We have the most geriatric crew on British TV, he laughs. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. That's what kept us together. But the producers of Morse took me out to lunch and said, Were not going to leave you alone; youd better have a go at it and if its laughed out of court we wont bother you again. Lewis was first screened in 2006 and attracted record ratings. Kevin, from Humshaugh, near Hexham, Northumberland, has played Lewis on and off for 26 years, first as the sidekick to the late John Thaw in Inspector Morse and, since 2006, in his own spin-off in which Lewis is boss to Laurence Foxs DS Hathaway. Age is the greatest risk factor; one in 50 people aged between 65 and 70 have dementia, compared with one in 5 above the age of 80. 'Her mum and dad are opera singers so when they were singing at Glyndebourne this summer, we would babysit for Ivy and have the time of our lives. Kevin: Yeah Michael Chris, a dresser at at one of the costumiers in London, searched for 3 days to find that same shirt. Thanks to you Chris, I learnt that Kevin Whately started his early working life, as a folk singer. "It was a struggle to find somewhere, there aren't many good homes and essentially you are waiting for some poor soul to die," says Whately, candidly. But he never f***ed up on camera, never ever.". He was still my dad until the day he died last year. I think it wouldve been difficult to kill him off in the same way as we did with Morse. Its good because we wanted some arguments; less tweeness., Kevin says its a joy to be back with Laurence. The pair may have had somewhat of a frosty relationship on-screen as DS James Hathaway and DI Robert Lewis. There is no such happy ending in The Children. 'Ivy is a ray of sunshine who almost never cries,' he grins. But, I think basically, hes as diligent and honest, and pretty much the same character as he was 30 years ago. Although audiences will no doubt clamor for more, Kevin Whately is gladly saying farewell to Inspector Robbie Lewis, the character he has been playing for almost 30 years on the public television series,Inspector Morse, and its offshoot, Inspector Lewis. Meanwhile, in real life, Thaw was not only battling alcoholism, but the early stages of cancer. I suppose it might have ended if Laurence had got a job in America but he didnt go in the end because his wife Billie Piper won a role at the National Theatre so they all stayed at home.. How? Jace: And it was his decision that you two share a caravan to sort of initiate that bonding process, correct? Now married to Lord Freddie Windsor and best known as Peep Shows Big Suze, Sophie starred in the 2006 pilot of Lewis as Regan Peverill, an American maths student found shot dead while participating in a sleep study. Jace: Now, their farewell scene is so understated. Follow. Jace: So those little those little butterfly bandages are not just for show then maybe? Jace: On the topic of sidekicks you told Radio Times a few years back quote, When this whole thing was being set up I said, I wanted a young, female, Muslim sidekick , Jace: I just thought it would be more interesting. Drama series about an ex-policeman, who now uses his detective skills while working for insurance companies. Laurence and I see each other regularly now and talk on the phone, and its never goodbye, so in that way its not a sad occasion at all, I dont think. Over the last 30 years hes rarely been off our screens, starring in the likes of Peak Practice, Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Joe Maddisons War, which was written specifically for him. As I say, its always quite exciting when theres a stunt in in the middle of a shoot, we look forward to it. Me, not so much. Kevin: Well one of them was my name. Madelaine Newton is a British actress best known for her portrayal of Dolly in 1970s BBC television drama When the Boat Comes In. The leisurely-paced series, set in beautiful Oxfordshire, was Thaw's most popular and long-running project. 1984 In the play 'Pygmalion' with Peter O'Tole playing Doolittle. The John Thaw magazine article comes from the British magazine, Woman's weekly dated 23rd November 1985. (2001). Jace: What do you think makes Lewis and Hathaways dynamic so unique? It will be the third series of the detective drama. Some like it, NOT! He was the working class boy from Manchester whose intensity and natural honesty made him British television's most bankable actor. If I can remember back that far, we that was the only film, The Dead of Jericho where we we actually used a studio, which was unusual for me. Kevin said: Laurence and I told them this time last year that we wanted to finish it. I like doing it as a job, but Im not driven to play Hamlet or King Lear any more.. In Lewis. Both of his parents died from smoking-related cancers. Kevin Whately is an English actor. But when he left school a careers advisor laughed at his plan to become an actor. "And I hate anything with 'celebrity' in the title, where people are playing to the cameras all the time." Two years ago he filmed what he thought was his absolutely final scene as Lewis. Released August 21, 2016July 9, 2019--:--. 