITH PETER MAYLE - (by Elizabeth K.Dodge, September 2001) -
Peter Mayle, bestselling author of A YEAR IN PROVENCE, TOUJOURS PROVENCE, and ENCORE PROVENCE, offers some advice, when asked, to dreamy readers who want to follow in his footsteps by moving to France. “For people who want to live in the country,” he says, “I suggest going over in November and renting something for the winter. If you like it then, you'll love it the rest of the year. So many people go in the summer, when they have a couple of weeks of perfect weather. It's a different place in the winter—I happen to like it very much, but it's not the same at all. So I would say—go there at the least busy, most chilly time of year and see how you like it.”
Although Mayle summarizes his background in his first memoir, many readers may not remember that he had two earlier lives before moving to France. First, he spent more than a decade writing advertising in London and New York; then he spent a decade as a freelance writer and children's author. At that point, Mayle and his wife moved to France, where the author expected to write his first novel. “But I got distracted by what I was doing [settling in and getting the house renovated]. After a while my agent told me that I'd better write something or we'd both be in trouble, so I started writing the first memoir.” Eventually, Mayle did write several novels. Now he simply follows his intuition and in typical English understatement adds, “So far, thank God, it seems to have worked.”
The new memoir, FRENCH LESSONS, is a gastronomic adventure in which Mayle explores quirky food festivals in out-of-the-way villages throughout France. Mayle hadn't had the opportunity to listen to Simon Jones's reading of the book before he left France to begin a U.S. book tour, but, having recorded two of his books himself for the BBC, he knows how difficult it is.
“I remember very clearly ten hours in the studio for each one. I take my hat off to people who can do it regularly and professionally, particularly my books, which involve both the French language and French characters. It's not enough to do a slightly different voice in English; you have to do something that makes the listener understand that a whole different culture is being depicted.”
Mayle is very familiar with John Thaw's portrayal of him in the British television production of A YEAR IN PROVENCE, which was also broadcast in the U.S. “It's a weird experience to see someone playing you on TV. I think he's a very good actor, but the only thing I would say is that in the episodes I watched—and I haven't seen all of them because I get embarrassed by them—is that I thought he looked a bit more cross than I ever was in real life.”
A MAN OF LETTERS REMEMBERS JOHN THAW - (by Sean Cassidy, former BBC radio commentator and frequent contributor to The London Evening Standard and The Daily Express , (January 2, 2003) - I watched, with some sadness, a recent television tribute to the late John Thaw, a man I remember with great admiration and gratitude.
In the mid-seventies, I was a student of education, working long hours during the college vacations in a smart hotel, The Close, in Tetbury, Gloucestershire. It was always a struggle for the management to find staff prepared to work at Christmas, but the money was reasonable - not brilliant, you understand - but reasonable, and so invariably it fell to me and a couple of other impoverished students to man the silver-service restaurant at Christmas.
Christmas Eve was (and is) the wedding anniversary of John Thaw and Sheila Hancock, who lived at that time in the adjacent picturesque village of Tarlton. John appeared on television each week as Inspector Jack Regan, in The Sweeney, and was, consequently, recognised wherever he went. For that reason, I placed the two of them out of sight of most of the other diners and took care of them personally - almost possessively - for fear that they would be disturbed. Their meal was a relaxed and intimate affair and at the end of it, when the request for the bill was made, John would present me with a bottle of the house wine and a generous tip. He was a friendly, softly-spoken and intelligent man, quite unlike the cockney hooligan policeman he portrayed in the Sweeney. "Getcha clothes on, sunshine, you're nicked!!"
He was a terrific actor and a much-loved figure in the world of entertainment, and I can't help feeling that Kavanagh QC and Morse aside, people will recall, with affection, his magnificent portrayal of the impetuous village elder with the heart of gold, in "Goodnight Mr. Tom."
Goodnight, John.
KEVIN WHATELY BIOGRAPHY -
Kevin Whately was born in February 1951 in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. He was brought up in Northumberland and had ambitions to become a doctor when he was a teenager. However the fact that he was not very good at chemistry and the prospect of many years of studying made him turn away from medicine and pursue an acting career. Before attending the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, Kevin also trained as an accountant.
