John Nelson-Burton (Director of Baby)

Born on 12th October, 1923 in Carlisle John Nelson-Burton was a producer, director and writer for the BBC, ABC and later ATV. He was just eight years old when his mother, Margaret, passed away giving birth to his sister Mary. His father was a hotel porter and Burton followed in his father John’s footsteps for a short time working as hotel page boy, an errand boy or luggage carrier, according to the 1939 census. After the Second World War he was a Royal Navy Volunteer Reservist between 1946 and 1947[1].

Nelson initially worked in repertory theatre as a producer / director before breaking into television via the BBC. An example of his theatre work was a production of the play Trespass by Emlyn Williams during December 1952. Further plays that Nelson-Burton worked on included R F Delderfield’s The Orchard Walls mounted at the Savoy theatre in Exmouth for the West of England Theatre Company during August 1953. Joan Plowright was the lead star. Further productions for the company include The Noble Spaniard during July 1954, Affairs of State over August 1954 and The Tinder Box during December 1954. The last stage shows he produced before joining the BBC included The Living Room during March 1955 and Spark in Judea over April 1955 for the West of England Theatre Company. In September 1955 Nelson successfully applied to join the BBC where he was trained in all aspects of television production.

The first series to benefit from his training was the anthology drama series Tales From Soho (21st January – 3rd March 1956) with Nelson-Burton as the director on three episodes including the opening episode 'The Fiddle' (21st January 1956). The subsequent episodes were 'The Message' (28th January 1956) and 'Slippy Fives' (4th February 1956). These episodes were produced by Tony Richardson who would later direct the Nigel Kneale scripted film The Entertainer (1960). Only one episode of the series, 'The Fiddle', is currently preserved in the BBC archives. It’s worth noting that amongst the cast of the episode 'Slippy Fives' is Basil Dignam, the brother of Mark Dignam, who would later appear in Nelson’s Beasts episode 'Baby'. The series was written by Berkely Mather.

Still with the BBC Nelson then produced the half-hour play Flame in the Forest (22nd May 1956), which cast Honor Blackman in a tale a racial tensions written by the clergyman Cyril J Davey. This was then followed by another single play for the BBC in the shape of Romney (17th July 1956), a contemporary drama set in a large country home in Ireland. Nelson then reteamed with the writer Berkely Mather to produce and direct a six episode drama transmitted under the title of New Ramps for Old with Mervyn Johns and Harry H Corbett headlining the cast. The series of six dramas, billed as “self-contained studies of crime[2]” began with the instalment 'Hitched to a Star' (8th September 1956) which featured Alfie Bass as a financier involved in dodgy share dealing.

Nelson moved to the ITV franchise ABC in 1957 and his first project for the broadcaster was mystery thriller The Man Who Was Two (26th January – 23rd February 1957) which starred Ronald Howard as a man with amnesia who tries to unravel the truth behind his past. Nelson acted as the producer and director on the series. Nelson’s most notable early production for ITV was Hour of Mystery, an hour long anthology series which had each episode introduced by Donald Wolfit. Episodes include an adaptation of the Barre Lyndon play 'The Man in Half Moon Street' (22nd June), the tale of a scientist who has invented a way to prolong his life. However, to keep alive he must harvest a supply of glands. Then there was 'Confess, Killer' (13th July 1957) starring Alfred Burke as Detective Sergeant Wilson investigating a murder which set the tone for the remaining episodes which tended to be murder mysteries.  

As a screenwriter Nelson was responsible for two episodes of Armchair Theatre; 'Night of the Ding-Dong' (2nd February 1958) and 'The One Who Came Back' (16th March 1958) which he also directed. He had also previously directed the Armchair Theatre episodes 'Three O’clock Deadline' (16th December 1956) and 'Hilda Morgan' (1957) and would oversee another three episodes in this capacity; 'Breach of Marriage' (4th May 1958), 'Wings of the Wind' (29th June 1958) and 'Murder in Slow Motion' (5th October 1958). Following this he then joined ATV in July 1959. Amongst his first work at ATV was Epilogue to Capricorn (31st October – 5th December 1959) starring Jean Kent, Peter Wyngarde and Adrienne Corri. Again Nelson handled the dual role of producer and director on the programme. During the year Nelson also directed five episodes of the medical soap Emergency Ward 10. The following year he was the producer of the anthology series Suspense (28th February -19th May 1960).

For the drama anthology series Theatre 70 Nelson produced the episode 'Chance Witness' (21st January 1961) with Harry H Corbett in the lead role, having worked closely with him on the series New Ramps for Old. Corbett also featured in the cast of the Deadline Midnight story 'An Eye for Detail' (23rd September 1961) which Nelson directed. Following this Nelson was also the producer on three episodes of the drama anthology series Drama 61 delivering the stories 'Edge of Truth' (14th May 1961), 'The Dinner Party' (9th July 1961) and 'The Morning Face' (3rd September 1961). When the series was retitled as Drama 62 Nelson toiled on another two episodes; 'A Question of Pride' (23rd September 1962) and 'The Pinedus Affair' (2nd December 1962).

For the drama anthology series ITV Television Playhouse he worked on two episodes during 1963 – 'The Cage' (11th January 1963) and 'There’s No Room for You Here for A Start' (8th February 1963). The same year Nelson oversaw three episodes of the series Ghost Squad; 'Interrupted Requiem' (2nd February 1963), 'Hot Money' (25th May 1963) and 'The Golden Silence' (8th June 1963). He rounded off the year by working as director on three episodes of the business drama The Plane Makers; 'You Can’t Beat the System' (25th February 1963), 'Has Anybody Seen Costigan?' (25th March 1963) and 'Costigan’s Rocket' (12th November 1963). Nelson later returned for a single episode of the programme’s third season to deliver 'Other People Own Our Jungles Now' (27th October 1964). He also tackled two episodes of anthology series Drama 63 – 'Andersen' (16th June 1963) and 'The Perfect Friday' (8th September 1963), a crime thriller starring Charles Gray. The Stage felt it was “a neat play and though the twist at the end was over-played in an attempt to make it more forceful[3]”. He later worked as the director of an episode of Drama 64 – 'A Menace to Decent People' (21st June 1964). This play was reviewed in The Stage which noted “with more subtlety and less sentimentality 'A Menace to Decent People' could have been a play of substance.[4]”

For the next few years Nelson-Burton concentrated on directing and in this role he was responsible for the Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre drama 'Never Mention Murder' (November 1964) which starred Dudley Foster as a doctor who kills his wife’s lover. Nelson-Burton oversaw his first episode of the long running anthology series Love Story with the episode 'The Apprentices' (4th August 1964) followed by two further instalments a year later; 'Give My Love to the Pilchards' (21st September 1965), which featured T P McKenna who he would later cast in 'Baby', and the story 'La Musica' (6th December 1965). Also during 1965 Nelson directed the single drama Sunday Out of Season which starred a fresh faced Ian McKellen and Lynn Redgrave. The same year he oversaw an episode of The Power Game – 'Lady for a Knight' (20th December 1965). The series featured Patrick Wymark, the father of actress Jane Wymark who would feature in the central role in Baby. The following year Nelson directed a further episode of the series, 'Safe Conduct' (21st November 1966).

Earlier in 1966 Nelson-Burton had directed 'The First Day of Spring' (2nd July 1966), an episode of the drama anthology Knock on Any Door. For the anthology strand Drama 66 Nelson-Burton then directed the episode 'Conduct to the Prejudice' (10th December 1966). As a screenwriter he had three episodes of the ITV Play of the Week to his credit which he also directed; 'A Tot at the Local' (6th December 1966), 'A Drug on the Market' (14th February 1967) and 'A Brand New Scrubbing Brush' (14th August 1967). The Stage reviewed 'A Drug on the Market' and was not impressed with the production “the director of the play, John Nelson Burton, was also the author, and he seemed to be so enamoured of his own lines that everyone had to be over-emphasised or underlined. His play would have been served better by another director[5]”. He was the director on an additional two instalments; 'Thick as Old Timber' (12th April 1965) and a version of Terence Rattigan’s 'The Browning Version' (25th April 1966). 'A Brand New Scrubbing Brush' was about the problems of fifteen year old boy who has been brought up by his uncle and has to return to live with his unemployed, alcoholic father. More anthology drama directing work came with two episodes of Happy Ever After – 'Feeling the Pinch' (18th November 1969) and 'The Marriage Vow' (21st November 1970).

