Leslie Grantham with Anita Dobson..
Anita, Lady May (born 29th April 1949), known as Anita Dobson, is an English stage, film and television actress, and singer. She is best known for her role from 1985 to 1988 as Angie Watts in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. In 1986, she reached number four in the UK Singles Chart with "Anyone Can Fall in Love", a song based on the theme music of EastEnders. She is married to Queen guitarist and astrophysicist Sir Brian May. Dobson's other television roles include the 1989 ITV sitcom Split Ends. In 2003, she was nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Actress for the National Theatre production of Frozen. She has also starred in the West End as Mama Morton in the musical Chicago (2003) and Gertrude in Hamlet (2005), and made her RSC debut in the 2012 revival of The Merry Wives of Windsor. Her film appearances include Darkness Falls (1999) and London Road (2015).
ANITA DOBSON & BRIAN MAY - "WOGAN" 1987
ANITA DOBSON & BRIAN MAY - "WOGAN" 1987 - Doing the rounds of talk shows to promote "Talking Of Love", Anita nervously performs the song on "Wogan" then Anita & Brian join Terry for a chat.
Anita Dobson - Anyone Can Fall In Love - TOTP - 1986
Anita Dobson - Anyone Can Fall In Love - TOTP - 1986.
Queen co-founder and guitarist Brian May has been knighted. As one of the first to receive the honor under the recently crowned King Charles III, as part of the 2023 edition of the King’s New Year Honours List, he is now Sir Brian Harold May. He was knighted “for services to music and charity work.” May was previously appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) back in 2005. “I’m happy and grateful to receive this honor,” May said in a statement. “I will regard the knighthood not so much as a reward, but more as a charge—a commission—for me to continue to fight for justice – to be a voice for those who have no voice. I will endeavor to be worthy – to be that Knight in Shining Armor.”
Dobson was born in Stepney, London. She trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Dobson appeared in several series in the early 1980s including the Jim Davidson sitcom Up the Elephant and Round the Castle (1983). She is best known for playing the emotionally battered and alcoholic landlady Angie Watts in BBC1 soap opera EastEnders, a role she played from the show's inception in 1985 until 1988.
Anita Dobson in Annie.
Dobson was not the first person to be cast as Angie – another actress, Jean Fennell, had already begun recording when it was decided that her performance did not "gel" with the original idea of the character, and Dobson was substituted in the role. Whilst playing Angie Watts, alcoholic landlady of the Queen Vic, Dobson worked closely with actor Leslie Grantham, landlord of the Queen Victoria who played her adulterous husband 'Dirty Den Watts'. On Christmas Day in 1986, 30.15 million viewers tuned in to witness Den handing Angie her divorce papers, giving the soap its highest ever episode rating, which has yet to be surpassed by any other soap in the UK. Since leaving EastEnders in 1988, BBC executives made numerous offers for her to return, but she did not accept any of the offers; she later commented: "Why tarnish the gorgeous creation that was Angie Watts?" Executives finally decided she could not be persuaded to return, and in 2002 the character of Angie Watts died off-screen of alcohol poisoning and was brought home to be buried by her on-screen daughter Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean), who had returned to the show the previous year.
Alcoholic Angie shares a stormy marriage with her womanising husband, Den Watts (Leslie Grantham), and refuses to let him go even during their rockiest times. They run and live in The Queen Victoria public house on Albert Square. Angie and Den doted on their teenage adoptive daughter, Sharon (Letitia Dean) - who carries on loving them despite her resentment of Den's affairs and Angie's binge drinking. Angie is good at putting on a front for the customers, dressing to kill, screeching outrageously with the girls, but inside she is crippled with depression. Despite all her bravado, all she really wants is a happy marriage with Den, even though he treats her terribly and has endless affairs with other women.
Angie Watts was one of the original twenty-three characters invented by the creators of EastEnders, Tony Holland and Julia Smith. The character of Angie was originally going to be named Pearl and she, her husband and adopted daughter were to be the occupants of the soap's local pub, now famously known as The Queen Vic. Holland, who had worked as a barman in his youth, called upon his own personal experiences to invent the Watts family and the pub they lived in. Holland and Smith had always been critical of the way pubs had been portrayed on television feeling they lacked vitality and life, so they were determined that their pub and occupants were going to be more 'real'. The Watts were seen by Holland as integral to the shows success, partly because he had already guessed that the pub was going to be a monstrous battleground where emotions would run high on a regular basis, and also because the occupants would be providing the majority of the drama.
In February 2011 Dobson said that she had no regrets being in EastEnders, as it propelled her to fame, and said she believed that people were drawn to Angie because she is a survivor and funny—qualities that drew Dobson herself to Angie. She said "[Angie] could be on the floor, drunk, weeping buckets, mascara everywhere, then drag herself up the next morning in that old blue dressing gown, tidy herself up and be in the bar that night telling jokes and looking a million dollars."
The Taylor's arrive on Albert Square and upset the residents with their rowdy behaviour. Bronson ends up in the park pond after Kush Kazemi (Davood Ghadami) stops him tugging on Denise Fox's (Diane Parish) bag, which angers Keegan. PC Jaz Jones (Charlie de Melo) arrives at Kush's flat to speak to him about the incident, but Kush does not give a statement. Jaz visits Karen and Keegan, who also refuse to make a complaint. Bronson goes missing during the gas explosion, but Shirley Carter (Linda Henry) finds him in the community centre. When Janet Mitchell (Grace) is knocked over accidentally by Tina Carter (Luisa Bradshaw-White), Janet's father Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) wants to get Janet a dog. Karen agrees that Billy can have Bronson for a few nights for Janet. When Karen fails to repay a loan shark, he comes to remove the family's belongings and takes Bronson, which distresses them. Keanu returns home with Bronson after finding him in the park. In March 2021 Bronson falls ill, and a vet recommends that he be put to sleep, as his body is failing in his old age. Though Bailey Baker (Kara-Leah Fernandes) initially objects, they ultimately go ahead with it, and Bronson dies with the Taylors at his side. Real name Cyrus..