Kevin's earliest appearance on television was in Call My Bluff from 1965, at the tender young age of 14.
His television career started in earnest in 1982 when he appeared in The Return of the Soldier. Although prior to that he had made several guest appearances in Shoestring (1979); Juliet Bravo (1980); Coronation Street (1981), and in Return Of The Soldier (1982). However, it was in the popular cult series Auf Wiedersehen Pet that he first came to notice playing the Geordie chippie Neville in 1983.
In 1985 he played the part of Fletcher in A Murder Is Announced and in 1987 he moved on to play John Thaw's sidekick, Detective Sergeant Lewis, in Inspector Morse, the most successful drama series on television. This was to be a part which he would play for many years, although he eventually decided to leave Lewis behind him.
In 1988 Kevin made a guest appearance in You Must Be The Husband playing Hugo Mansell, with Tim Brooke-Taylor and Diane Keen. In 1990 Kevin appeared on TV in Night Voice playing the part of Neil Baldwin and in 1992 he played Steve Shepherd in the film B & B.
In 1993 he moved swiftly on to another popular television series, Peak Practice, playing Dr Jack Kerruish - a part which was specially written for him. In an effort to make Kerruish look quite different to Lewis he was given a scruffy appearance and long hair. Kevin continued to appear in this series until 1996 when he decided to move on yet again.
This time he appeared in a couple of TV mini-films, the first one being Gobble in which he played Colin Worsfold, a civil servant starring with Keith Barron, Jack Dee and Peter Egan. The second film was Trip Trap playing the character of Ian Armstrong, a normally placid man who suddenly begins to abuse his wife, Stella Gonet. He also appeared in the drama Skallagrigg as Sam Hopkins alongside Richard Briers, Neil Dudgeon and Billie Whitelaw.
During all this work for television Kevin also managed to find the time to make a film and appeared as Sergeant Hardy in The English Patient in 1996, this time working with Ralph Fiennes and Kristin Scott Thomas.
In 1997 Kevin returned to television in what proved to be another popular television series The Broker's Man, playing the part of Jimmy Griffin, an ex-policeman, who now uses his detective skills while working for insurance companies. In 1999 Kevin appeared in a new drama shown on BBC1, Pure Wickedness, which was written by Lucy Gannon (Peak Practice and Bramwell) about adultery and also starred Orla Brady. In the same year he also appeared as Judas in The People's Passion - a dramatisation of the events leading up to Christ's crucifixion, which also starred Robert Hardy, Patricia Hodge and Ron Moody. This was followed by his role as Dr. Philip Carr in the Canadian TV Series What Katy Did. He also appeared in the popular series Meryseybeat, (2001) which follows the trials and tribulations of a diverse group of police officers in a northern England town.
Kevin's stage work includes Twelve Angry Men and How I Learned To Drive, as well as a charity version of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.
Kevin is married to actress Madelaine Newton (best known from As The Boat Comes In), and they have two children, Kitty (born 1983) and Keiran (born 1985). Madelaine has also worked with Kevin in three of his TV series, Auf Wiedersehen Pet as Dennis's girlfriend Christine Chadwick, Inspector Morse and Peak Practice. Daughter Kitty appeared as Kevin's on-screen daughter Debbie in the first two series of Auf Wiedersehen Pet.
Kevin returned to Inspector Morse one last time to appear in the final episode The Remorseful Day which was shown on British television screens in November 2000. Also in 2000 Kevin made two films - Paranoid and Purely Belter.
In 2001 Kevin went for a change of role when he played the wife murderer, David Bruce, in the ITV thriller Plain Jane. Kevin decided that it's more fun playing the baddie and it was about time he gave it a go.
In the Spring of 2001 Kevin was one of many stars appearing in the new BBC1 season of psychological thrillers created by Anthony Horowitz. Murder in Mind explored the psychology of the darkest and yet most compelling crime of murder as seen through the eyes of the killer. Each self-contained film was linked only by one common theme - death in suspicious circumstances. Cold, calculating and in search of the 'perfect crime', the killer selected a different method of murder which included euthanasea and a contract killing. Each week, the cast was completely different. A major star assumed the role of the would-be killer. Kevin played Nigel Liddy, an insurance salesman who has never broken any laws, drinks chardonnay with wife Joanne, votes Labour and enjoys a quiet life. The picture above shows Kevin with Caroline Goodall as his wife, Joanne.