His final credits as a producer was on the first season of the comedy series Albert and Victoria (13th June – 18th July 1970). Nelson also served as director on the series which was slated in reviews for being unfunny. The Stage commented “how was it that John Nelson Burton put his distinguished name on the production credits. Well, perhaps he needed the money.[6]” Nelson also wrote and directed an episode of the anthology series Happy Ever After – 'The Marriage Vow' (21st November 1970). The episode is worth noting as it featured the actor Mark Dignam in the cast who Nelson would later cast in the Beasts episode 'Baby'. During the early years of the 1970s Nelson-Burton also oversaw three episodes of the ITV Sunday Night Theatre series; 'Fade Out' (11th April 1970), 'Pleased to Meet You' (25th March 1973) and 'It Only Hurts for a Minute' (8th July 1973). 'Fade Out' dealt with the operations of a fictional TV company and was based on a play by David Watson. The production starred Stanley Baker. Further writer / director credits for anthology drama series included two instalments of the ITV Sunday Night Theatre series. 'The Midsummer Dream of Chief Inspector Blossom' (2nd January 1972) and 'Pleased to Meet You' (25th March 1973). During the 1970s Burton was also the chairman of the technicians union ACTT (Association of Cinematograph, Television and Allied Technicians).

In the years prior to Beasts Nelson-Burton directed the The ITV Play episode 'Mary, Mary' (8th April 1974) followed by episodes of Rooms during 1974 and 1975. He then worked on the Willis Hall scripted single drama Piano Smashers of the Golden Sun (1975) and three episodes of the ATV police series Hunter’s Walk; 'Intent' (1st June 1976) - which featured Simon MacCorkindale who Nelson-Burton would cast in 'Baby' - 'Not Me' (13th July 1976) and 'Interference' (20th July 1976). These episodes would mark him working with Nicholas Palmer who would also produce Beasts. Prior to recording Beasts Nelson had written and directed the single play Chicken (29th August 1976) with Nicholas Palmer in the producer’s seat. The play starred the sublime actor Ian Bannen as a man who has just axed 5000 jobs. He decides to relax by spending time in the country with his fiancée, but a humble chicken has other ideas… The production designer was Anthony Waller who would later contribute to the Beasts episodes 'During Barty’s Party' and 'Buddyboy'.

During 1977 Nelson-Burton wrote three consecutive episodes of the daytime drama series Rooms (28th April – 4th May 1977). His final directing credit was on the medical drama General Hospital and the episode 'Technical Hitch' (19th January 1979). His final screenwriting credit was the TV movie Drakes Venture (28th December 1980) which was directed and produced by Lawrence Gordon Clark ,who had overseen the BBC Christmas Ghost Story series of annual plays. This was a feature length drama from Westward Television depicting Francis Drake’s voyage of circumnavigation of the globe. John Thaw played Francis Drake.

Ted Scott, sound supervisor on many ATV programmes, recalls working with John in his memoir Cue Tape Please, Ted “I fondly remember the brilliant director, John Nelson-Burton ripping the telephone off the wall when someone had the audacity to ring during dress rehearsal. John took over the directorial responsibility for a long running series set in the newspaper world called Deadline Midnight. It had gotten tired until John came in. He revitalised the cast, injecting masses of enthusiasm into the crew as if it were the pilot for a sensational new series. After the live transmission, he came out of the control room on the gantry and addressed the floor; ‘Fantastic job everybody. I’m proud of you. Apart from a few cock-ups here, bloody marvellous…’[7]” 

Burton died on 19th August 1997, aged 73 years old.

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[1] Biographical details courtesy of Julian Jones

[2] “New Mather Series”, The Stage, 30^th August 1956, page 12

[3] Review by Marcia Scott, The Stage, 12^th September 1963, page 10

[4] Review by Brain de Salvo, The Stage, 25^th June 1964, page 12

[5] “Should Have Given Play to Another Director” by S Alice Frick, The Stage, 23^rd February 1967, page 12 

[6] “Predictable, Corny and Unfunny Comedy Series” by James Preston, The Stage, 18^th June 1970,

[7] Cue Tape Please, Ted by Ted Scott, self-published 2016

What Big Eyes in the TV Times

Coverage of the Beasts episode 'What Big Eyes' was reduced to a single listing with no supporting photographs. 

 

Ann Hollowood (Costume Designer for What Big Eyes)

Born in 1942 Hollowood was educated at Wimbledon College of Art in Theatre Design before entering television as a costume designer. During her career she would win two Emmy awards and a BAFTA for her outstanding costume design work.

Amongst her earliest television credits is the 1968 BBC adaptation of the classic story The Railway Children (12th May – 23rd June 1968) directed by Julia Smith. Hollowood is credited on all eight episodes. This was followed by work on a couple of episodes of the Alistair Sim starring BBC comedy series Misleading Cases – 'Right of Way' (9th October 1968) and 'Who Giveth This Woman' (30th October 1968). She began work for independent television with the ATV series This Is Tom Jones, a light entertainment series which ran for over fifty episodes between 1969 and 1971. Hollowood was the main costume designer for the series during this period.

She continued being employed by ATV during the 1970s and moved into providing costumes for serials and plays during this period. After her work on the Tom Jones series Hollowood worked on episodes of Thriller – 'Possession', 'Where the Action Is' AKA 'The Killing Game' and 'The Eyes Have It'. She then worked as the costume designer on the prestigious period drama Edward the Seventh (1st April – 1st July 1975) and after the series was transmitted in America in 1979 she was awarded the Emmy for Outstanding Costume Design for a Limited Series for her work on the programme. Her costume budget for each episode was reputed to be £5,000, more than double the BBC budget for a costume drama from this period.

Her first association with the Muppets was during work on the entertainment special Julie: My Favourite Things (18 April 1975) with Hollowood supplying costumes for both Julie Andrews and several Muppets that featured in sketches. As well as working on the Beasts episode 'What Big Eyes' during 1976 Hollowood also consolidated her association with The Muppet Show providing costumes for guest stars including John Denver, Dudley Moore, Marty Feldman and Gene Kelly amongst many others. She would work on the series throughout its run from 1976 up until 1981.

Following her sterling work on Edward the Seventh Hollowood was assigned to another prestigious period drama, Disraeli: Portrait of a Romantic (1978), a four episode dramatization of the life of the famous prime minister with Ian McShane in the eponymous role. Along with Sue Le Cash and Christine Wilson her work on the series earned an Emmy Award for Outstanding Costume Design for a Limited Series of a Special in 1979 following transmission in the US.

After the main series of The Muppet Show had finished Hollowood still continued to be regularly recruited to work on special editions or one-off programmes featuring them such as The Muppets Go to the Movies (20th May 1981) and The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show (17th September 1982). After ATV had ceased to exist following a shake-up in the television franchises Hollowood decided to go freelance, emboldened by her Emmy awards. Amongst her first freelance roles was costume designs for an American television version of Pygmalion (1983), which cast Peter O’Toole as Professor Higgins and Margot Kidder as Eliza Doolittle. Her career also took in a couple of low budget British films – the Southport lensed Mr Love (1985), Birmingham set musical drama Hearts and Emeralds (1986) and romantic drama Vroom (1988) which starred Clive Owen and David Thewlis.

She was reunited with Jim Henson to work on the anthology series The Storyteller during 1987 and 1988 and received a BAFTA award in 1989 for her work on the series beating the BBC’s adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia. Work for Jim Henson continued with the fourth wall breaking anthology series The Jim Henson Hour (1989) and the single drama Living with Dinosaurs (1989). During 1990 Hollowood provided costume designs for the Clive Barker horror film Nightbreed and the TV movie The Old Man and the Sea (1990) which featured Anthony Quinn. She was also the costume designer on the first season of children’s science fiction comedy series Kappatoo produced by Tyne Tees Television. In 1991 she shared another BAFTA nomination alongside Polly Smith for their work on The Storyteller: Greek Myths (1991) which was a four-part spin off from the main anthology series. This was followed with design work on the film The Muppets Christmas Carol (1992).

She worked on the second series of the Dawn French comedy vehicle Murder Most Horrid 1994 followed with credits for the film The Second Jungle Book: Mowgli and Baloo (1997) and the American TV movie Mother Teresa: In The Name of God’s Poor (1997) which featured Geraldine Chaplin as Teresa.

