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Rodney Bewes
Rodney Bewes 2004 (cropped - headshot).jpg
Rodney Bewes in 2004
Born (1937-11-27)27 November 1937
Died 21 November 2017(2017-11-21) (aged 79)
Cadgwith, Cornwall, England
Occupation
  • Actor
  • performer
  • scriptwriter
Years active 1952–2015
Spouse(s)
Sylvia N. Tebbitt
(m. 1963, divorced)

Daphne Black
(m. 1973; died 2015)
Children 4

Rodney Bewes (born 27 November 1937 – died 21 November 2017) was a well-known English actor and writer. He was most famous for playing the character Bob Ferris in the popular BBC TV show The Likely Lads (1964–66) and its follow-up, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? (1973–74). Later in his career, Rodney Bewes continued to act on stage.

Early Life and Acting Start

Rodney Bewes was born in Bingley, a town in Yorkshire, England. His father, Horace, worked for an electricity company, and his mother, Bessie, was a teacher. When he was young, Rodney often got sick with asthma and bronchitis. Because of this, his family moved to Luton for a few years.

Rodney became interested in acting at a young age. Just before his 13th birthday, he tried out for the main role in a TV show called Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School. He didn't get the part, but he did appear in two other early TV shows for the BBC in 1952: Mystery at Mountcliffe Chase and The Pickwick Papers. When he was 14, he moved to London to study acting at a special school connected to the RADA. After serving in the RAF for two years, he went on to study at RADA itself.

Becoming a Star Actor

Rodney Bewes started his acting career in theatre and soon got roles in TV dramas like Dixon of Dock Green (1962) and Z-Cars (1963). He also appeared in the 1963 film Billy Liar with his friend Tom Courtenay.

His big break came in 1964 when he was cast as Bob Ferris in The Likely Lads. This TV show was about two factory workers from Newcastle. Bob Ferris, played by Rodney, was the more ambitious friend, while Terry Collier (James Bolam) was his more relaxed friend. The show was very popular and ran for three series.

Between the two Likely Lads shows, Rodney Bewes also appeared in other TV series such as Man in a Suitcase (1967) and Father, Dear Father (1968). Many kids might remember him as "Mr Rodney" on The Basil Brush Show (1968–69). He even created and co-wrote his own TV comedy show called Dear Mother...Love Albert (1969–72).

Rodney Bewes and James Bolam reunited for the sequel to their hit show, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? (1973–74). This show was also very successful and included a Christmas special. The characters of Bob and Terry were so popular that their stories were also adapted for radio and a cinema film called The Likely Lads (1976).

Rodney Bewes also appeared in several films during this time, including Spring and Port Wine (1970) and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1972), where he played the Knave of Hearts. Later film roles included Jabberwocky (1977) and Unidentified Flying Oddball (1979). Fans of Doctor Who might remember his guest role in the 1984 episode Resurrection of the Daleks.

Later Career and Stage Work

Even though his TV appearances became less frequent in the mid-1980s, Rodney Bewes continued to be a busy stage actor. He performed in plays in London's West End, such as Middle-Age Spread and Funny Money.

In the 1990s and later, Rodney Bewes became well-known for his one-man stage shows. He toured extensively across the UK with his performances of Three Men in a Boat and Diary of a Nobody.

His final TV appearance was in 2009, when he played a retired bank manager named Edward Walton in an episode of the British TV series Heartbeat called Ties That Bind. In 2015, he performed an autobiographical show called An Audience with Rodney Bewes... Who? in Edinburgh.

Rodney Bewes also wrote a book about his life, called A Likely Story, which was published in 2005.

Death

Rodney Bewes passed away on 21 November 2017, just before his 80th birthday. He died at his home in Cadgwith, Cornwall. He is remembered by his daughter and three sons.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1962 A Prize of Arms Private Maynard Uncredited
We Joined the Navy Recruitment interviewee Uncredited
1963 Heavens Above! Milkfloat driver Uncredited
Billy Liar Arthur Crabtree
1964 The Chase George TV film
1965 San Ferry Ann Lover Boy
1968 Decline and Fall... of a Birdwatcher Arthur Potts
1969 All Star Comedy Carnival Albert Courtnay TV film
1970 Spring and Port Wine Harold Crompton
1972 Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Knave of Hearts
1973 The Three Musketeers Spy
1975 Jonah and the Whale Jonah TV film
1976 The Likely Lads Bob Ferris
1977 Jabberwocky The Other Squire
1979 Saint Jack Smale
Unidentified Flying Oddball Clarence
1980 'Tis Pity She's a ... Bergetto TV film
The Wildcats of St Trinian's Peregrine Butters
1982 East Lynne Raymond Vane TV film
1993 Come Snow, Come Blow TV film

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1952 Mystery at Mountcliffe Chase Jeremy Nicholls TV short
The Pickwick Papers Joe 2 episodes
1961 ITV Playhouse Signals operator Episode: "Private Potter"
1962 Dixon of Dock Green PC Screen Episode: "An Escort for Harry"
Emergency Ward 10 Roger Mayne 1 episode
Armchair Theatre Barman Episode: "The Irish Boys"
1963 Z-Cars Sammy Episode: "The Main Chance"
Love Story Smith Episode: "The Wedding of Smith Seven-Nine"
Sierra Nine Tom Batley Episode: "The Q-Radiation"
The Plane Makers Tim Ormiston Episode: "Any More for the Skylark?"
First Night Sam Towler Episode: "The Road"
Pots Episode: "Sticks"
Drama 61-67 Peter Morton Episode: "Loop"
1964 Trooper Tanner Episode: "Across the Border"
Cluff Jack Carson Episode: "The Screeching Cat"
Six George Episode: "The Chase"
Christmas Night with the Stars Bob Ferris 1 episode
1964-1966 The Likely Lads Bob Ferris Series regular
1966 Armchair Theatre Neville Starkey Episode: "The Night Before the Morning After"
1966-1982 Jackanory Storyteller Series regular
1967 Hicks and Stokes Billy Hicks TV short
Man in a Suitcase Tim Gormond Episode: "The Bridge"
1968 Virgin of the Secret Service Rajah of Chundrapore Episode: "The Rajah and the Suffragette"
The Basil Brush Show Mr. Rodney Series regular
Father, Dear Father Cyril Episode: "It Won't Be a Stylish Marriage"
1969-1972 Dear Mother...Love Albert Albert Courtnay Series regular
1971 Shirley's World Ralph Episode: "A Girl Like You"
1973-1974 Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? Bob Ferris Series regular
1974 Whodunnit? Panellist Episode: "Goodbye Sarge"
1975 Churchill's People Bob Pott Episode: "Mother India"
1980 Just Liz Reg Last Series regular
1982 Crown Court Alistair Crichton Episode: "Peanuts"
BBC Play of the Month Constable Episode: "The Critic"
1984 Doctor Who Stien Episode: "Resurrection of the Daleks"
1985 Summer Season George Episode: "Glamour Night"
1986 Hudson Frontier Lord Herne Mini-series
1987 The Adventures of a Lady Lord Herne Mini-series
1993 Spender Norman Ellerson Episode: "Kid"
2002 A Tribute to The Likely Lads News vendor TV short, cameo role
2004 Revolver Jimmy Charles 1 episode
2009 Heartbeat Edward Walton Episode: "Ties That Bind"
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