In 2002 a new series of Auf Wiedersehen Pet returned to the BBC. The new series, starred almost all of it's original cast, and was set in Arizona. For more information visit the BBC web page Cameras roll for new Auf Wiedersehen.
Following on from Auf Wiedersehen Pet, Kevin has made a drama/thriller called Silent Cry in which a single mother's search for her stolen new born baby sends her on a journey through the underworld of London and on a collision course with her past. This also stars Emily Woof, Frank Finlay and Clive Russell amongst others.
Kevin recently appeared in Promoted to Glory with Ken Stott and Lesley Manville. It was written by Rob Heyland - who also wrote Ultimate Force and Between the Lines - and Kevin plays the part of Major Nigel Hurst. Filming was completed in early 1993.
Kevin's diverse range of musical tastes include Senegal-born singer Baaba Maal, Pink Floyd and Dire Straits. He plays guitar himself and after leaving drama school, spent time as a folk singer.
You can write to Kevin c/o his agent at the following address:
Caroline Dawson Associates
19 Sydney Mews, London, England
Tel: 020 7581 8111 / Fax: 020 7589 4800
DENNIS WATERMAN HITS A WATERSHED - by Ian Wylie (5/9/2003) - He sped through the mean streets with Manchester's John Thaw in The Sweeney and was so good for us alongside George Cole in Minder.
"I just sailed through the early part of my career," reflects Dennis Waterman, "but there is a big transition from being the young Minder - a Jack the Lad - to being able to progress to the fathers and the older characters.
"You don't ever think that's going to come. And then suddenly, it's `Hell, I'm 50, I can't keep chasing round bashing people up and pulling birds!'
"You have to trust that people realise you have grown into that age and then cast you as a slightly different character."
His latest role is as hapless and humiliated pub landlord John in The Millers's Tale, the first film in a new modern TV re-telling of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
Pop star turned actress Billie Piper plays his much younger wife, karaoke queen Alison, with James Nesbitt as stranger Nick, who arrives claiming to be a talent scout and says she has what it takes to be a star.
"The upsetting thing was we had to film in a pub," says Dennis, "and a Manchester United European match happened to be on, which annoyed Jimmy Nesbitt no end - 'cos they lost."
Now 55, he adds: "I knew the Canterbury Tales by reputation but, like most people in Britain, I hadn't read them. I did know that The Miller's Tale was the most bawdy."
The actor who played Arthur Daley's sidekick had a top 10 hit with the Minder theme, I Could Be So Good For You, but he didn't get the chance to perform in this latest drama.
"I'm a wonderful karaokist and I'm the only one who doesn't sing in it," he laughs.
Dennis has never been afraid to speak his mind. Earlier this week he said that his daughter, Hannah, who plays Laura Beale in EastEnders, was too good to be in the soap.
His other daughter, Julia, finishes her drama course at the end of this year.
"They were both intelligent enough not to think that just because their dad has been successful that they would just slip into success themselves.
"It is much harder for women," he points out. Now filming a full series of BBC1's New Tricks, alongside Amanda Redman, James Bolam and Alun Armstrong, the former child star took a break over the summer, having completed two years in the role of Alfred Doolittle in the National Theatre production of My Fair Lady.
"I'm not a workaholic, but I only turn stuff down if I don't want to do it, not because I feel I need time off. If a job looks like it's going to be good and exciting, I want to do it."