In 1998 she was awarded an Emmy for Outstanding Costume Design in a Miniseries or Movie for her creations for the mini-series Merlin which starred Sam Neil as the titular wizard. The production was co-produced by Hallmark Entertainment who also bank rolled her next project, The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns (1999). She continued her association with Hallmark for her next two projects – the mini-series Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story (2001), directed by Brian Henson, and Hans Christian Andersen: My Life as a Fairy Tale (2003). Her final TV credit was on the American mini-series The Ten Commandments (2006). In 2009 the opera Alban was staged at St Alban’s Cathedral, Holborn. Hollowood was the costume designer for the production.

Hollowood died of a brain tumour in February 2014 at the age of 72. After her death the Ann Hollowood Prize for Costume Design was established and is awarded each year to a promising student at the Wimbledon College of Art.

Patricia Mason (2nd Woman Customer in What Big Eyes)

Mason was active onscreen between 1962 and 1980. She had extensive experience in theatre with early employment including time as part of the Lichfield Repertory Company in such productions as Search No More at the David Garrick theatre during June and July 1950 and When We Are Married over August 1950. She appeared as Cleopatra in The Enchanted Garden at the Saville theatre during October and November 1951 and as part of the newly formed Fraser Neal Players who opened a new season at the Dunfermline Opera House with the play Jeannie. This was followed by productions of Gaslight, Little Lambs Eat Ivy, Pick Up Girl and Mary Rose from April 1952. For a time she was a member of the Castle Players based at the Grand Theatre in Lancaster where she was involved in such productions as Black Coffee, Wuthering Heights, Madam Tic-Tac and This Happy Breed during 1953 and 1954.

Her earliest television role was as a cook in the Dr Finlay’s Casebook episode 'A Spotless Reputation' (25th October 1962). This debut was followed by Mason playing Lady Winseal in the ITV Play of the Week episode 'Double Stakes' (7th May 1963). Next was a small role as Miss Patterson in 'Slim Jim' (1st February 1964), an episode of Dixon of Dock Green, and another role in Dr Finlay’s Casebook playing Mrs Snoddie in the episode 'Stranger in Town' (22nd March 1964).

She played supporting roles in The Benny Hill Show episode 'Opportunity Calls' (6th November 1965) and was then absent from the screen for over a year before she featured in The Wednesday Play instalment 'Kippers and Curtains' (6th December 1967), followed by 'The Golden Dart' (4th August 1968), an episode of the BBC anthology series Detective. Her third and final appearance in Dr Finlay’s Casebook was as a matron in the episode 'The Visitation' (9th March 1969). She joined Terry Scott as part of the cast of his show Scott On… contributing to the episode 'Superstitions' (28th September 1969).

She had a rare big screen role playing a gentlewoman in Roman Polanski’s film version of Macbeth (1971). Her next television role was as Mrs Abbot in 'Public Concern' (20th October 1974), an episode of the business drama The Brothers. She then appeared in the BBC Play for Today production 'Sunset Across the Bay' (20th February 1975) which was written by Alan Bennet and directed by Stephen Frears. Mason played the role of Miss Venables.

Following her appearance as a shop customer in the Beasts episode 'What Big Eyes' Mason has a small role as a wife in the tenth episode of the BBC series Anna Karenina (9th April 1978). She also appeared as a Scottish lady in the first episode of the Armchair Thriller story 'Rachel in Danger' (21st February 1978).

TV Credits
1962 Dr Finlay’s Casebook – 'A Spotless Reputation'
1963 ITV Play of the Week – 'Double Stakes'
1964 Dixon of Dock Green – 'Slim Jim', Dr Finlay’s Casebook – 'Stranger in Town'
1965 The Benny Hill Show
1967 The Wednesday Play – 'Kippers and Curtains'
1968 Detective – 'The Golden Dart'
1969 Dr Finlay’s Casebook – 'The Visitation', Castle Haven (as Mrs Bolan), Scott On… 'Superstitions'
1974 The Brothers – 'Public Concern'
1975 The Dick Emery Show
1976 Beasts – 'What Big Eyes'
1977 Anna Karenina
1978 Armchair Thriller – 'Rachel in Danger'

Film Credits
1971 Macbeth
1975 The Adolescents

Janice Bean (Woman Customer in What Big Eyes)

Janice Bean was a popular stage actress who made her mark as a vocalist in several musical productions. Bean was active on television screens for a brief time during the 1970s.

During the 1973 pantomime period Bean was a cast member of a production of Jack and the Beanstalk at Devonshire Park, Eastbourne during December 1973 and January 1974. Bean played the role of Joan Blunderbore. Prior to her appearance in Beasts she was seen in the first season of the ATV children’s drama production The Siege of Golden Hill, playing the role of Mrs Adams.

Her only other notable credit was as a woman with a letter in 'Match of the Day' (18th January 1981) a fourth season episode of the sitcom A Sharp Intake of Breath.

STAGE CREDITS
Haymarket Theatre
1964 Fifty Years Ago (supporting lead actress Jessie Matthews)

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
1968 No, No Nanette

Manchester Palace Theatre, Manchester
1969 Mr and Mrs (musical)
Champagne Follies (touring production)

Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
1970 The Hollow (written by Agatha Christie)

Derby Playhouse
1970 Up The Rams (playing a history lecturer)

Harrogate Theatre, Harrogate
1971 – 1972 Salad Days (short tour of UK cities followed)

DEVONSHIRE PARK, Eastbourne
1973 – 1974 Jack and the Beanstalk

TV Credits
1975 Golden Hill (as Mrs Adams)
1976 Beasts – 'What Big Eyes'
1981 A Sharp Intake of Breath – 'Match of the Day'

Gerald James (Joe Nash in What Big Eyes)

 

James was born on 26th November 1917 in Brecon, Powys, Wales. He trained at RADA following in the footsteps of his grandfather, David James, who was also a stage actor, director and producer during the 1870s onwards. The earliest stage credit I can find for James is playing a schoolmaster in Public Saviour No.1 at the Piccadilly Theatre during July 1935. He made his debut on television with the one off BBC drama The Sound of Stillness (30th July 1952) in the role of Rhys-y-Ffynon. The play was written and produced by T C Thomas who would also cast James as Pryce Powell in Davy Jones’s Dinner (13th September 1955), a comedy short which Thomas had scripted and produced. The production had a sequel, Davy Jones’ Locker (6th December 1955), also written by Thomas. James was cast once more in the role of William Morgan.

His stage work during the 1950s includes Les Derniers Outrages presented by students of RADA at the Vanbrugh Theatre at the start of July 1957. He was cast as Sir William Davison in a production of Mary Stuart presented by the Old Vic Company at the Assembly Hall theatre during September 1958. On television James was amongst the cast of the obscure one-off musical drama The Orpheans (1st March 1956) and played the character of Mr Hobbs, a grocer, in two episodes of the BBC adaptation of Little Lord Fauntleroy (1957). Big Guns was a BBC crime drama which featured Warren Mitchell and Nigel Davenport amongst the cast. James had a small role as a hotel porter in the first episode, 'Go West Young Man' (1st January 1958). Just over three weeks later James appeared in the BBC drama anthology Television World Theatre playing the character Kassel in 'The Dark is Light Enough' (26th January 1958). Adapted for television by Christopher Fry from his own play the production boasted an impressive cast that also included Dame Edith Evans, Peter Wyngarde, Melvyn Hayes and fellow Beasts cast member Peter Halliday. James then joined Peter Cushing and Mary Morris in the cast of the BBC play Uncle Harry (8th May 1958) in the role of Mr Jenkins, which would be his last TV appearance for a few years.

Theatre work dominated James 1959 with a string of roles at the Old Vic theatre. The schedule including playing Monsieur Orgon in a revival of Moliere’s Tartuffe during February and March 1959, The Cenci by Percy Bysshe Shelley during April and May 1959 and a revival of Shakespeare’s As You Like It during September 1959. He played two supporting roles in a production of Richard II in November 1959. Finally there was The Merry Wives of Windsor during December 1959 playing Sir Hugh Evans. This period of Old Vic appearances continued into 1960 with roles in Saint Joan during February 1960 and What Every Woman Knows in April and May 1960. James played the father of Maggie who was in turn played by Maggie Smith. This was followed by a run of Henry V during May and June with James played Fluellen. During the 1960 Edinburgh Fringe Festival James appeared in a revival of Chekov’s play The Seagull based at Lyceum, Edinburgh.