Bronson is a dog belonging to the Taylor family, Karen Taylor (Lorraine Stanley), Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters), Keegan Baker (Zack Morris), Bernadette Taylor (Clair Norris), Riley Taylor (Tom Jacobs) and Chatham Taylor (Alfie Jacobs). He first appears in the episode broadcast on 15th June 2017, and makes his last appearance in the episode broadcast on 15 March 2021.
EastEnders - Bronson Gets Taken Away By Some Loan Sharks (21st November 2017)
EastEnders - Bronson Gets Taken Away By Some Loan Sharks (21st November 2017)
EastEnders - Bronson the Dog Dies (15th March 2021)
EastEnders - Bronson the Dog Dies (15th March 2021)
Melanie "Mel" Owen (also Healy and Beale) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Tamzin Outhwaite.
Robbie Jackson is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Dean Gaffney. Robbie Jackson with Sami Jackson..Sami Jackson portrayed by Shiven Shankar..
Leanne Lakey (born May 1978) is a British actress, known for playing Belinda Peacock in EastEnders and Charlotte Day in Family Affairs.
Lynne Slater (previously Hobbs) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Elaine Lordan. The character appears between 18th September 2000 and 2nd July 2004. Lynne is a fierce judge of right and wrong, although she is not always able to practise what she preaches. She has a turbulent relationship with husband Garry Hobbs (Ricky Groves), but despite her complaints about him, it ends up being Lynne's adultery that puts their relationship in jeopardy long before Garry strays.
Cora Cross is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Ann Mitchell. Cora is the mother of Tanya Branning (Jo Joyner), Rainie Cross (Tanya Franks) and Ava Hartman (Claire Perkins) and the grandmother of Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) and Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald). Cora initially appeared from 11th to 15th April 2011, and returned as a regular character on 28th July. Cora is described as having "a brash, outspoken attitude and does not care who she offends", deemed "an archetypal East End matriarch" and Inside Soap says that Cora is a "brash, loud lady who likes to tell everyone what she thinks and has absolutely no shame."
Tony Carpenter is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Oscar James, from 28 February 1985 until 28 May 1987. Happy-go-lucky Tony tries to carve himself a successful business and steady home for his family, but nothing he does is ever good enough for his nagging wife.
Julie Cooper (Centre) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera, EastEnders, played by Louise Plowright from 1989–1990. The character was one of Mike Gibbon's introductions, but she was axed in 1990 at the start of Michael Ferguson's reign as executive producer. Julie is portrayed as a bubbly, big haired Salford girl, who has a hungry appetite for men.
Image Left - Alison Newman (born 25th January 1968) is a British actress, best known for her role in the hit ITV1 television series Footballers' Wives as Hazel Bailey, and as DCI Samantha Keeble in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.
Neil McDermott
Ryan first appears on screen on 28th April 2009 (credited as "Man") when he is seen in the park by Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) and Shirley Carter (Linda Henry). He asks Whitney if she is all right, but she runs off calling him a "creep". Weeks later, he helps Whitney and others escape from a fire started in the café by Nasty Nick Cotton (John Altman). Whitney then sees Ryan as a mysterious hero. Whitney's mother, Debra Dean (Ruth Gemmell), turns up at Whitney's house, saying that a man is after her. Whitney demands to know why, and Debra says she has something belonging to him. They fetch it, but when they return home, Ryan is waiting for them; he is the man who is chasing Debra. Ryan reveals to Whitney he is her half-brother and says he killed someone in self-defence, giving the weapon to Debra to hide. He demands it back from Whitney, but she refuses, and later disposes of it in a canal.
Image above
Portrayed by
Ruth Gemmell
Debra the mother of Ryan Malloy and Whitney Dean is first mentioned in late December 2008 when Whitney decides to get in touch, only to discover Debra has not received the letter as Bianca gave her the wrong address. She claims not to have the right address when Whitney asks for it, wanting to protect her, but Janine Butcher discovers Bianca is lying and steals it from Bianca's address book, and gives it to Whitney.
Brett Nelson made his first appearance on 9th January 2023. He is portrayed by Fabrizio Santino. Brett is an old acquaintance of Zack Hudson. When he was diagnosed with HIV, Brett gave the clinic the names of twenty three women to contact. He later met his current girlfriend at a HIV clinic. Brett shows up in Walford looking for Zack, Zack confronts Brett and it's revealed Zack and Brett used to take steroids together and even shared the same needles. Brett then reveals to Zack that he has HIV and that Zack should get tested straight away, Zack struggles to process potentially having HIV and keeps it a secret from Sharon and Whitney. Zack storms out of Walford East and once again quits after having an argument with Nish, Suki and Ravi after accidentally breaking a glass. Zack then goes to the Hospital and finally gets a test and it is revealed he does have HIV. Zack takes this news very badly, he misses his baby mother Whitney Dean's baby scan and later takes a photo of the baby. Zack meets Brett in the park and grabs him in rage but Brett calms Zack down and Zack breaks down in tears, Brett assures Zack having HIV isn't a death sentence but Brett urges Zack to tell Whitney and any other women Zack had slept with about his HIV.
Kelsey Calladine-Smith
Jada is introduced as the mother of 1-year-old Alyssa, who was left on the doorstep of 29 Albert Square in earlier episodes. This sparked a new story as Zack Hudson (James Farrar) and Martin Fowler (James Bye) were considered as possible fathers. The character's arrival reveals the truth: established character Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean), Zack's half-sister, is the grandmother of Alyssa through her deceased teenage son, Dennis Rickman Jnr (Bleu Landau).
Jada Lennox points out Janine's lies in EastEnders this Christmas BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron 2022
Rose Ayling-Ellis
Frankie Carter (previously Lewis) is the daughter of Katy Lewis and Mick Carter and the half-sister of Lee, Nancy, Johnny, Harry and Ollie. She made her first appearance on 18 May 2020 and her last appearance on 22 September 2022 - Part 1. In August 2022, Frankie gets a job at Walford High School as a teaching assistant for deaf student Esme. Esme is a student that Frankie Lewis is assigned in her teaching assistant role to help support her as they are both deaf. During a class, Denzel Danes, Nugget Gulati and Amy Mitchell mimic Frankie’s sign language to make fun of them and Frankie notices. After class Frankie speaks to them, but Esme tells her she can fight her own battles. When Frankie drops her files, Nugget photographs her bending down to pick them up and posts it online, which Esme shows to Frankie.
