''Bomber Harris'' is a 1989

BBC television drama BBC television dramas have been produced and broadcast since even before the public service company had an officially established television broadcasting network in the United Kingdom. As with any major broadcast network, drama forms an importa ...

biography based on the life of Arthur Harris, who was Commander-in-chief of RAF Bomber Command during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

John Thaw John Edward Thaw, (3 January 1942 – 21 February 2002) was an English actor who appeared in a range of television, stage, and cinema roles. He starred in the television series '' Inspector Morse'' as title character Detective Chief Inspector ...

played the role of Harris during a period away from filming for ''

Inspector Morse Detective Chief Inspector Endeavour Morse, GM, is the eponymous fictional character in the series of detective novels by British author Colin Dexter. On television, he appears in the 33-episode drama series '' Inspector Morse'' (1987–2000), ...

'' and

Robert Hardy Timothy Sydney Robert Hardy (29 October 1925 – 3 August 2017) was an English actor who had a long career in theatre, film and television. He began his career as a classical actor and later earned widespread recognition for roles such as Sieg ...

returned to the role of

Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 187424 January 1965) was a British statesman, soldier, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from 1940 to 1945 during the Second World War, and again from ...

, which had earned him a BAFTA nomination for '' Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years''. The drama was written by Don Shaw, produced by

Innes Lloyd George Innes Llewelyn Lloyd (24 December 1925 – 23 August 1991) was a Welsh television producer. He had a long career in BBC drama, which included producing series such as ''Doctor Who'' and ''Talking Heads''. Early life and career Fo ...

and directed by Michael Darlow.

Cast

– Arthur Travers Harris *

–

* Frederick Treves – Sir Charles Portal *

Bernard Kay Bernard Frederic Bemrose Kay (23 February 1928 – 25 December 2014) was an English actor with an extensive theatre, television, and film repertoire. Career Kay began his working life as a reporter for the ''Bolton Evening News'', and a str ...

– A.M. Sir

Robert Saundby Air Marshal Sir Robert Henry Magnus Spencer Saundby, (26 April 1896 – 26 September 1971) was a senior Royal Air Force officer whose career spanned both the First and Second World Wars. He distinguished himself by gaining five victories during ...

Sophie Thompson Sophie Thompson (born 20 January 1962) is a British actress who has worked in film, television and theatre. A six-time Olivier Award nominee, she won the 1999 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for the London revival of ''Into the Woods' ...

– Jillie Harris *

Richard Heffer Richard Heffer (born 28 July 1946 in Cambridge) is a British actor, best known for his roles on television in the 1970s and 1980s. His film career included appearances in ''Women in Love'' (1969), '' Waterloo'' (1970), '' Penny Gold'' (1973), ''T ...

– Group Captain Davidson * Phil Brown – Lord Beaverbrook *Ronald Fletcher – BBC Newsreader * David Healy – Lt. Gen.

Ira Eaker General (Honorary) Ira Clarence Eaker (April 13, 1896 – August 6, 1987) was a general of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Eaker, as second-in-command of the prospective Eighth Air Force, was sent to England to form and ...

USAAF *William Kerwin – Fred Walsh * Roger Llewellyn – Rev. John Collins * John Nettleton – Wing Commander Harry Weldon *

David Quilter David Quilter (born 11 June 1942) is an English actor who has made numerous appearances in British television plays and series since the mid-1960s. Early life and family He was born in Northwood, London, and attended Bryanston School, Dorset. " ...

– Principal Medical Officer * Roy Spencer – Magnus Spence * Julian Harries - Flight Lieutenant John Maze *

Ronald Lacey Ronald William Lacey (28 September 1935 – 15 May 1991) was an English actor. He made numerous television and film appearances over a 30-year period. His roles included Harris in ''Porridge'' (1977), Frankie in the Bud Spencer comedy '' Ch ...

– RAF Officer (uncredited)

External links

* 1989 television films 1989 films British television films British biographical films British aviation films British World War II films Cultural depictions of Winston Churchill 1980s British films {{1980s-UK-film-stub