He returned to television to appear in the Armchair Theatre production 'Clip Joint People' (4th December 1960) in a small role and, just over a fortnight later, he appeared in the one off drama The Eye of Allah (21st December 1960) playing Roger Bacon in an adaptation of the Rudyard Kipling story. Whilst his above appearances were broadcast James was toiling away in a theatre production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Old Vic from 20th December 1960. The anthology series One Step Beyond filmed a block of episodes in the UK using English actors and James featured in one episode, 'The Confession' (11th April 1961), alongside Donald Pleasence and Adrienne Corri. Between TV work James took on theatre work including Empress with Teapot at the Royal Court theatre during June 1961. This was followed by a role as Detective-Superintendent Hurst in 'Listen James' (23rd July 1961) an episode of the prestigious BBC Sunday Night Play series.

1962 would see James guest star in 'Diamond Studded Malaria' (23rd June 1962), an episode of The Cheaters, alongside fellow future Beasts cast member Glyn Houston. His only other television appearance for the year was in an episode of the BBC series Maigret playing Drouin in the episode 'The Crystal Ball' (12th November 1962). The Stag (1st March 1963) was a single drama which cast James as Dai Davies. Tom Bell headlined. For the anthology series Suspense James appeared in the episode 'Protection' (1st April 1963) playing another policeman, Detective Inspector Allen. Another role as a policeman, Inspector Meredith, in The Human Jungle instalment 'Time Check' (8th June 1963) followed which reunited him with Melvyn Hayes and Warren Mitchell who were also in the cast.

A look at the role that Wales and the Welsh have played in Shakespeare’s body of work was the topic of a BBC Wales programme, We Band of Brothers (29th July 1964). James was one of the actors interviewed for the documentary. He made his second Armchair Theatre appearance in the episode 'Daughter of the House' (16th April 1965) in the role of Henry. The stage continued to be James’ main area of employment; Much Ado About Nothing presented at The Old Vic during February 1965, Armstrong’s Last Goodnight by John Arden for the National Theatre at the Chichester Festival Theatre during early July 1965, a revival of Arthur Pinero’s play Trelawny of the Wells at the Chichester Festival Theatre in late July 1965 and the National Theatre Company production of The Royal Hunt of the Sun at the Old Vic during December 1966.

He featured as Leonato in a televised production of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing (1967) which used the cast of the then current Franco Zeffirelli National Theatre production of the play including Robert Stephens, Maggie Smith, Derek Jacobi, Michael Gambon, Frank Finlay and Graham Crowden. The play was believed lost from the archives for many decades until a copy was found in the Library of Congress in 2010. The programme was a filmed version of the current National Theatre Company production at The Old Vic. His television work continued with 'Taffy Came to My House' (8th March 1967), an episode of Thirty Minute Theatre, and 'Albinos in Black' (22nd January 1968) an instalment of Theatre 625. Late 1960’s theatre work included a version of Love’s Labour’s Lost at The Old Vic during December 1968 taking the role of Dull and in February 1969 the National Theatre Company’s H or Monologues at Front of Burning Cities by Charles Wood at the Old Vic.

W Somerset Maugham was a series of BBC adaptations of the eponymous authors work. James appeared in the episode transmitted 5th August 1969 in the role of Mr Carter, with his wife played by Joan Hickson. He then guest starred as Joe Jacklin in 'Anybody Here Seen Kelly?' (12th August 1969), an episode of the series Fraud Squad. Perhaps his most notable stage role of 1970 was in Back to Methuselah at the Old Vic presented by National Theatre Company. The production was directed by Donald McWhinnie who would cast James in the Beasts episode 'What Big Eyes'.

The Ten Commandments was a themed drama anthology produced by Yorkshire Television in which each episode explored one of the commandments. James appears in the episode 'A Bit of Family Feeling' (1st June 1971) as the father of the family which also included George Cole and Mary Ure. James continued with prestigious stage productions for both the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company taking in Coriolanus during May 1971, Tyger – A Celebration of William Blake during July and August 1971 and The National Health during January 1972. James played Doctor Rees. All these performances were based at the Old Vic

After an absence of over a year James reappeared on TV with Gravediggers (24th November 1972), a half-hour single drama produced by BBC Wales. James featured as Harry. He made more appearances the following year with another thirty minute single drama, I Want to Marry Your Son (8th March 1973) and in Marked Personal, an afternoon drama series centred on the human resources department of a large company. James appeared as Ron Beavis in episode five (13th November 1973) and six (14th November 1973). James undertook the recurring role of Charlie Caldwell, the father of Hadleigh’s wife, in the second season of Hadleigh with the character appearing in seven episodes of the season. His final television role of 1973 was as a band leader in 'The Cornet Lesson' (24th December 1973) an edition of Centre Play.

James was seen as Fred Feeley in the ITV Sunday Night Drama story 'Harry Lifters' (17th November 1974) and guest starred as Mr Evercreech in 'Bed, Beautiful Bed' (22nd December 1974), an instalment of the John Alderton and Pauline Collins starring sitcom No, Honestly. 'Harry Lifters' featured James in the main role as a steward of a local yacht club. The Stage commented on his performance when reviewing the play: “But it was the faces that one remembered: Gerald James puzzled and hurt and truculent all at the same time, like a dog that doesn’t know whether to snap at his master or lick his hand.[1]” His most high profile acting job for 1974 was as Professor Frazier in the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun (1974).

The following year would see James guest star in a second season episode of The Last of the Summer Wine, playing Mr Green in 'The Changing Face of Rural Blamire' (19th March 1975). before a short return to Crown Court to appear as George Wilcox in the first episode of 'The Obsession' (14th May 1975). He undertook the role of Peters in the Play for Today production 'After The Solo' (25th November 1975). Written by John Challen the play also featured Leonard Rossiter as the father of a boy who has a superb singing voice but is due to lose it due to the onset of puberty. State of Emergency (4th – 18th December 1975) was a three-part contemporary thriller set in a parallel Britain under the control of a fascist regime. Resistance is growing and the country is on the brink of civil war. James played the character of John Godstone. He guest starred as Mr Cooper in 'Three’s Company' (16th January 1976), an episode of the sitcom Yus My Dear, and continued with comedy roles with the role of Uncle Boris in 'Sitting at My Piano' (12th March 1976) an episode of the sitcom sequel Yes, Honestly. James was next seen as Mr Potter, a ghost hunter, in The Ghosts of Motley Hall episode 'Old Gory' (2nd May 1976) before returning to the role of Charlie Caldwell for three episodes of the fourth season of Hadleigh. More guest roles followed with Bill Brand in the episode 'Resolution' (12th July 1976) and BBC 2 Playhouse: The Mind Beyond with James appearing in the episode 'Stones' (27th October 1976) which also featured Beasts actor J P McKenna in the cast.

Shortly after his appearance in Beasts James could be seen as Major Rice in three episodes of the drama series The Crezz before returning to the theatre with The Magic of Young Houdini, a new children’s show staged at the Phoenix Theatre during December 1976 and January 1977. James played the role of Mr Pompinstance, a theatre impresario in search of new magician for his theatre shows. 1977 would bring James a variety of comedy and dramatic appearances on television starting with guest starring as Mr Morton in 'Money Spasms' (30th January 1977), an instalment of the sitcom Doctor on the Go, and as Sir Harry Birt in an episode of Jubilee entitled 'Wind of Change' (1st May 1977). He made two appearances in the ATV series The Sound of Laughter which was a run of potential sitcom pilots, first as Mr Tandy in 'What a Performance' (18th August 1977), written by actor Kenneth Cope, and a few weeks later as Doctor Hamer in 'The Best of Friends' (1st September 1977). Both episodes were directed by Shaun O’Riordan who would later cast James in Sapphire and Steel. James returned to drama with the role of Higby in Stephen Poliakoff’s Stronger Than The Sun (11th March 1978?) and also guest starred as Inspector Landre in The Secret Army story 'Too Near Home' (2nd November 1977). For the children’s fantasy series A Traveller in Time (4th January – 1st February 1978) James played Uncle Barnabus whilst at the other end of the drama spectrum he could be seen as Hunter in The Professionals episode 'Stake Out' (3rd March 1978. James had a rare film role during the year with Mr Bridge in My Way Home (1978), a biographical drama directed and written by Bill Douglas. The following year he had a small role as a hotel porter in the film Yanks (1979).