EastEnders - Frankie Lewis Returns | 4th March 2022
EastEnders - Frankie Lewis Returns | 4th March 2022
EastEnders - Frankie Finds Out That Mick Was 12 When They Had Her (12th October 2020)
EastEnders - Frankie Finds Out That Mick Was 12 When They Had Her (12th October 2020)
Ruby Allen made first appearance on 18th March 2005 and last appearance on 17th September 2021. She is portrayed by Louisa Lytton and was originally depicted to be the daughter of gangland kingpin Johnny Allen. She is also the ex-wife of Martin Fowler.
Arthur Fowler is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Bill Treacher from 1985 to 1996. The father of the Fowler family, Arthur was essentially a good man but made some foolish choices that he always ended up paying dearly for. His storylines involved being bossed to the brink of insanity by his mother-in-law Lou Beale (Anna Wing), an affair with Christine Hewitt (Elizabeth Power), suffering a mental disorder, being sent to prison twice, and eventually dying of a brain haemorrhage in 1996.
L-R Arthur Fowler, Pauline Fowler, Mark Fowler.
Elizabeth Power is an English actress. Power began her career in repertory theatre and went on to appear in several West End musicals. However, she is best known for her work on British television, in particular her role as Christine Hewitt in the BBC soap opera, EastEnders (1992–1993). She has since gone on to feature in various stage productions.
Unemployed Arthur lives in Walford with his wife Pauline (Wendy Richard), their two children Mark (David Scarboro and Todd Carty) and Michelle (Susan Tully) and Pauline's mother Lou Beale (Anna Wing). Pauline is pregnant with her third child, and gives birth to a son, Martin Fowler (Jon Peyton Price, James Alexandrou and James Bye). Arthur's greatest pleasure is gardening and he obtains a spot in the local allotment, which he regularly uses as a foil to escape his nagging wife and his equally nagging mother-in-law. Over the years Arthur finds a steady stream of odd jobs to keep him occupied. He works for Tony Carpenter (Oscar James) as a carpenter's helper, deliveryman and as a road sweeper in the market. For a brief period in 1986, he is also employed by Walford Cleaning Services to clean the local schools. Lou dies in 1988. Arthur initially has a distant relationship with Mark and is unable to keep him in check when he turns to crime in his late teens.
Arthur's lack of employment becomes a huge problem for him in 1986 when his daughter, Michelle, announces her engagement to Lofty Holloway (Tom Watt). Desperate to give his daughter a wedding that the family can be proud of, Arthur decides to take money from the Walford residents' Christmas Club savings scheme that he has been running, telling the community he got the money from his cousin Doreen, who had emigrated. However, with Christmas fast approaching, Arthur realises that he will have to do something to explain the lack of money in the account to everyone that contributed. Arthur announces to the members that he has withdrawn the money, then stages a fake burglary at his house and tells the police that the Christmas Club money has been stolen. However, Arthur's attempts to make the robbery look legitimate fail, and the police soon realise that Arthur is the culprit. When questioned by the police, he confesses and after his arrest he becomes severely morose, withdrawn and depressed. This culminates in Arthur finally having a nervous breakdown on Christmas Day and smashing his living room in a violent rage. By early 1987, Arthur has become so despondent that he is admitted to hospital. He returns the following spring to stand trial for the theft of the Christmas Club money. Despite Arthur having the whole community behind him, he is sent to prison for 28 days. After his release, he makes things worse by borrowing money from a loan shark.
Arthur has a breakdown on Christmas Day - EastEnders - BBC
Arthur has a breakdown on Christmas Day - EastEnders - BBC
Mary the Punk with Lofty Holloway
Michael Attwell
Mark returns in 1990 and announces on Christmas Day the following year that he is HIV positive. Arthur has a difficult time accepting his son's illness and his lack of education concerning HIV leads him to react in trepidation. Mark eventually helps him come to terms with his status, and he and Arthur enjoy a close relationship in the following years. In 1991, Arthur starts his own gardening business and is awarded a contract to maintain the Albert Square gardens. This leads to Arthur being employed by lonely divorcee Christine Hewitt (Elizabeth Power). Christine and Arthur soon become friends and Christine becomes Arthur's assistant. In May, Pauline goes to New Zealand to care for her brother, Kenny (Michael Attwell), who has been in a car accident. In Pauline's absence, Christine becomes a regular visitor to Albert Square and becomes very fond of Arthur. By Christmas, Arthur and Christine embark on an affair. Christine begins to crave more commitment and when he refuses, she gets a job at Kathy Beale's (Gillian Taylforth) café so she can be as close to him. The affair continues until Kathy sees them kissing and forces a confession from Christine. Faced with the threat that Pauline may find out, Arthur begins to cool their romance. Christine, sensing that she is losing Arthur, becomes emotionally erratic and begins to drink heavily, stalks Arthur around the square and attempts to buy the affections of his youngest son, Martin. This only infuriates Arthur.
Eastenders - Mark and Arthur argue
Eastenders - Mark and Arthur argue.
EastEnders - Episode 898 - 9 September 1993
EastEnders - Episode 898 - 9 September 1993
As a last resort Christine threatens to tell Pauline, unless Arthur tells her about their affair. Arthur finally admits the truth to Pauline, but tells her that he wants her and not Christine. Hurt, embarrassed, and angry, Pauline responds by hitting Arthur in the face with a frying pan, throwing a television set at him and then throwing him out of their home. Arthur is forced to move in with his son, Mark, and he spends the rest of the year desperately trying to convince Pauline that it is her he wants. Pauline and Arthur eventually reconcile when he helps her deal with the death of her brother, Pete (Peter Dean). The affair is never allowed to be forgotten, however, particularly when Pauline's relative Nellie Ellis (Elizabeth Kelly) comes to lodge and discovers his escapades.