'Geraldine Somerville, who plays Sue, had a tiny baby at the time and the very last thing she wanted to do was a sex scene.'. Your learn that at the end of the day, there are more important things in life, such as the people you love. One consumer psychologist recently revealed some of the mysterious methods that supermarkets use to keep shoppers on the premises, in a bid to spend more money - including the use of smell and sound. It's his first grandchild and the instinctive love that he feels for Ivy has shocked him. Kevin: (Laughs) I think you hit the nail right on the head there, Jace. But, by the end he was back more like his old self. After. Spandau Ballet guitarist Gary played the man who provides their alibi but his smarmy character was just one of many red herrings. 'This is the most ridiculous thing I've seen!' Kevin: I thought the the whole thing it couldve become a bit soapy so in the end I said, Look weve done enough of this Will they? His marriage to actress Sheila Hancock was generally regarded as one of the strongest in showbusiness. Were coming at it from a different angle now; Lewis is retired and Hathaways been promoted to Inspector. He's been a TV star for 35 years and struggled to make it - but Kevin Whately insists it is much harder for young working class actors to get started today. Carrying Lewis as its lead opposite Laurence Fox's Hathaway has made him realise exactly how hard Thaw worked. Kevin: Its huge. Something went wrong, please try again later. Kevin's character is involved in disputes with his ex-wife Anne, played by Lesley Sharp - as well as sad and awkward attempts to build friendships with the stepdaughter of his screen partner. National World - Other Local Sites. I was about six months away from finishing and was worried I wouldnt be able to leave but my boss said, If I had my time again I wouldnt be doing this; off you go., So what about Lewis? 'To find fresh and original drama is one of the biggest challenges facing television today.'. 'He ran between two cars that were parked on the side of the road. LONDON - OCTOBER 20: (UK TABLOID NEWSPAPERS OUT) Actor Kevin Whately and his wife Madelaine Newton arrive at the opening gala for "The Times BFI London Film Festival" and the World Premiere of "Vera Drake", at the Odeon Leicester Square on October 20, 2004 in London. Met Sheila Hancock in 1969 when in the play 'What About Love'. Indeed, we see Cameron cheating on his partner Sue with Polly, one of the teachers at his school. "A lot of the staff are wonderful; they are working with people who are demented, howling all day and incontinent. "I know what John would have to say," Whately laughs. 'She lights up our lives and we've been fortunate to see plenty of her since she was born. A pure, pure luck if We know of screen chemistry where the actors dont get on. Who'll find love on our blind date? The strength of the casting is such that we do not expect that nice Kevin Whately will be the villain. Find out about new shows, get updates on your favorite dramas and mysteries, enjoy exclusive content and more! 'Grandparents are meant to enjoy handing back their grandkids, but we actually fight to hang on to her, we love her so much!'. I was enjoying semi-retirement, being at home and helping to look after my granddaughter but my wife said, I cant cope with you at home. So I said Id do some more.. I realise that I'm one of the lucky ones. After the third series of "Sweeney," John Thaw wasn't keen on making a fourth and needed considerable persuasion before agreeing to it. And the fact that it is a university town like Boston with all its universities means that you have these weird and wonderful academic characters, and you can get away with all sorts of outrageous stories (laughs) as a result, with these big-brained people. 'We're on the same wavelength, we often instinctively know how each other feels about something. I used to do both, but I've not yet managed to kick the smoking. Laurence and I have decided we dont want to do it. You appreciate everything a little bit more - the seasons, our garden. It was something hed done with Dennis Waterman [in The Sweeney] and it meant we were always together, chewing the fat and maybe running scenes together. