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Gavin Petrie
Gavin Petrie is a British writer and producer. He first came to prominence as creator and writer of '' Second Thoughts'' along with his wife Jan Etherington. ''Second Thoughts'' was originally a radio series (1988–1992) before being turned into a television series starring James Bolam, Belinda Lang, Lynda Bellingham and Julia Sawalha and broadcast for five series on ITV (1991-4). This husband and wife partnership also created BBC sitcom ''Next of Kin'' which aired for three series (1995-7) starring Penelope Keith and William Gaunt in the lead roles. Following the success of '' Second Thoughts'' a sequel was created in the shape of '' Faith in the Future'' also starring Lynda Bellingham and Julia Sawalha in their original character roles. This aired for three series, again on ITV (1995-8). Petrie and Etherington then went on to create, write and produce a final sitcom for ITV ''Duck Patrol'' starring Richard Wilson, David Tennant and Samantha Beckinsale. It was less success ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Second Thoughts (TV Series)
''Second Thoughts'' is a British comedy television programme that ran from 3 May 1991 to 14 October 1994. It was broadcast on the ITV network and made by the ITV company LWT. It was followed by a sequel, '' Faith in the Future''. ''Second Thoughts'' followed the lives of two middle-aged divorcees, Bill MacGregor and Faith Greyshott, from very different backgrounds trying to develop a relationship, despite the pressures pulling it apart (namely Faith's two teenage children and Bill's devious ex-wife Liza, who works alongside him). ''Second Thoughts'' was based upon the real-life relationship of the writers, husband and wife Jan Etherington and Gavin Petrie. It originally aired as a radio series on BBC Radio 4 broadcast between 1 November 1988 and 23 July 1992. The radio series consisted of four series and a Christmas special broadcast in 1992 with a total of 31 episodes. The radio scripts were used for the television series on ITV. The fifth series was the only series not to be ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jan Etherington
Jan Etherington is a British writer, journalist and producer. Early life She attended Tiffin Girls' School. Career She first came to prominence as creator and writer of '' Second Thoughts'' along with her husband Gavin Petrie. ''Second Thoughts'' was originally a radio series (1988–1992) before being turned into a television series starring James Bolam, Belinda Lang, Lynda Bellingham and Julia Sawalha and broadcast for five series on ITV (1991–1994). This husband and wife partnership also created BBC sitcom ''Next of Kin'' which aired for three series (1995–1997) starring Penelope Keith and William Gaunt in the lead roles. Following the success of '' Second Thoughts'' a sequel was created in the shape of '' Faith in the Future'' also starring Lynda Bellingham and Julia Sawalha in their original character roles. This aired for three series, again on ITV (1995–1998). Petrie and Etherington then went on to create, write and produce a final sitcom for ITV ''Duck Patro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
James Bolam
James Christopher Bolam (born 16 June 1935) is an English actor. He is best known for his roles as Terry Collier in '' The Likely Lads'' and its sequel ''Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?'', Jack Ford in ''When the Boat Comes In'', Roy Figgis in '' Only When I Laugh'', Trevor Chaplin in '' The Beiderbecke Trilogy'', Arthur Gilder in ''Born and Bred'', Jack Halford in ''New Tricks'' and the title character of Grandpa in the CBeebies programme '' Grandpa in My Pocket''. Early life Bolam was born on 16 June 1935 in Sunderland, County Durham, England. His father, Robert Alfred Bolam, was from Northumberland, and his mother, Marion Alice Drury, from County Durham. After attending Bede Grammar School, Sunderland, Bolam attended Bemrose School in Derby. Bolam trained as an articled clerk to chartered accountant, before becoming an actor, and formally trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama, London, where he won the gold medal and the Margaret Rawlings Cup. Lacking ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Belinda Lang
Belinda Lucy Lange (born 23 December 1953), known professionally as Belinda Lang, is an English actress. She is known for playing Liza in the ITV sitcom '' Second Thoughts'' (1991–94), and Bill Porter in the BBC sitcom ''2point4 Children'' (1991–99). Her theatre credits include London productions of the Noël Coward plays, ''Present Laughter'' (1981), '' Blithe Spirit'' (1997), and ''Hay Fever'' (2006). Her radio/audio credits include voicing narrator Madeleine in the podcast '' Wooden Overcoats''. Early life Lang was born in Marylebone, London, in 1953, the daughter of actors Jeremy Hawk and Joan Heal. Career Television Lang is perhaps best known for her starring roles in three sitcoms – as Kate in '' Dear John'', as Bill Porter in ''2point4 Children'' and as Liza Ferrari in '' Second Thoughts''. After a small part as 'Girl in Bath' in ''Play for Today'' in 1980 she appeared in the 1980 miniseries ''To Serve Them All My Days'', following this she had several one-off ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lynda Bellingham
Lynda Bellingham, OBE ( ; 31 May 194819 October 2014) was an English actress, broadcaster and author. She acted in television series such as '' All Creatures Great and Small'', '' Doctor Who'', '' Second Thoughts'' and '' Faith in the Future''. She was also known for her appearances as the mother in the long-running series of " Oxo Family" British TV advertisements between 1983 and 1999, and as a panellist on the ITV lunchtime chat show ''Loose Women'' between 2007 and 2011. Early life Bellingham was born Meredith Hughes in Montreal to a single mother, but was given up for adoption because she was born out of wedlock in a strict church-going family. She was adopted when she was four months old. Bellingham was educated at Aylesbury High School and trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama. Film and television Acting Bellingham made her television début as a nurse in an ITV afternoon soap opera of the 1970s, '' General Hospital''. Her early film credits included roles ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Julia Sawalha