REVIEWING THICK AS THIEVES -
A great find for Britcom enthusiasts, the eight-part, 1974 series Thick as Thieves catches two beloved English actors in prime satiric form. Bob Hoskins stars as George "Dobbsy" Dobbs, a mediocre thief released from prison a day before the end of his three-year term. Arriving home to find his strong-willed wife, Annie (Pat Ashton), living with his old friend and partner in crime, Stanley (John Thaw), Dobbsy demands an end to the affair but is outmaneuvered by Annie's surprisingly avant-garde views on open marriage. The result is more farcical than provocative as Stanley and Dobbsy struggle with social progressiveness while sliding back into their seamy, underworld ways. Series writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais (the two would later team on The Commitments) mercilessly mine the comic tension between middle-class tradition, early-70's social experimentation, and the grotty, dimwitted world of petty larceny. - Tom Keogh
I have an encyclopedia of British television series and notice all the Britcoms that look promising but have never been shown over here to my knowledge. Well, would you believe there is one in which a young Bob Hoskins ("Roger Rabbit") and a not yet white haired John Thaw ("Inspector Morse") play a pair of very inept thieves? There are only eight episodes, mainly because Thaw had other commitments, but what there is ranges from downright silly to genuinely funny and all eight are now available on two DVDs or 3 VHSs, courtesy of Acorn Media.
The basic situation of "Thick as Thieves" is that getting out prison a day early, George (Hoskins) returns home to find that his best friend Stan (Thaw) has taken up permanent residence with George's wife Annie (Pat Ashton). A good deal of the plots revolve around the attempts of the three to come to terms with the situation as the wife is the only wage-earner to keep them going. The denouement in the last episode might be predictable (how else to solve the problem?) but the means to it is truly imaginative.
Thaw and Hoskins play off one another nicely and make a great comic team. We over here might have some trouble following the East End accents, but the lingo is priceless and a guest appearance by Trevor Peacock (the dithering old man in "The Vicar of Dibley") is an unexpected bonus. Though not exactly as subtle as "Mapp and Lucia" or as sledgehammer as "Fawlty Towers," "Thick as Thieves" will amuse you nevertheless. (by Frank Brehans)
REVIEWING A YEAR IN PROVENCE -
A Year in Provence is a thoroughly enjoyable, witty, humorous series starring the late John Thaw (Inspector Morse, Kavanagh QC), who sadly died of throat cancer in 2002. The series is based on the real-life experiences of Peter Mayle and his wife who left their jobs and lives in England to move to the south of France. Mayle's intention was to settle in this idyllic corner of paradise to write a novel; what resulted was a memoir which served as the basis for this splendid series.
Articles & Interviews (Pt.7)
Beginning in winter, the series covers the Mayles' first year in Provence and dramatises the many trials and tribulations they faced in adjusting to the local customs and peculiarities (like goat racing and truffle hunting) and to their new environment. There were the gale-force winter winds ("les Mistrals") to contend with; added to that, the lovely, rustic old farmhouse they bought came complete (alas) with inadequate insulation, frozen water pipes, and no central heating! While the laid-back, lazy lifestyle may have been an attraction when the Mayles were in England, they soon learn it has its drawbacks when it comes to getting anything done--like the much-needed repairs and renovations by the builders! Then there's the joy of entertaining visitors from back home, the pleasure of which is somewhat dimmed when they find they've inadvertently overlapped the visits of three couples.
Peter and Annie, a retired ad executive and a tax accountant, leave behind England's dreary weather, wilted vegetables, and ironical dinner parties, for Provence, a region of Southern France. They throw themselves wholeheartedly and usually with good humor into the mysteries of truffle hunting, grape pressing, and french conjugations. No need to worry about what you remember from French class, if anything--Peter and Annie translate as they go along. Personally, I could watch John Thaw open mail and be satisfied, but this video is great for re-establishing one's faith in community loyalty, fine dining, the British sense of "humour", and happy endings. The series has been presented in a boxed set of four 90-minute episodes--one for each season from Winter through Autumn. Each episode is broken down into three 30-minute parts--one for each month of the season. Though we chose to watch the series in its 90-minute blocks, one could easily watch it in half-hour blocks if one preferred.
I highly, highly recommend this delightful series to anyone who enjoys British entertainment in general. I'm extremely glad I took a chance on this set as it's been a series our whole family has really enjoyed watching (and one we look forward to watching again in the not-too-distant future). I might just mention (in case it's not obvious!) that one ought not to expect any heavy drama or an action-packed, intricately plotted series here. This is simply not that kind of show. In fact, I'd have to say that really belongs in a genre all its own. It is a nice clean, relaxing show with no sex, violence or bad language--just a plethora of entertaining and often hilarious incidents set against the pastoral backdrop of the gorgeous Provencal landscape. Just perfect (in my opinion) for unwinding at the end of the day!