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. The Lewis actor believes a lack of. He died at 61 and he always looked 80, he said, from the the minute he left RADA. Butso to have a 60 year old sidekick wouldve been slightly odd, I think, and it gave it a nice counterpoint, as you said, to to have a younger Geordie. There are lots of talented actors around without work, simply because at any one time, there are only jobs for about twenty per cent of them. Some 35 years after her supposed suicide, Joanna Lumleys character, 60s rock chick Esme Ford, returns to Oxford to try and reunite her band. Kevin: Yeah, I think thats right. His father, John, was a long distance lorry driver. Yeah. I'm getting to the point where I have done it now. The 61-year-old has played the loveable policeman Robbie Lewis for more than quarter of a century but announced last year he would be taking time out from the successful detective show. CLIP: Kevin Whately height is 180 cm . Wed just sit in our little caravan and chew the fat. [3], She has appeared alongside her husband several times: in the Inspector Morse episode "Masonic Mysteries" as Beryl Newsome - the love-interest of Morse - whom Morse was wrongly suspected of murdering;[4] as his on-screen wife in the 1988 Look and Read children's serial, Geordie Racer;[5] in the Alan Plater drama Joe Maddison's War, playing Jenny Barlow; and the love interest of Dennis Patterson (Tim Healy) in the second series of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.[6][7]. "About When the Boat Comes in | When the Boat Comes in | Drama Channel", "BBC - Press Office - Auf Wiedersehen, Pet facts", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Madelaine_Newton&oldid=1084403942, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 24 April 2022, at 08:15. Jace: And what was that first meeting like with John? Acclaimed actor Kevin Whately, who starred in 'Auf Wiedersehen, Pet' and 'Lewis' , says his mum Mary, who died with dementia in 2009, aged, 83, began displaying symptoms at least two years. I thought, Well, were doing 3 films here, and I recognized it was a great script and that John had a magnificent voice, but thats all I remember thinking about it. He was also a favourite of film director Richard Attenborough, who cast him in Cry Freedom (1987) and Chaplin (1992).John Thaw was a quiet, private man. What was it like shooting that particular scene in which Lewis says goodbye to his mentor? O design da Getty Images uma marca comercial da Getty Images. Ill bet there are about 100 actors in Britain who could have played my part if they had been lucky enough to get it. Lewis: Yeah I know. But here we are discussing yup, youve guessed it, the return of Lewis for an eighth series. Gone. Queen Letizia of Spain cut an elegant figure in a matching pink skirt and top as she Do not sell or share my personal information. They have two children. They have two children. It does resolve itself at the end of the films. Healthy mother-of-two, 32, collapsed and died from brain bleed while she led fitness bounce class. . In the pilot episode, Morse's ghost was everywhere - his car, his old case notes, even references to his secret first name, Endeavour (A Quaker virtue name). Although best known for his television starring roles, he also did notable stage work and performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. Kevin: I think that was exactly it. His "Inspector Morse" co-star Kevin Whately simply described him as the country's finest screen actor. In this episode, Kevin Whately reminisces about playing Robbie Lewis for the past 30 years, and recalls the dramatic series finalebombs, goodbyes, and all. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. I like classical music and the poetry of A.E. "He'd take the piss, knowing secretly that it was mostly a tribute to him that it was being made at all.". He and Sheila Hancock married at Cirencester registry office on Christmas Eve. I was always very shy and felt completely at home on stage. Jace: Im Jace Lacob and youre listening toMASTERPIECEStudio. Lewis: Well, I havent really got anybody. Jace: (Laughs). 20 Years On, Clare Holman Still Delivers Sass and Science. But I haven't been in that position for a long time now. Educated at Green Edge Junior School and Ducie Secondary Technical School. 