Next was the role of George Tully, possibly his most widely recognised role due to the cult following of the series Sapphire and Steel. Tully is an ill-fated ghost hunter who becomes embroiled in a time invasion on a train station in an eight-part adventure that formed the second televised adventure for Sapphire and Steel. The story had no official title but has become known as 'The Railway Station' (31st July – 8th November 1979). This was followed by a regular role, as Major Cartwright, in Sally Ann (28th October – 16th December 1979), a drama centred on the work of The Salvation Army. His television roles for 1980 included Percy Fobbes in the Jukes of Picadilly episode 'Dulverton Green Part One' (10th March 1980) and Gabelle in a Hallmark television adaptation of A Tale of Two Cities. After this James was not present on screen until the guest role of Sticky Watts in 'Family Affairs' (7th January 1982), an episode of Ennal’s Point, a BBC drama set around a Royal National Lifeboat Association on the Welsh coast. He was then absent from television until the recurring role of Professor David Evans in episodes of the first season of the BBC wartime drama The Fourth Army (7th January – 25th March 1983). During 1984 James could be seen as Doctor Edward Cuss in the BBC adaptation of The Invisible Man (4th September – 9th October 1984) and the following year he was seen as Doctor Slammer in the first two episodes of The Pickwick Papers (6th and 13th January 1985).

With no screen appearances during 1986 James was not seen until a guest role as Zebediah in The District Nurse instalment 'The Appointed Hour' (22nd February 1987). In cinema he had a small role as a school headmaster in the John Boorman film Hope and Glory (1987). Sophia and Constance was a six-part BBC series based on The Old Wives’ Tales by Arnold Bennett. James appeared in the final episode (18th May 1988) as the character Bolders. He could also be seen in the Channel Four production A Vote for Hitler (2nd October 1988) as Thomas Jones.

It would be several years before James graced the screen again, but he returned in style with the award winning single play Written Off (1991). The play was only broadcast in Wales and won the BAFTA Cymru award for Best Drama in English in 1991. He then undertook the role of Percy Morgan in two episodes of The Old Devils (16th and 23rd March 1992), a three-part BBC series about ageing, friendship and Welsh nationalism. He then lent his vocal talents to Shakespeare: The Animated Tales voicing the role of Malvolio in 'Twelfth Night' (14th December 1992). The Sherman Plays was a HTV drama anthology series. James appeared in the episode 'The Sound of Stillness' (27th April 1993) which recalled how the Eppynt mountains in Wales were taken over by the army in 1941 resulting in the hill farmers being ousted from their homes for the creation of a firing range. Both James and his co-star Jack Walters had, in 1952, took the lead roles for the play’s premiere in Brecon. Forty one years later neither actor needed make up to age them as had been required in the theatre iteration. James made a further contribution to the BBC series Shakespeare: The Animated Tales voicing the role of Baptisa in the second season episode 'The Taming of the Shrew' (9th November 1994). More animation voice work followed with the role of Jacob (27th November 1996) in Testament: The Bible in Animation. For the London Weekend Television production of Tess of the D’Urbervilles (8th and 9th March 1998) James was the voice of the narrator. His final screen role was as William Campbell in 'Perfide Albion' (19th April 2001), an episode of the French television thriller series Une femme d’honneur. 

James passed away on 10th June 2006 aged 88. The Royal Welsh College of Music Drama has an annual award called the Gerald James Memorial Award for Acting which it gives each year to an acting student showing talent and potential.

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[1] “Not Enough Angostura” by Hazel Holt, The Stage, Thursday 21^st November 1974, page 19

Bill Dean (Duggie Jebb in What Big Eyes)

 

Born as Patrick Anthony Connolly in Everton, Liverpool on 3rd September 1921 Dean took his stage name from the legendary Everton football William ‘Dixie’ Dean. His craggy features, and later his thick rimmed spectacles, made him an instantly recognisable face later in life when he found national fame with his role as the grumpy pensioner Harry Cross.

Dean trained as an armourer before serving in the Royal Air Force during World War Two, spending time in action in North Africa and Italy. After being demobbed he worked in a variety of manual jobs including insurance agent, pipe fitter, tram driver and docker. He was also working as stand-up comedian in the social clubs of the north of England in the evenings during the late 1960s. He gained national fame in the later years of his life playing Harry Cross in the Channel Four soap opera Brookside which he joined in 1983 and remained with for seven years until 1990. He briefly returned to the programme in 1999 in a heart breaking storyline which saw Harry suffering from dementia.

His career as an actor began under the name Billy Dean with work as a supporting artist or extra from the early 1960s. Amongst his first roles was as an extra as a Nazi follower in The Saint episode 'The Saint Plays with Fire' (1963). He could be seen as a German soldier (credited as Billy Dean) in the ITV Play of the Week story 'Jacko at War' (20th April 1964). Dean also contributed to several film productions, including an uncredited appearance as a policeman in the Margaret Rutherford starring Miss Marple production Murder Ahoy (1964), and another uncredited role as a German aircraft mechanic in the comedy film Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965).

It was on television that Dean found the most work during this period with the role of a crewman in the Out of the Unknown episode 'Sucker Bait' (15th November 1965), appearing as British soldier in the Man in A Suitcase instalment 'The Girl Who Never Was' (22nd November 1967), popping up as a taxi driver in an episode of Coronation Street transmitted 25th September 1968 and his first character with a name, Wart Wrigglesworth, in the Granada sitcom Her Majesty’s Pleasure in the episode 'You’re As Old as You Are' (20th November 1968).

His breakthrough role was as John Coyne in the Ken Loach directed Play for Today production 'The Golden Vision' (17th April 1968). The play was written by Neville Smith and Gordon Honeycombe, who at the time was an ITV newsreader, and detailed the lives of Everton football club fans in Liverpool. At the time Dean was working as a local government officer in Liverpool and he gave this role following 'The Golden Vision' to concentrate on acting fulltime. Loach later recalled that “we wanted to find new actors to match the novelty of the style. So Ernie Mack, a booking agent for social and working men's clubs, introduced us to a whole group of performers including Billy Dean (as he was always known to me), and it was immediately clear that he was ideal for a leading comic role.”[1]

Following his role as John Coyne Dean found himself a popular choice as a character actor playing dour and downbeat Northeners. Loach reused him in a small role for his Wednesday Play episode 'The Big Flame' (19th February 1969), playing a landlord in a drama about dock workers facing redundancy. Loach also utilised him for his BAFTA winning film Kes (1969) in which Dean appeared as a grumpy chip shop owner.

His TV work during this period saw Dean appear in a trio of Granada produced sitcoms; a coach driver in the Nearest and Dearest episode 'The Demon Drink' (22nd July 1969), a perturbed motorist in a third season episode of The Dustbinmen (17th August 1970) and as a grumpy waiter in 'The Date' (3rd November 1970), an episode of The Lovers. He also had a brief role as a postman who delivers a telegram to the corner shop in an episode of Coronation Street transmitted 31st August 1970.

More dramatic work followed with the role of the schoolteacher Arthur Foster in the ITV Sunday Night Theatre production 'Roll on Four O’clock' (19th December 1970), a play written by Colin Welland and based on his own experiences as a teacher in an inner city comprehensive school. Dean was reteamed with Ken Loach for a second ITV Sunday Night Theatre episode, 'After A Lifetime' (18th July 1971), playing Uncle Sid in another script supplied by Neville Smith. A particular highlight of the play is when Sid and a colleague attempt to carry a carpet across a busy road in order to lend dignity to a family funeral. His final television appearance for the year was as Charlie Keen in 'No Flowers, By Request' (19th November 1971) an episode of the anthology series Justice.

Dean’s television work during this period was bolstered by a couple of film roles. Ken Loach used Dean once more in his film Family Life (1971) giving him the meaty role of Mr Baildon, the father of a teenage girl who suffers a nervous breakdown. The film showed Dean at his best giving a moving performance of great sincerity. Director Stephen Frears, working from a script by Neville Smith, cast Dean as Tommy, a night club manager, in his Liverpool set crime comedy Gumshoe (1971) which starred Albert Finney and Billie Whitelaw.

Back on television Dean played Ernest Dewhurst in a couple of episodes of the Yorkshire Television drama series The Challengers during January 1972. He also had a small role as a labour agent in 'Under New Management' (12th January 1972), an episode of the World War Two domestic drama series Family at War. He had appeared in the series previously playing the character Alan Mills in three episodes during the programme’s first and second seasons in 1970.