In 1995, Arthur is elected secretary of the allotment committee, and starts raising money to create a new eco-friendly, urban garden, which is named the Flowering Wilderness Fund. Arthur attends a funeral later that year and runs into an old friend, Willy Roper (Michael Tudor-Barnes), who takes a keen interest in Arthur's financial dealings. By the end of the year Arthur has managed to raise twenty thousand pounds for the garden, and this is enough to tempt Willy to crime. Willy was the sole carer of his senile mother, and desperate to get the funds to pay for her placement at a nursing home, he decides to con Arthur into signing the fund money into various accounts, and then leaves Arthur to deal with the consequences when the money is declared missing. For a second time, Arthur is faced with a police investigation and with all the evidence stacked against him, he is soon arrested and ends the year behind bars. This is too much for Arthur, who is unable to face the prospect of serving a prison sentence for a crime he didn't commit, and upon his imprisonment he suffers a mental breakdown and refuses any contact with his family.
EastEnders - Arthur Fowler Confronts Willy Roper (16th May 1996)
EastEnders - Arthur Fowler Confronts Willy Roper (16th May 1996)
Samaritans - If you are feeling suicidal, lonely, or depressed, we are here for you. Whatever the reason, you will get help from a trained volunteer offering nonjudgmental support. The 24/7 Helpline is confidential and free. You can call or text us any time at 988.
Willy Roper made his first appearance 1st June 1995. He is portrayed by Michael Tudor Barnes.
Not content with putting Arthur in prison, Willy spends the beginning of 1996 trying to woo Pauline in his absence, even taking her on holiday to Jersey. However, this proves to be Willy's undoing, after Mark correctly surmises that his real motive is to put the stolen money in an off-shore account under a false name. The evidence continues to stack up when Pauline discovers counterfeit credit cards on Willy. Willy is eventually arrested and charged, and Arthur is cleared. However, before the family can pass on the good news, they are told that Arthur has been involved in a huge prison riot. Arthur is released the next day, but he had received a nasty blow to the head in the riot, although no one realises the seriousness of his injury until it is too late. On 20th May 1996, a few days after his release from prison, Arthur suffers a brain haemorrhage on the allotments, and dies the next day in hospital. Arthur's funeral is delayed pending an inquest, but the jury eventually returns a verdict of accidental death, much to the disgust of Mark and Pauline, who believe that the prison services neglected to seek proper medical help for Arthur. A bench is placed in dedication to his memory in Albert Square; the dedication is entitled "Arthur Fowler: He loved this place". In 2007, after Pauline's death, Dot Cotton (June Brown) buries her ashes at Arthur's grave. In 2015, Martin names his son with Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) after his father, though it emerges that he is actually the son of Kush Kazemi (Davood Ghadami).
Martin Fowler also played by James Edward Bye (born 23rd February 1984)
Martin Fowler is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders. The character was played by Jon Peyton-Price from Martin's introduction 1985 until 1996, and by James Alexandrou from 1996 until 2007. When Alexandrou took over the role, Martin was seen more regularly and was featured in prominent storylines such as sleeping with Sonia Jackson (Natalie Cassidy) and getting her pregnant with their daughter Bex Fowler (Jade Sharif/Jasmine Armfield); developing a romantic crush on Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan), which is not reciprocated, accidentally killing Sonia’s fiancé Jamie Mitchell (Jack Ryder) after running him over in his car, which results in Martin being imprisoned for Jamie's death and subsequently feuding with Jamie’s relative Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden); enduring a problematic marriage with Sonia after their wedding; and coping with the deaths of both his brother Mark Fowler (Todd Carty) and their mother Pauline Fowler (Wendy Richard). Alexandrou quit the role in 2006, and Martin departed on 2 February 2007.
Jack Siegfried Ryder (born 21st September 1981) is an English actor, best known for playing Jamie Mitchell in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders from 1998 to 2002. He has subsequently established himself as a film and theatre director.
William Charles Treacher (4th June 1930 – 5th November 2022) was an English actor. He was best known for portraying the role of Arthur Fowler in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders from 1985 to 1996, having been the first person to be cast for the show. Treacher was born in Dagenham, one of eight children (six boys and two girls) of roofer and tiler William Perks Treacher and Minnie (née Chappell). He grew up in Hackney, Bethnal Green, Mile End, and Waltham Cross, and was evacuated to Gloucestershire during the Second World War. He attended Kings Road JMI School in Waltham Cross and worked as a porter at Waltham Cross station. After his national service in the Royal Air Force, he worked for four years as a steward with P&O, where he saved enough money to attend drama school.
Grange Hill is a British children's television drama series, originally produced by the BBC and portraying life in a typical comprehensive school. The show began its run on 8 February 1978 on BBC1, and was one of the longest-running programmes on British television when it ended on 15 September 2008 after 31 series. It was created by Phil Redmond, who is also responsible for the Channel 4 dramas Brookside and Hollyoaks; other notable production team members down the years have included producer Colin Cant and script editor Anthony Minghella. The show was cancelled in 2008, having run every year for 30 years. It was felt by the BBC that the series had run its course.
The actress Gwyneth Powell, known to many as the headmistress in the BBC series Grange Hill, has died at the age of 76. She played the role of Mrs Bridget McClusky from 1981 to 1991, and despite playing many other parts in her career, it was the one that viewers took most to heart.
The drama was centred on the fictional comprehensive school of Grange Hill in the equally fictitious North London borough of Northam. As well as dealing with school-related issues such as bullying, learning difficulties, teacher-pupil relationships and conflicts, Grange Hill "broke new ground over the years, with the kind of hard-hitting storylines not usually seen in children's dramas", such as racism, drugs (e.g. Zammo McGuire's heroin addiction, LSD), teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, homosexuality, knife crime, homelessness, rape/sexual assault, mental illness (e.g. bipolar disorder), divorce, cancer (e.g. leukaemia), gun crime, child abuse, alcoholism and death. The series was originally to have been called Grange Park, which would go on to be used as the name of the school in another Redmond creation, the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside (1982–2003).
Please click on the image to the left for every Grange Hill episode..
Treacher then moved into television drama, making appearances in a number of classic series of the 1970s including Grange Hill, Bless This House, Minder, The Professionals, Dixon of Dock Green, Z-Cars and The Agatha Christie Hour.