'How much can business take?' His younger brother, Ray, was born November 15, 1944. "They were working together recently I think," is all Whately will say, tactfully. I learned everything from John. Here are the seven best ways to wear them this spring. So, how much is Kevin Whately worth at the age of 70 years of age. MASTERPIECEStudio is brought to you by Audible. John Thaw was a quiet, private man. He praises many of the staff working with some of the most challenging and unhappy patients, but says there are not enough decent care homes to meet the burden of Britain's ageing population. In 1980 he met his wife when they were performing in a production of 'A Nightingale in Berkley Square'. We were back on the moving train.. | Kevin: Yeah, it wasnt easy. "We'll have to get her in a Lewis episode as some academic or other.". Jace: Looking back, how has Robbie Lewis evolved since you first started playing him 30 years ago? My agent had sent me to a library to to read one of Colin Dexters books, and the Lewis character was this 60 year old detective who ate egg and chips. Thaw was told to say he was 19 if anyone asked. Jace: One of the most surprising developments over the last few seasons was Robbie and Laura falling in love. "And she is absolutely gorgeous. Most parents suffer them at some stage in their lives - it is an extremely fortunate father or mother who can't recall at least one incident in which their young child has had an agonising brush with death. Were the boring centre doing all the routine stuff while they have lots of fun being the red herrings., Thats why the two leads insisted on a bit more grit before they came back. Kevin: Id been asked to come down from the Northeast. "We were so ill-disciplined, and TV is all about discipline now," he says. "Hathaway is a great character - he's really an embryonic Morse. Kevin Whately, Actor: Inspector Morse. Beaming Princess of Wales watches a young boy backflip during St David's Day Lovely in lilac! When John Thaw died two years later, Kevin was convinced that would be the end of Lewis until ITV producers badgered him to return in a new show with the down-to-earth Geordie now in charge. Ahntastic Adventures in Silicon Valley Colecione, selecione e faa comentrios em seus arquivos. He has, the actor says, a 'roving eye' and is 'a bit of a lad.'. 'His death has left television with a major problem - they simply haven't found anybody to take his place.'. I loved him. I just enjoy what I have and what is around and whatever work I do and whoever I meet. Kevin: I loved it because the actual occasion was quite good because the every beyond the set was waiting for it. Close bond: Kevin with his mother Mary in 1996 as he received an honorary degree 'It helps her to remember and gives us something to talk about, because otherwise the conversation can go round in. I still miss him every day. I think Anthony Minghella and the powers that be on the first few films Anthony wrote The Bible for it and he realized, John Thaw always looked much older than his age. Though this is not the first time that weve said goodbye to Inspector Robbie Lewis, actor Kevin Whately insists that, this time, the beloved character is leaving the screen for good. These days, the caring Kevin and Madelaine love to look after their first grandchild, Ivy, who was born in December 2006 to their daughter Kitty, 25, and her partner Ben. A Flying Squad officer said to me once, 'Sometimes it takes us three days to get a man to admit his own name, whereas you solve a case in sixty minutes.' Although Kevin Whately retired from his role as DI Lewis, which he played for three decades across TV series Inspector Morse and Inspector Lewis, his acting career didn't come to an end as he went on to have a cameo role in Scottish sitcom, Still Game, where he played a dodgy dentist. The mezzo-soprano, daughter of North East actors Kevin Whately and Madelaine Newton, . And I said to Clare, We should practice the kiss in the caravan, but she wasnt having any of that so. CLIP: Hobson: No this is a social call, Im having a party. Coronavirus: Keech Hospice pleads for donations. CLIP: When do the clocks change in 2023? But it was strange. He did not see her again for 12 years when she showed up briefly back stage in a production of "The Fire Raisers." What do you feel viewers should make of that shot? Kevin: I think hes pretty much the same character. 'We even had an agreement, when we started having our children, that we would take it in turns to work but, because my career took off, that didn't happen. Michael Gambon: I was terrified at the beginning when I read it, and I met the director because its a, you know, its a famous role, isnt it? Kevin developed a taste for showbiz as a child, when inspired by their mother, an opera singer and former pupil of the Royal College of Music he and his siblings would perform plays in the garage. Jace: Now, looking back at the pilot, what was it like to film the first episode of Lewis, which was filled with so many winks at Morse? 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