Ken Loach cast him in Dean’s first appearance in a Play for Today production with the role of Billy in 'The Rank and File' (20th May 1971). Neville Smith, who had written several scripts featuring Dean, also featured in the cast. The Last of the Baskets is an obscure Granada sitcom that featured Arthur Lowe and Patricia Hayes. Dean appeared in the episode 'Nice Work If You Can Keep It' (7th February 1972) as a ‘rough man’. Dean then went on to appear as Dutchie Holland in the Budgie instalment 'Dreaming of Thee' (21st April 1972) which opened the second season of the series. Scene was a programme aimed at schools and colleges which used a mixture of fictional and documentary short films to provoke discussion on current topics. Dean appeared in two episodes during his career starting with playing the father in the episode 'Bank Holiday' (2nd March 1972).

 

Dean’s film work for 1973 included The Best Pair of Legs in the Business, a lacklustre British comedy which starred Reg Varney as a female impersonator. Dean appeared in the role of Bert. He could also be seen as Inspector Walker in the now forgotten horror thriller Night Watch (1973) which featured Elizabeth Taylor, Laurence Harvey and Billie Whitelaw in a cast directed by Brian G Hutton, who had overseen Kelley’s Heroes (1970) and Where Eagles Dare (1968). Further television work included playing Mr Steadman in the Public Eye episode 'It’s a Woman’s Privilege' (24th January 1973), portraying Leo in the one-off Granada drama Putting on the Agony (28th February 1973), Play for Today drama 'Speech Day[2]' (26th March 1973) as the school janitor, William James in the Six Days of Justice episode 'A Regular Friend' (29th May 1973) and Mr Clegg in the Follyfoot episode 'The Dream' (21st July 1973).

Following his appearance as Bernard Hobbs in the New Scotland Yard episode 'All That Glitters' (18th May 1974) and a cameo as a club owner in the film Slade in Flame (1975), Dean commenced on a lengthy run of television only roles which would occupy the rest of the decade starting with Stephen Frears’ Second City Firsts entry 'Match of the Day' (18th March 1974), again written by Neville Smith. Rooms was a twice weekly afternoon drama series which featured various characters who rented rooms in a lodging house. Dean appeared in the storyline 'Jo and Anne' (10th and 11th December 1974) playing the role of Frank. This was followed with a guest role as Charlie Norton in The Sweeney episode 'Thin Ice' (16th January 1976) and a rare upper class character as Sir Bernard Fickle in a second season instalment of the comedy series A Little Bit of Wisdom (31st January 1975). Alongside Bob Peck and Brian Glover he also appeared in the Second City Firsts edition 'Waiting at the Field Gate' (3rd April 1975). Also during 1975 Dean was cast as Charlie in the Liverpool set sitcom The Wackers (19th March – 23rd April 1975). This Thames Television production was so unpopular that the final episode was never aired.

Dean could be seen in a small role as the doomed shopkeeper, Mr Greenhead, in The Tomorrow People adventure 'A Man for Emily' (16th April 1975). Next was the Armchair Cinema production 'In Sickness and in Health' (21st May 1975) playing the character Mr Jackson. Amongst the cast was fellow Beasts actor Michael Sheard. 'Nothing To Declare' (11th August 1975) was another case to be solved by the contestants of Whodunnit, presented by Jon Pertwee. Dean appeared as Mr Campbell. He then played a character called Dixie in his second appearance in the series Scene. 'Break' (6th November 1975) was written by Willie Russell.

The year 1976 was a busy one for Dean with several appearances besides his role in the Beasts story 'What Big Eyes'. Red Letter Day was a Granada drama anthology series created by Jack Rosenthal though Dean appeared in another script by Neville Smith, 'Bag of Yeast' (22nd February 1976). Smith himself also appeared alongside Dean in the cast. Rocky O’Rourke was a BBC children’s drama based on the book A Pair of Jesus Boots by Sylvia Sherry. Dean played the character Simpson in the first four episodes (3rd – 24th March 1976). He then guest starred as Sam Platte in the Dixon of Dock Green episode 'Reunion' (1st May 1976) and was cast as Alf Bowen in the Softly Softly: Task Force instalment 'Not With a Bang…' (8th September 1976), which opened the eighth season of the police drama. He could also be seen as Leslie Stevens in The Expert episode 'Fail Safe' (12th November 1976). Between 1976 and 1977 Dean appeared as Jack in two seasons of the sitcom Oh No, It’s Selwyn Froggitt.

Post-Beasts Dean featured in the Dennis Potter drama Pennies From Heaven playing Alf in two episodes. During May 1978 he popped up in two episodes of the rural soap opera Emmerdale playing Abraham Scarsdale. Further roles for the year included 'A Detective’s Tale' (6th April 1978), an episode of BBC drama Law and Order, his third appearance in Z Cars – 'Exposure' (2nd August 1978) and playing Sid in 'Freedom of the Dig' (23rd October 1978), an episode of the BBC drama series Premiere. The year ended with Dean playing the character Ted in the BBC Play of the Week production 'Night People' (6th December 1978) penned by Alan Plater. His only onscreen role during 1979 was in the film version of the controversial Scum (1979) directed by Alan Clark. He then had a blink and you’d miss him role as a workman in the film version of the sitcom Rising Damp (1980).

As the 1980s progressed Dean famed himself in demand in small and supporting roles that benefitted from a bit of regional colour thanks to his strong Liverpool accent and dour features. BBC period drama God’s Wonderful Railway charted lives and work of three generations on the Great Western Railway from Victorian up until the Second World War. Dean was on hand to appear in the three-part storyline 'Fire on the Line' (12th – 26th March 1980) playing Ted Jarvis. Sounding Brass was an ATV comedy which featured Dean in the episode 'H G and the Whit Marches' (2nd July 1980). He also had a small role as a police Sergeant in the Minder tale 'All About Scoring, Innit?' (20th November 1980). His only film for this period was an uncredited cameo as a man in a village hall in The Mirror Crack’d (1980).

The Good Companions was a Yorkshire Television series based on the novel by J B Priestley about a touring concert party and was adapted for TV by Alan Plater. Dean appears in 'A Wind in the Triangle' (2nd January 1981). He then went on to a guest role as Stobbs in the When the Boat Comes In instalment 'Back to Dear Old Blighty' (17th February 1981) which opened the fourth season of the drama series. His final Play for Today appearance was audio only. He played one of several voices, alongside John Challis and Ian Sharp, in 'A Turn for the Worse' (28th April 1981). He had a small role as a painter in the BBC 2 Playhouse episode 'Going Gently' (5th June 1981) which provided Norman Wisdom with a rare dramatic role as a man dying of cancer. Maybury was a BBC drama series that starred Patrick Stewart as psychiatrist. Dean appears in the episode 'Maisie' (14th July 1981) in a small role. He then played Mr Bentham in the Juliet Bravo story 'Barriers' (14th November 1981).

Dean had a fleeting role credited simply as ‘Liverpool Man’ in the Channel Four single drama Lovers of the Lake (1983). He was also a recurring cast member as Billy Eccles in the BBC drama The Gathering Seed (7th September – 12th October 1983). He could be seen as Mr Hove in 'The Clergyman’s Daughter' (27th November 1983), an episode of the London Weekend Television crime drama Partners in Crime. He then had a cameo appearance as a garage attendant in the sitcom In Loving Memory – 'Flying Undertaker' (28th November 1983) and appeared as a compere in the film Slayground (1983).

Dean joined the Channel Four soap opera Brookside with the episode transmitted 5th October, 1983, playing the role of grumpy pensioner Harold Cross. The character would become his signature role and made him a household face, if not name. Dean finally left Brookside in August 1989 having appeared in the role of Harry for over six years. He appeared in the music video for Groovy Train by the pop group The Farm which was released in August 1990 as the first single off their debut album Spartacus. The single reached number six in the UK singles chart. The video was filmed at the amusement park Pleasureland in Southport. Dean appeared as a train driver with the band as passengers. The Brookside character Harry Cross was a retired train driver. This wasn’t Dean’s only musical connection as he also wrote the lyrics of the theme tune to the sitcom Oh No, It’s Selwyn Froggitt (1976 - 1977) which were unique to each episode.