Dixon of Dock Green was a BBC police procedural television series about daily life at a fictional London police station, with the emphasis on petty crime, successfully controlled through common sense and human understanding. It ran from 1955 to 1976. The central character, George Dixon, first appeared in the film The Blue Lamp. Dixon is a mature and sympathetic police constable, played by Jack Warner in all of the 432 episodes. Dixon is the embodiment of a typical "bobby" who would be familiar with the area in which he patrolled and its residents and often lived there himself. The series contrasted with later programmes such as Z-Cars, which reflected a more aggressive policing culture. It retained a faithful following throughout its run and was voted second-most popular programme on British television in 1961.
Treacher was also an accomplished radio actor and appeared in a BBC Radio 4 play of the day, Bringing Eddie Home by John Peacock, based on a true story of the fight by East End couple Edna and Jack Wallace to get their son's body brought home from Aden, and the ensuing fight for the rights of British service personnel. Treacher played the role of the older Jack Wallace and the play also included other ex EastEnders actors Tilly Vosburgh, Edna Doré, Todd Carty and Joe Absolom.
22nd October 2010 - Edna Wallace and her late husband Jack fought to see their son's body brought home from the former British colony of Aden after he died there in 1965. Soldiers are now repatriated back to the UK when they are killed abroad, thanks to the efforts of the Wanstead couple. Mrs Wallace was 89 when she died 21st October 2010 at Whipps Cross Hospital. She had been at the hospital for almost nine weeks and although doctors believe she died of cancer they could not perform a biopsy so have been unable to give an exact cause of death yet.
Mrs Wallace's daughter Sandra Wood, 65, said: "Mum had been ill for about five months and in hopsital for eight and a half weeks. "She was always there for all of us. "She didn't have any friends because her time was taken up on looking out for all of us. "Then we all had children and she spent her time looking after them, she was very much a family woman." Mrs Wallace had six children. Her second-born son, Eddie, was 17-years-old when he died while on duty with the Royal Anglian Regiment just three days after being posted to Aden in Yemen. His family found out by telegram from the War Office which explained he was presumed drowned in a swimming accident and Mr and Mrs Wallace were informed that to find out more they could call the office between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday.
The couple were told that the funeral would be within hours and although it was made clear that they were not expected to attend, they knew they had to be there, scraping £500 together and securing a flight through the help of the British Red Cross. So unusual was the arrival of parents for a soldier's funeral in Aden that they were given an honour guard as they stepped off the plane, but Eddie's colleagues were unable to throw any light on his death. When they returned, Mr and Mrs Wallace threw their efforts into changing the way the war dead and their families were treated. After a campaign involving thousands of letters, including an appeal to the Queen, in 1967 it was announced in the House of Commons that in future, news of a soldier's death would be broken to families by a senior officer from the regiment, and that soldiers' bodies would be brought home. Mrs Wood, of Wanstead Park Avenue, said her mother wrote to Margaret Thatcher during the Falklands War, reminding her of the law change, as the then Prime Minister declared soldier's killed in the conflict would be buried on the island. She said: "Mum was a courageous and forceful lady.
Edna and Jack Wallace married at Old Leyton Church on October 21, 1939.
"From the minute the telegram arrived she knew it was not right that they found out like that from a telegram. "She was cooking the dinner and she didn't hardly cook again after that because she put everything into the campaign. "She was so determined to get Eddie home and change the situation so other parents could have their children buried back home." A few years after the campaign was recognised with the law change, Mr and Mrs Wallace were invited to a garden party at Buckingham Palace. Sadly Mr Wallace died in December 2008 but Mrs Wallace, was taken out of hospital by her family to attend another special service in September this year 2010. She was guest of honour at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford, on September 12 when a memorial to Royal Anglian Regiment soldiers was unveiled.
A British soldier in the Crater district of Aden on October 4, 1965, during a period of insurgency against British colonial rule in the southern Yemen city. Norman Potter / Express / Getty Images
Mrs Wallace's chaperone that day was retired colonel Rupert Conder, 67, who found Eddie's body the day he died. Mrs Wood said: "When I was at the service I just stood there and thought, 'my mum did this'. "People saw a little old lady and probably wondered why she was right up the front but it was recognition of what she had done." Mrs Wallace won another fight against the Government as in 1994 she managed to secure a military headstone for Eddie's grave in East Ham. Mrs Wood said her parents both hoped to live until 2015 as only then will more details of what happened the day their son died be revealed, as up to now they have remained classified under the Government's 50-year disclosure rule. Mrs Wallace, who lived at Hayter Court, Wanstead, would have turned 90 on Christmas Day. She died on her 71st wedding anniversary and leaves four children, 10 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Mrs Wallace's funeral has been arranged for next Tuesday, November 2. Anyone wishing to go is asked to meet at Hayter Court, Brading Crescent, Wanstead, at midday.
Treacher was married to the Australian actress Katherine Kessey; they had two children: Jamie, who is also an actor, and Sophie, a production assistant. They lived in Suffolk. In 2015, Treacher told the press that he suffered from ataxia, a degenerative disease that involves poor muscle control, hindering his balance and ability to walk. Treacher said that as a result of this he had fully retired and he sometimes had to rely on a wheelchair for mobility. He also said that he no longer watched EastEnders, calling it "a load of old rubbish these days". Treacher died from COVID-19 and pneumonia in hospital in Ipswich, Suffolk, on 5th November 2022, aged 92. In a statement announcing his death, his family confirmed that Treacher's health had been deteriorating for some time. His former EastEnders co-stars Gillian Taylforth, Adam Woodyatt and Letitia Dean paid tribute to him.
The wedding of Bill Treacher and Katherine Kessey, alongside their bridesmaid Karen, the bride's twin sister, in December 1971 (Image: Mirrorpix)
Bill Treacher and his wife Katherine Kessy.
Grantham was born in Camberwell, London, the son of Adelaide (née Flinders) and Walter William Grantham (1915–1998). He enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers regiment of the British Army in 1965, at the age of 18. Grantham married Australian Jane Laurie in 1981. The couple had three sons and divorced in 2013. His son Daniel Laurie is also an actor, and plays Reggie Jackson in Call the Midwife
Leslie Michael Grantham (30th April 1947 – 15th June 2018) was an English actor, best known for his role as "Dirty" Den Watts in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. He was a convicted murderer, having served 10 years for the killing of a West German taxi driver, and had significant press coverage resulting from an online sex scandal in 2004.