This movie starts out very slowly, so you have to be patient. In fact, I wasn't sure I had put in the right tape to start with, but soon I figured out what the movie was about. Peter (an advertising executive) and his wife who decide to quit their jobs in England and just run off to southern France. After buying a quaint farmhouse in Provence, they try to settle into the slow paced country life. This is a very laid back movie, and that is perhaps its charm.
Food is also a theme in this movie. There are romantic restaurants and fun scenes of Peter going to the bakery to get a baguette for breakfast. There is a bit of drama with the bakery near the end of the movie. You will laugh out loud in some scenes as Peter is pulled along with a pig hunting for truffles. There is a "truffle mystery theme" running through the movie. The humor in this made-for-TV romantic comedy is dry English humor, which I quite enjoy. This is really more of a comedy, than a romance. Perhaps the romance is that a couple is trying to find their dream and they stick together through the good and the bad.
While different from the two books it is based upon, the series brings its own magic to one's living room. As we follow the adventures of the Mayles in Provence, we can almost taste the local foods and smell the local smells. With original and entertaining characters, one falls in love with the southern way of life.
What I loved was that Peter was a writer and he is always trying to finish his novel. His wife helps him on a writing assignment about Provence and that is when things turn more into a mystery.
There is a good dose of the "French language" in this movie, but you always know what the actors are saying because Peter and his wife let you know. The cultural misunderstandings are very amusing, but trying in a way. Annie and Peter do attempt to fit in and learn as much French as they can.
When they experience the good and the bad, it is then they appreciate France all the more. The "mistral" winds (strong winds) catch them off guard as they never imagined they would have to deal with a freezing cold environment. When the pipes freeze and they are expecting company, they end up starting a kitchen renovation, which takes forever to complete.
To top it all off, people keep dropping in unexpectedly and expect to be entertained. While they enjoy the company of "real friends," they do attempt to get rid of a summer guest only to have him make a choice they are not happy with. The situations these two characters get themselves into are quite funny. They also meet up with quite a few interesting characters, those being the local residents.
I do wish they had shown more of the Provencial countryside and lifestyle, but it was entertaining. I have always thought it would be fun to live in France and be a writer. This movie was entertaining in that regard. I would also love to live in that house with a pool! What a life! If you enjoy English humor, which is very dry...you will love it! If you love Provence, France, this is a rare treat. Now where did I put that recipe for Tarte Tatin from my friend who was born in Provence! Caramelized apples with puff pastry is sounding very good right now! The French sure now how to cook!
Peter and Annie,as portrayed by John Thaw and Lindsay Duncan, are marvelously captured in all of the glories that make up Provence and their stories have been reworked into screen format that make the books literally come to life. The series is visually stunning, the characters that we cared about so much in the books are vividly captured and in some cases even fleshed out better than in Mr. Mayle's novels. And where did they find these truly gifted French actors? I know,I know...in France! Well, there's simply not a bad apple in this barrel! As you can see from all these exclamation points I am very happy with the finished product. So happy that I actually purchased my very own copy on DVD. Something I simply wouldn't normally do! Oui!!
The spirit of the books have remained intact and, especially Mr. Thaw, does a wonderful job of portraying "innocent's abroad" in each chapter, broken up as seasons in the series. An idea which I loved! And kudos go to director David Tucker for having the sense to give the film a true beginning by placing our protagonists in London,giving the series the feel of a new start for Peter and Annie and of the difference in existing cultures which was imperative for a film such as this to really work.
Now, while some may see the series as being little more than an adult "fairy tale", I simply tend to enjoy this for what it may be intended. A wonderful series about people searching for their own little paradise and finding it in the most peculiar places.
The movie is funny and entertaining, but more than that, it is real. It makes you feel as though you could be the one with the house in Provence, getting into the little mishaps, making a big, entertaining deal about the smallest things. There are no epic adventures, it is simply a vacation. We could see anything that happens in the movie happening to anyone else, if only we were there. Curl up on the couch or floor, open some red wine, put in the movie, and escape to south france. It's fantastic.