Post-Brookside Dean he could be seen in the film Let Him Have It (1991) as the foreman of the jury who sentence Derek Bentley (Christopher Eccleston) to a death sentence and had a small role as a priest in the final episode of the BBC costume drama Clarissa (11th December 1991). He could be seen as Harry Capshaw in 'Endangered Species' (21st November 1993), an episode of the 1950s set cosy police drama Heartbeat. This was followed by a cameo role as an old man in the Screen Two production Skallagrigg (9th March 1994). Dean was the recurring character Albert Dawson in the second season of the Granada’s children’s drama series Three Seven Eleven (13th April – 15th June 1994).

Dean had previously appeared in two episodes of the original run of the sitcom The Liver Birds playing Uncle Jack in 'Birds on the Dole' (18th February 1972) and 'Birds on Strike' (3rd March 1972). When the sitcom was relaunched in the 1990s Dean appeared as the new character of Mr Hennessey for a trio of episodes; 'Mrs Boswell Comes To Call' (13th May 1996), 'Spare That Tree!' (20th May 1996) and 'Moving Out' (24th June 1996). Dean was also in a small role in Hillsborough (5th December 1996) which based on the real life events of April 1989 when 96 Liverpool football fans lost their lives during a FA Cup semi-final match.

In 1999 he returned to Brookside for three more episodes reprising his role as Harry Cross. The character was frailer and suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and it made for powerful and poignant viewing, especially as this would be Dean’s final screen performance. He passed away on 20th April 2000 in Upton, Merseyside at the age of 78 after suffering a heart attack. Dean had three children, sons Peter and David, and a daughter called Diane with whom he had been living with shortly before his passing.

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[1] As quoted in Dean’s obituary in The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/news/2000/apr/22/guardianobituaries (accessed 3rd March 2018)

[2] written by Kes scriptwriter Barry Hines

Madge Ryan (Florence Raymount in What Big Eyes)

Born in Townsville, Queensland, Australia on 8th January, 1919 Ryan was an established stage actor in Australia, and after emigration to the UK in 1957, she quickly established a reputation as a dependable and consummate theatre actor. One of her earliest stage roles in the UK was transmitted on the BBC as part of the series Theatre Night which presented excerpts from current stage plays in London. Ryan could be seen in the episode 'Summer of the Seventeenth Doll' (27th May 1957) playing the role of Pearl Cunningham. She, and the play, was an instant hit with critics and audiences alike.

Ryan made her first British television only appearance in an episode of Armchair Theatre playing Mrs Cornelius in the episode 'The Deaf Heart' (21st December 1958). 1959 was definitely a breakthrough year for Ryan with a flurry of television roles including two episodes of the ITV Play of the Week – 'A Dead Secret' (3rd March 1959) and 'A Man Involved' (8th December 1959). She also returned to Armchair Theatre for two episodes – 'Star in the Summer Night' (29th March 1959) and 'The Girl on the Beach' (24th May 1959). For the BBC Sunday Night Theatre series she made three appearances; 'The Exiles #4: Full Circle' (15th February 1959) as Hilda Binns, 'The Philadelphia Story' (14th June 1959) playing Margaret Lord[1] and 'The Potutukawa Tree' (18th October 1959) in the role of Mrs Atkinson. The same year she also had two roles in two films; playing a police woman in the comedy Upstairs and Downstairs (1959) and the more substantial role of Mrs Finch in the thriller Witness in the Dark (1959). Nicholas Palmer, who would later produce the series Beasts, supplied the script for Ryan’s final television production of the year, another single play, entitled A Man Involved (8th December 1959). On the stage Ryan appeared in The Shifting Heart, which had a pre-London tour in July 1959 taking in venues in Leeds, Newcastle and Nottingham. The play dealt with the difficulties an immigrant Italian family experiences when they settle in a Melbourne suburb and are not accepted by their neighbours.

1960 would see Ryan continue to be cast in prestigious plays with her making five separate appearances in episodes of Armchair Theatre; 'Where I Live' (10th January 1960), 'A Night Out' (24th April 1960) written by Harold Pinter, 'Pig’s Ears with Flowers' (2nd October 1960), 'The Cake Baker' (6th November 1960) and 'The Stranger' (20th November 1960). The ITV Television Playhouse series episode 'A Holiday Abroad' (12th February 1960), written by John Bowen, saw Ryan cast as Sylvia Bates whilst the anthology series Armchair Mystery Theatre furnished her with the role of Maud in the episode 'Flag Fall' (26th June 1960). She also appeared in an episode of the long running drama series Probation Officer (25th April 1960) playing Ella Rhodes.

During February 1961 she appeared in The Dark at the Top of the Stairs at the Pembroke Theatre, Croydon followed by Time and Yellow Roses, which was headlined by Flora Robson. The play debuted in Aberdeen on 20th March 1961 and then toured in major cities including Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool and Oxford before arriving in the West End in early May. She also appeared in the film Hand in Hand (1961) and this was complimented with another television appearance in an ITV Play of the Week in the production 'Ivanov' (1st August 1961).

At the start of 1962 Ryan had a guest role in 'Murder on Monday' (15th January 1962), an episode of the Rupert Davies starring Maigret, and this was quickly followed by one off drama Reunion Day (19th January 1962) for the BBC. Next were two more one off dramas for the BBC – The Slaughter of St Teresa’s Day (6th April 1962) and The One Day of the Year (14th December 1962). Just four days later audiences could see her in the ATV play The Shifting Heart (18th December 1962). She also made another film appearance playing Millie Brooks in Tiara Tahiti (1962). Regular screen work continued the following year with Ryan seen as Marthy Owen in the one-off BBC drama Anna Christie (4th January 1963) before making appearances in two well recalled films; playing Stella in the Cliff Richard vehicle Summer Holiday (1963) and a small role as Mrs Clapper in Doctor in Distress (1963). She provided support to Michael Caine and Ian McShane in the First Night instalment 'Funny Noises with Their Mouth' (20th October 1963). The Stage gave the production a positive review stating “A play with which Sidney Newman should indeed feel very pleased.[2]”

She then popped up as Eve Turner in The Avengers episode 'Mandrake' (1964) and appeared in the classic film drama This Is My Street (1964). She made two appearances in First Night productions, the first as Mercy Greely in 'Day of the Drongo' (4th January 1964) and as Roseanne Dexter in 'The Rock Pool' (22nd February 1964). Further TV roles included an episode of anthology series Love Story – 'Domino' (28th April 1964) and two episodes of Emergency Ward Ten (9th and 16th June 1964) as May Gorton.

Joe Orton’s first stage play, Entertaining Mr Sloane, was initially staged during the summer of 1964. Ryan undertook the role of the murderous landlady Kath in the original London stage run for which she received rave reviews. Also in the cast was Peter Vaughan and Dudley Sutton. The play was directed by Patrick Dromgoole who would later become a producer / director for HTV and bring to the small screen many children’s dramas that haunted their childhood memories including Into The Labyrinth, King of the Castle, and Children of the Stones. On television the BBC adapted the play Summer of the Seventh Doll (29th October 1964) with Ryan again taking the role of Pearl which she had popularised back in 1957.

Ryan joined the National Theatre Company during 1965 with her debut role coming with a staging of the Brecht play Mother Courage and Her Children. Ryan played the eponymous mother. During September 1965 the National Theatre players toured Russia with productions of Othello and Hobson’s Choice with Ryan as part of the cast. Television work for the year included playing Mrs Sutton-Piper in the series Public Eye for the episode 'And a Very Fine Fiddle He Was' (13th March 1965). She also appeared as Janet Harford in the Thirty Minute Theatre instalment 'Family Christmas' (23rd December 1965).

For the BBC Play of the Month episode 'Defection! The Case of Colonel Petrov' (27th September 1966) she was cast as Dusya and attracted rave reviews for her work “Madge Ryan met the demands of the story with one of the long scenes of continuously sustained high-pitched emotion I have ever seen…As a performance it was beyond praise[3]” She also guest starred in an episode of The Saint – 'Build A Better Mousetrap' during 1966. During October and November 1966 she played the role of Nurse in Romeo and Juliet at the Bristol Old Vic. As part of the Bristol Old Vic rep company she toured North America with a trio of Shakespeare productions – Hamlet, Measure for Measure and Romeo and Juliet. They returned to the UK at the end of May 1967 before embarking on a tour of Europe and Israel under the sponsorship of the British Council. Also in the repertory were Barbara Leigh Hunt, Jane Asher and Frank Middlemass. During September 1967 Ryan took over from actress Mavis Villiers for a run of Philadelphia Here I Come. Villiers had created the part of Lizzy Sweeney in the original New York production and collapsed due to nervous exhaustion during the prior-to London run of the play.