Camberwell London 2023
CAMBERWELL, LONDON | Things to Do | Places to Go | Virtual Tour of Camberwell
CAMBERWELL, LONDON | Things to Do | Places to Go | Virtual Tour of Camberwell.
Leslie Grantham with son and wife Jane Laurie..
Leslie Grantham is survived by his three sons, Spike, Jake and Daniel. They are from his marriage to ex-wife Jane Laurie. Jane, 71, is from Australia and married Leslie after meeting him at stage-school in London in 1977. They divorced in 2013 after 31 years of marriage.
Daniel Laurie is a British actor from London, England. He is best known for his role as one of the main characters in the drama-history show ‘Call the Midwife.’ From 2017 to 2021, this artist plays one of the major roles as Reggie Jackson. Laurie became well-known after it was revealed that he is the son of Leslie Grantham (English Actor). This talented celebrity made his acting debut in Stella, a 2016 comedy-drama series created by Ruth Jones. Daniel Laurie played Jamie in this show, alongside Craig Gallivan, Ruth Jones, and Karen Paullada. In 2016, he appeared in six episodes of the show. However, Daniel Laurie rose to international prominence as Reggie Jackson in Call the Midwife (TV Series). He tweeted about his experience playing his role in the show, saying This season has come to an end! I’ve enjoyed playing Reggie and look forward to further developing him in the future and demonstrating to everyone what people like Reggie and I can bring to other people’s lives.” Heidi Thomas is the show’s creator, and the first episode aired on the BBC channel on January 15, 2012. Jenny Agutter, Stephen McGann, Laura Main, Vanessa Redgrave, and others are among its main cast members. Later, this artist joined the cast of Vera (TV Series), where he played Adam Beecher in the episode The Escape Turn. His character first appeared in the year 2020. This year, Laurie appeared as Zack in another TV show called Finding Alice.
Leslie Grantham with his sons and ex-wife Jane Laurie in 1996. Credit: CAPITAL PICTURES
On set of Vera. Vera is a British crime drama series based on the Vera Stanhope series of novels written by crime writer Ann Cleeves. It was first broadcast on ITV on 1 May 2011, and to date, twelve series have aired, with the latest concluding on 19 February 2023. The series stars Brenda Blethyn as the principal character, Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope.
-
During an interview, he was asked about his Down’s Syndrome, to which he replied, “It’s very cool for me to have Down’s Syndrome.”
-
After his parents divorced in 2013, Daniel Laurie decided to take his mother’s surname as his surname.
-
His parents had not planned for his birth, and it came as a surprise to them.
-
When his mother, Jane, informed her then-husband that their third child has Down syndrome, he responded, “whatever we get.” It’s our child.”
-
Daniel was the driving force behind his father’s decision to start raising funds for the Down Syndrome Association.
-
He appears to be private and does not have an account on Instagram, a popular photo-sharing app. However, at the time of writing, this actor has over 7,000 followers on Twitter.
-
According to his Twitter bio, he enjoys the Star Wars film series.
-
Laurie enjoys playing video games in his spare time.
-
Few people are aware that this actor is also a skilled knitter.
-
During the summer, his favorite drink is Brew Dog.
Having joined the Army (The Royal Fusiliers), Grantham was soon posted to West Germany, where he quickly found himself in debt to army colleagues. He resorted to criminal activities in his attempt to clear the debt. On 3rd December 1966, Grantham attempted to rob a taxi driver, Felix Reese, in Osnabrück, Lower Saxony, by threatening him at gunpoint and demanding money. In a struggle between the two men, Reese died after being shot in the head. Grantham was arrested soon after, and charged with murder.
Grantham was jailed for murdering a taxi driver while he was a soldier in Germany. He is pictured being marched to his court martial in 1966.
Felix Reese died after a gun in Grantham's possession went off - Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
In his statement to the police following his arrest, Grantham said that he did not know the gun was loaded and it had gone off during the struggle, which would have resulted in a conviction for manslaughter had a jury believed this version of events. However, at his trial in April 1967, he was subsequently convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Although he had committed the murder in West Germany, he served the entirety of his sentence in British prisons. This was because soldiers and officers convicted of any criminal offence that warrants a sentence of over two years are automatically transferred to His Majesty's Prison Service, since they are also automatically dishonourably discharged.
Grantham was released in 1977, having served 10 years. While he was in Leyhill Prison in Gloucestershire, he performed in several plays for inmates and members of the public, and edited the prison newspaper. He was encouraged to get more involved in acting professionally by the convicted disgraced Labour Party politician T. Dan Smith, who was also an inmate at Leyhill in the mid-1970s. He also met actress Louise Jameson during her visit to Leyhill near the end of his imprisonment; she had also encouraged him to take up acting and he became good friends with her.
Thomas Daniel Smith (11 May 1915 – 27 July 1993), also known by his nickname “Mr Newcastle”, was a high-profile British Labour Party politician who served as chairman of the Newcastle Labour Party from 1953 to 1965, and as Leader of Newcastle City Council from 1960 to 1965. He is best known for his work to clear Newcastle of slum housing and his plans to transform the city into "The Brasilia of the North". He supported the expansion of higher education, Newcastle Airport, and local arts institutions. In 1974, Smith pleaded guilty to corruption charges.
Among the developments in which Smith's council participated were the Newcastle Civic Centre and Swan House. The latter led to the demolition of John Dobson's Royal Arcade, though Smith's council had it carefully dismantled and planned to rebuild it nearby. The succeeding council decided not to rebuild it. Smith's legacy became associated with the destruction of historic buildings in favour of unpopular concrete structures, despite the key developments happening mainly under other council leaders.
Old picture of Newcastle's West End.
Demolition of the old terraced streets in the Scotswood Road area of Elswick, Newcastle, January 22, 1971 (Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
After leaving the council leadership, Smith ran a public relations firm and formed business links with architect John Poulson. In Smith's later life he campaigned for prisoners' issues and continued to comment on public affairs. He starred in a film of his life released in 1987. Smith was arrested in October 1973 on corruption charges. At his trial, it was claimed that he had received £156,000 over seven years, usually in the form of payment to his public relations company. He pleaded guilty in 1974 and was sentenced to six years' imprisonment; despite his plea he continued to assert his innocence.
Terraced streets in the Scotswood Road area of Elswick, Newcastle, under demolition, January 22, 1971
But there were two sides to the story. These slum clearances may have torn down housing that was sometimes not fit for purpose, but they also dispersed deeply entrenched communities. Five decades later, for many people there remains a deep nostalgia for the vanished life and times of Newcastle’s old West End. Local writer and historian Yvonne Young who was born and bred there remembers “hard folk” with “big hearts” in Elswick and Benwell streets filled with life. She recalls growing up in the 1950s and 60s. Kids would play outside for hours in streets rich with chip shops, pubs and corner shops. She writes: “Swinging on the clothes line, making mud pies, stealing rhubarb from the allotments, playing kick the can, top and whip, sitting on the step, watching the smoke from Dunston Power Station across the river. Grey, smoky, slate colours, dark paint, industrial climate, no grass.
Louise Marion Jameson (born 20 April 1951) is an English actress with a wide variety of television and theatre credits. Her roles on television have included playing Leela in Doctor Who (1977–1978), Anne Reynolds in The Omega Factor (1979), Blanche Simmons in Tenko (1981–1982), Susan Young in Bergerac (1985–1990) and Rosa di Marco in EastEnders (1998–2000). In 2022, she joined the cast of Emmerdale as Mary Goskirk, having previously appeared on the show in 1973 as Sharon Crossthwaite. According to Screenonline, Jameson "was one of a handful of actresses who both benefited from and contributed to the opening out of roles for women on British television during the 1970s and 80s, when she became associated with a series of tough, resourceful and independent characters in genres where women had conventionally been either victims or vamps.
Rosa di Marco is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Louise Jameson from 29 January 1998 to 3 August 2000. She is the mother of Beppe (Michael Greco), Gianni (Marc Bannerman), Teresa (Leila Birch) and Nicky di Marco (Carly Hillman). Rosa died off-screen in 2002, to coincide with her son Beppe's departure from the square.
Leela (Louise Jamieson) was a warrior-maiden of the Tribe – ‘The Sevateem’, whom the Doctor took as a companion in The Face Of Evil – 1977 – as Leela had been banished, under threat of death for helping him. Leela was something of a savage and the Fourth Doctor spent much of their time together, attempting to civilize her, in a Sci-Fi version of Pygmailion. Leela was quick to pull a knife when threatened – or permanently paralyze an opponent with a deadly piercing Janus thorn, (a toxic plant from her homeworld). This was not something the Doctor was happy with – being a pacifistl. However, Leela’s savagery did occasionally prove useful – and she became something of a personal bodyguard to the Doctor, especially when the Timelord – was under attack. Leela was, (in terms of Doctor Who companion progression) another step up in (extremely) stronger feminism from previous companion – Sarah-Jane Smith. However, Leela was still forced to wear a rather skimpy costumes, which left little to the imagination. It did however, prove popular with young viewer’s dads.
Thomas Stewart Baker (born 20 January 1934) is an English actor and writer. He is well known for his portrayal of the fourth incarnation of the Doctor in the science fiction television series Doctor Who from 1974 to 1981.
In her time with the Doctor, Leela was to become slightly less rough around the edges, the Doctor even persuaded Leela to wear ‘civilised’ period costume, such as in The Talons Of Wing Cheng – 1977. When the Doctor took Leela to the theatre, in Victorian London. Her eyes even changed colour from brown to blue in Horror Of Fang Rock – 1977, which was attributed to Leela witnessing the explosion of the Rutan ship (behind the scenes, Louise Jamieson was struggling with wearing contact lenses, week-in week-out). Leela travelled with the Doctor, until the Doctor returned to Gallifrey in Invasion Of Time – 1978 where she met and fell in love with Andred – a Gallifreyan guard. Leela decided to stay behind on Gallifrey with Andred and K9 Mk-I, as a companion.
On release from prison, Grantham decided to pursue an acting career and trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. His theatre work included a role in a play at the Battersea Free Theatre written by television director Matthew Robinson. In 1982, Grantham made his television debut as Boollie in a BBC2 Playhouse edition called "Jake's End". The following year he appeared as Frank on an episode of the short lived sitcom Goodnight and God Bless. Grantham was then cast by Matthew Robinson as Kiston, the henchman of Davros, in the Doctor Who serial Resurrection of the Daleks (1984). He also played a signals sergeant in episode 12 of the television mini-series The Jewel in the Crown (1984) and wrote a play entitled A Reason To Live, which won the Gloucester Drama Festival award for best original play. He made a brief appearance in the Mike Hodges film Morons from Outer Space (1985), but by the time the film was released Grantham had gained his best known role.
Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.
"SO, THEY HAVE RETURNED TO THEIR CREATOR. LIKE AN ERRANT CHILD, THEY HAVE COME HOME ONCE MORE, BUT THIS TIME THEY WILL NOT ABUSE ME. THIS TIME, I SHALL TAKE MY RIGHTFUL PLACE AS THEIR SUPREME BEING, AND UNDER MY CONTROL, THE DALEKS SHALL ONCE MORE BECOME TRIUMPHANT!" Written by Eric Saward - Resurrection of the Daleks (1984)
He went on to appear in the fourth season of Cluedo as Colonel Mustard, He previously appeared as a contestant on the 1990 Christmas special. In the second episode of the fourth season, Col. Mike Mustard murdered former comrade and property developer Sir Nigel Hussey (Ian McNeice) with a G-string in the kitchen. A short time after the episode aired, the producers received a letter that was written by the family of one Felix Reese, who himself was a taxi driver who was shot in the head by Leslie Grantham while he was a soldier stationed in Germany. The Reeses found it distasteful that someone who performed an illegal killing as a soldier would be cast as someone who performed an illegal killing as a soldier.