On the big screen Ryan was cast as Aunty Mary in the British crime thriller The Strange Affair (1968) and on TV could be seen as Lady Morcar opposite Peter Cushing as Sherlock Holmes in 'The Blue Carbuncle' (23rd December 1968). The following year would see her make several television appearances; portraying Mrs Kenny in the Parkin’s Patch episode 'Fame of a Kind' (10th October 1969) and playing Nancy Proctor in the Dixon of Dock Green episode 'No Love Lost' (11th October 1969). She could also be seen as Mrs Roden in the Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) story 'Could You Recognise the Man Again?' (1969). Further credits took in the ITV Sunday Night Theatre production 'The Funeral of Queen Victoria' (2nd August 1969) and her first appearance in the adventure series Paul Temple by playing Linda Burgess in the episode 'Message from a Dead Man' (30th November 1969).

Her first TV appearance for 1970 was in 'Out of Sight, Out of Mind' (28th February 1970), an episode of Thirty Minute Theatre. Ryan featured as Mrs Purgold, a clairvoyant. Next was an episode of the World War Two drama series Manhunt, appearing as Celestine Moussac, in the episode 'The Price of Resistance' (13th March 1970) and this was followed by a role in sitcom The Best Things In Life playing Miss Rossiter in the episode 'The Emigrant' (13th July 1970). Her final TV appearance was in an edition of Armchair Theatre came with the episode 'Say Goodnight to Your Grandma' (27th October 1970) written by Colin Welland. Her only film appearance for the year was in I Start Counting (1970).

Her second appearance in Paul Temple came with the third season episode 'Cue Murder!' (28th March 1971) playing the role of Rose Mason. She then guest starred as Connie in 'In Deep' (7th May 1971) for the series Budgie and another Public Eye episode 'Come into the Garden, Rose' (11th August 1971). Her notable stage roles included A Hearts and Minds Job at Hampstead Theatre during July 1971. The production was directed by Donald McWhinnie who would later cast Ryan in the Beasts episode 'What Big Eyes'.

Now Look Here (5th November – 17th December 1971) was a BBC sitcom starring Ronnie Corbett. Ryan appeared in all seven episodes of the first season in the role of Mother. Her only film role of the year was in Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange (1971) playing Doctor Branom. More film work followed with the short The Man and The Snake (1972), Hitchcock’s thriller Frenzy (1972) and horror film Endless Night (1972). In the theatre she was cast in Traveller without Luggage at the Thorndike theatre, Leatherhead during September and October 1972. The cast included Jeremy Brett
December saw Ryan appear in a revival of Epitaph for George Dillon. Her last television appearance was in Zinotchka (16th December 1972), a short drama written by Melvyn Bragg from the story by Anton Chekhov transmitted on the BBC. Ryan appeared as Madame Sorin.

1973 would see Ryan make two separate appearances in the ITV Sunday Night Theatre series – 'The Regulars' (26th January 1973) and the science fiction drama 'A.D.A.M.' (8th April 1973). Her only film role for the year was as Della’s mother in the action drama Yellow Dog (1973). Don Leaver, the director of the Beasts episode 'The Dummy', cast Ryan in 'Burning Bush' (1974), an episode of The Protectors he oversaw. Ryan played the role of Mrs Apsimon. Her other television role was in Cakes and Ale, a three-part mini-series by the BBC as Mrs Barton Trafford.

Anne of Avonlea, the sequel to Anne of Green Gables (26th January 1975 onwards), was adapted as a six part series and featured Ryan in the role of Rachel Lynde. Ryan also appeared in a Crown Court case, 'Matron' transmitted from 22nd January 1975, undertaking the role of Bridget Behan. Further TV credits for the year took in 'Going, Going, Gone…Free?' (9th July 1975), a comedy pilot written by Carla Lane as part of the Comedy Playhouse series. Ryan could be seen as Mrs Dean in the cast. Moll Flanders (26th November 1975) was a feature length adaptation by the BBC. Ryan was in the cast playing Mrs Oliver. Her character Florence Raymount, from the Beasts episode 'What Big Eyes', was the next role on her resume. It’s worth noting that Ryan appeared alongside Patrick Magee in a stage production of The White Devil at the Old Vic during July 1976. Post-Beasts she appeared in episodes two, three and four (17th – 31st October 1976) of the BBC drama Katy playing Bridget. Her final role of the year was in episode of the medical soap opera Angels playing Mrs Dutton in the season three episode 'Somewhere To Go' (15th November 1976). 

Amongst her television roles in 1977 was Mrs Quillet in two episodes (22nd and 29th April 1977) of the third season of the comedy Beryl’s Lot and playing Mrs Vizzard in the Thames Television drama London Belongs To Me (6th September – 18th October 1977). She was also seen as Elizabeth in Play for Today drama 'One Day at a Time' (22nd November 1977). To start the next year Ryan appeared in the first season of All Creatures Great and Small playing Miss Harbottle in the episodes 'It Takes All Kinds' (22nd January 1978) and 'Calf Love' (29th January 1978). She also made a film appearance with the role of Beecham in the comedy crime caper Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe AKA Too Many Chefs (1978). Remaining roles for 1978 saw her as the recurring character Arabella Codsall in the BBC adaptation of A Horseman Riding By (24th September – 17th December 1978) and as Nanny in the juvenile horror anthology series Shadows episode 'Honeyann' (1st November 1978), written by Fay Weldon. Stage credits took in The Shadow Box at the Arts Theatre, Cambridge during March and April 1979. Also in the cast was Anthony Bate. December 1979 had Ryan playing Aunt Eller in a version of Oklahoma produced at Leicester’s Haymarket theatre before a run in London’s West End. Film appearances saw her as the character Rose Flood Porter in the remake of The Lady Vanishes (1979) and a small role as Violet Jessop in the TV movie SOS Titanic (1979).

After a break of a few years where she concentrated on her theatre roles Ryan returned to the screen to appear in a BBC version of Shakespeare’s Cymbeline (20th December 1982) as Mother in a cast that also featured Richard Johnson and Claire Bloom. 1983 would be her busiest on screen year for some time with a guest role in Bergerac – 'Prime Target' (30th January 1983) and the returning character of Lydia Crawford in the third season of the Wendy Craig starring drama series Nanny. She played the narrator for the one off drama Events in a Museum (25th November 1983) and played Mrs Todd, with Michael Gough portraying her husband, in the BBC Films comedy Heartattack Hotel (16th December 1983). Over the following six years Ryan worked solely in the theatre. She returned to the screen to appear in the Australian film drama Kokoda Crescent (1989) opposite Bill Kerr and Warren Mitchell. In 1990 she also popped up in the Australian / United Kingdom co-produced soap opera Families which was filmed in Australia and Cheshire for Granada. In 1992 she played Beattie in the Screenplay production 'The Countess Alice' (1992) and guest starred in 'One Step Forward' (24th October 1992), an episode of the long running medical drama Casualty.

During 1992 and 1993 she was a cast member of an acclaimed stage production of Euripide’s Medea. Diana Rigg undertook the title role. February and March 1993 saw her appear in a production of Oscar Wilde’s A Murder of No Importance at the Theatre Royal, Windsor. On television Ryan appeared in the comedy pilot The 10 Percenters (23rd February 1993) playing Gloria and in the cinema she had a small role as a woman walking her dog in the comedy film Splitting Heirs (1993). Her final screen role was as Lucy Lorrimer in 'Death in a White Tie' (16th May 1993), an episode of the Inspector Alleyn Mysteries. Throughout her stage and screen career Ryan preferred to play challenging roles and was often cast as unsympathetic individuals or misfits / outcasts from normal society. 

Ryan passed away the day after her 75 birthday on 9th January 1994 in London. Her obituary in The Independent said "what set her apart from the others was a certain, often powerful, independence of spirit and humour...It was a fulfilled career.[4]" There was a celebration of her life at St James Church, Piccadilly on 27th June 1994.

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[1] The cast also included fellow Beasts cast member Elizabeth Sellers who would later star in 'During Barty’s Party'

[2] “Mr Sharp Makes Fine Debut on First Night” by William Pearce, The Stage, Thursday 24^th October, 1963

[3] “A Dramatic Re-Creation” by N Alice Frick, The Stage, Thursday 29^th September 1966, page 12

[4] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-madge-ryan-1401217.html (accessed 26th February 2018)