Leslie Grantham Talks About His New Fantasy Book | This Morning
Leslie Grantham Talks About His New Fantasy Book | This Morning
He also appeared on The Detectives (1993) and 99-1 (1994–95). In 1994, he narrated volume one of Frank Harris's erotic classic My Life and Loves. In 1997, he produced and starred in the sci-fi mini-series The Uninvited. Alongside Melinda Messenger, Grantham was the co-host of the game show Fort Boyard from 1998 to 2001. Also in 2001, he appeared in Lily Savage's Blankety Blank. He also reunited with his EastEnders co-star Anita Dobson in the two-part mini-series The Stretch which aired on Sky One in 2000, and in the British gangster film Charlie (2004).
PLOT: Steve Blake (Douglas Hodge), a photographer and former journalist, witnesses the head of British Nuclear Power, James Wilson (David Allister) killed in a horrific car crash. However, the next day, Wilson turns up alive and well. Blake discovers a connection to the village of Sweethope, which collapsed into the sea following a chemical explosion. The population of the village was reportedly saved by two police officers, John Ferguson (Ian Brimble) and Philip Gates (Leslie Grantham). Blake is suspicious when he discovers a prominent number of the survivors have all gone on to obtain positions of power within the British establishment. The Uninvited is a British television science fiction mystery thriller mini-series, created by Leslie Grantham and written by Peter Bowker, first broadcast on ITV between 25th September and 16th October 1997. The series was co-produced by Zenith Entertainment and Anglia Television.
In May 2004, a Sunday newspaper printed photographs of Grantham exposing himself and masturbating whilst sucking his finger in a sexually-suggestive manner via a webcam from his dressing room to an undercover reporter named "Amanda". Grantham also allegedly dressed as Captain Hook whilst pleasuring himself, and insulted several cast members of EastEnders, including Shane Richie (Alfie Moon), Wendy Richard (Pauline Fowler), Kim Medcalf (Sam Mitchell) and Jessie Wallace (Kat Moon). Grantham released a statement which read, "I am wholeheartedly ashamed of my behaviour and feel that I have let down my colleagues, as well as my friends and family." He also added, "In some small recompense I intend to make a donation to charity as a mark of my apology." He maintained in later interviews that he 'was set up'. He attempted suicide three times as a result of the scandal. In addition, in 2018 it was reported that he had been investigated by police for sexually abusing a school girl, although the victim ultimately decided not to pursue the matter.
In extracts from his autobiography, Grantham recalls his romps with jail staff, being propositioned on day release and his sex sessions while working at a college. Weeks after being jailed for life in 1967, Grantham began the affair with his English teacher at Kingston Prison, Portsmouth. Looking back on the early days of the romance, the dad of three wrote: “Our conversation always turned to sex, not directly, but in general chit-chat. “She wanted me to go through my fantasies with her. So after a few rather good stuttering starts, I told her how she had invaded my night thoughts . . . how I dreamed she had arrived at our lesson wearing nothing underneath her coat. “She then told me how she’d had naughty thoughts too and asked if I would write all this stuff down.
“I refused in case it was found and got us into trouble.”
When his tutor arrived the following week, Grantham recalled: “After the usual pleasantries and an analysis of my last week’s work, she suddenly opened her coat and revealed that she was naked, apart from bra and panties. “She had travelled on a bus dressed like that! “When I commented on this, she said she was really self-conscious and at the gate of the prison panicked and nearly turned back. Thank God she didn’t.”
Soon after a transfer to Wormwood Scrubs in London, Lothario Grantham had a fling with an education officer after she declared her love for him one day in the classroom. He said: “After this revelation from my teacher, I made sure that I was picked up early from lunch so we could have a clandestine meeting in the stock room or in an empty classroom. “Mind you, I was spending a fortune on mints and toothpaste. We nearly got caught once by the art teacher, although he never mentioned it.” From his cell in Wing D of Wormwood, Grantham was able to spy on nurses from Hammersmith hospital as they showered. He said: “I saw a young lady take her clothes off, grab a towel and leave the room. It was the nurses’ quarters for Hammersmith hospital. They would go through the motions of trying on clothes, sometimes they waved, and even those who didn’t mean to ended up inadvertently providing entertainment.
Leslie Grantham pictured in 2006 at a soap star memorabilia show in Birmingham(Image: Wenn)
“I later found out that the previous occupant had paid £15 for the privilege of having that cell.” Grantham also claimed he turned down the advances of a female prison welfare officer on a day-release trip. He recalled: “We didn’t return to the prison straight away, but to her flat, where she needed to pick something up. “She made me a cup of tea and disappeared, and when she reappeared she was wearing stockings and suspenders, bra and knickers, but the stocking tops were so tight they were cutting into her thighs. “She looked ridiculous. I said, ‘I think we should be getting back’.” Grantham served ten years of his sentence and landed a job working at the library in Filton College in Gloucestershire. Again, he used it to meet women.
Grantham had many low points in his life, especially when he found out his brother had AidsCredit: PA:Press Association
Leslie releases his own autobiography in the late noughties(Image: Wenn)
Remembering how he once seduced an American art teacher, he said: “One day, she showed us some pictures of her back in the States, and one, I saw, was of her naked, taken by her ex. “You could see everything but I noticed no one else had seen the picture. “As I was helping her clear up, I asked if she wanted to meet for a drink. She agreed and we did. “At college I told the tutor I was going to do some research in the library. “I slipped out and met her at a pub. After a drink, we went for a stroll and ended up having sex on Clifton Downs.”
Besides his flings Grantham has also endured heartache when his mum Adelaide told him his brother Philip was suffering from “some sort of cancer”. Grantham later found out Philip was in fact dying of Aids. Philip had requested Grantham not attend his funeral as he “did not want it to turn into a media circus”. Reluctantly, the actor agreed.
In June 2018, it was reported Grantham had returned to the United Kingdom from his home in Bulgaria to receive treatment for lung cancer. He died on 15 June 2018, aged 71. That evening's episode of EastEnders featured a tribute to Grantham, whilst his co-star and on-screen wife Anita Dobson described him as "a wonderful and special actor, witty and very talented. I shall remember him very fondly and with affection.