Julia Sawalha (born 9 September 1968) is an English actress who played Saffron "Saffy" Monsoon in the BBC sitcom ''Absolutely Fabulous''. She is also known for her portrayal of Lynda Day, editor of the ''Junior Gazette'', in ''Press Gang'', as Hannah Greyshott in '' Second Thoughts'', and its sequel series, '' Faith in the Future'', Lydia Bennet in the 1995 television miniseries of Jane Austen's ''Pride and Prejudice'', Georgina and Kid in '' Sheeep'', Carla Borrego in ''Jonathan Creek'', and Dorcas Lane in the BBC's costume drama ''Lark Rise to Candleford''. Her film credits include, '' Buddy's Song'' (1991), ''The Wind in the Willows'' (1996), ''Chicken Run'' (2000), and '' Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie'' (2016). Early life and education Sawalha was born in Wandsworth, London on 9 September 1968, and is the daughter of Roberta Lane and actor Nadim Sawalha. Her father was born in Madaba, Jordan. She was named after her paternal grandmother, a businesswoman who had received an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Next Of Kin (TV Series)
''Next of Kin'' is a British sitcom that aired on BBC1 from 15 May 1995 to 20 February 1997. It starred Penelope Keith in her last regular sitcom role. The plot follows well-to-do couple Maggie and Andrew Prentice who are forced to abandon their dreams of early retirement after they reluctantly become guardians of their orphaned grandchildren, after the death of their estranged son. It was written by Gavin Petrie and Jan Etherington. It was announced in '' The Mirror'' newspaper in April 1997 that ''Next of Kin'' had been axed by the BBC and that Penelope Keith was furious. Plot Self-absorbed middle-class couple Maggie and Andrew Prentice have just taken early retirement and intend to spend their final years luxuriating in their new home overlooking a vineyard in the south of France. However, when their estranged son Graham and his wife (they only refer to her as 'Boot-face') die in a car crash, Maggie and Andrew are forced to become legal guardians and later adoptive parents ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Penelope Keith
Dame Penelope Anne Constance Keith, (née Hatfield; born 2 April 1940) is an English actress and presenter, active in film, radio, stage and television and primarily known for her roles in the British sitcoms ''The Good Life'' and '' To the Manor Born''. She succeeded Lord Olivier as president of the Actors' Benevolent Fund after his death in 1989, and was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2014 New Year Honours for services to the arts and to charity. Keith joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1963, and went on to win the 1976 Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance for the play '' Donkeys' Years''. She became a household name in the UK playing Margo Leadbetter in the sitcom ''The Good Life'' (1975–78), winning the 1977 BAFTA TV Award for Best Light Entertainment Performance. In 1978, she won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress for '' The Norman Conquests''. She then starred as Audrey fforbes-Hamilton in the sitcom ''To the M ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
William Gaunt
William Charles Anthony Gaunt (born 3 April 1937 in Pudsey, West Riding of Yorkshire) is an English actor. He became widely known for television roles such as Richard Barrett in ''The Champions'' (1968–1969), Arthur Crabtree in '' No Place Like Home'' (1983–87) and Andrew Prentice in ''Next of Kin'' (1995–97). He has had many other roles on television and also an extensive stage career as an actor and director, including performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Early life Gaunt's father was a solicitor. Gaunt attended Giggleswick School and Baylor University, Texas, and then the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He then spent three years working in repertory theatre at Worthing, Bath, Salisbury and Cheltenham after which he was in America for another year, later returning to the UK working on productions at Birmingham, Coventry and Cheltenham, interrupted by a spell in the army. After minor roles in 1960s series such as ''Z-Cars'' and ''The Avengers'', and the '' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Faith In The Future (TV Series)
''Faith in the Future'' is a British comedy television show running from 17 November 1995 to 27 February 1998. A sequel to the show '' Second Thoughts'', it aired on ITV for 22 episodes. The show continues the story of Faith Greyshott (Lynda Bellingham), newly single after splitting from her long-term partner, Bill, at the end of ''Second Thoughts''. With her daughter Hannah (Julia Sawalha) away travelling and her son Joe now in a shared flat, Faith decides it's time to stop being a wife and mother and live her life for herself; however, her plans are scuppered when Hannah returns and moves back home. The series has been repeated on ITV3. Characters *Faith (Lynda Bellingham) - A 40-something, divorced mother of two looking to rebuild her life following the break-up of her long-term relationship. Formerly a commercial artist, she begins working as an art teacher at a local college where she meets upholsterer Paul, who becomes her on-off boyfriend. Although keen to put herself ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Duck Patrol
''Duck Patrol'' was a short-lived British television comedy series that originally aired in 1998. Produced by LWT for the ITV network, it centred on a river police station by the River Thames. The series consisted of seven episodes: Flying Colours, Out to Grass, Occurrences, The Spirit of the Deep, Duck Turpin, River Rage, The Siege of Mallory Wharf. The script for the pilot episode 'Of Ducks and Men' was re-filmed with some changes to supporting cast and main cast uniforms, and retitled as 'Flying Colours' which then became the first episode of the following series. Cast * Richard Wilson as PC Roland "Prof" Rose * David Tennant as Simon "Darwin" Brown * Samantha Beckinsale as Gillian "Marilyn" Monroe * Trevor Cooper as James "Ollie" Oliver * Geoffrey Hutchings as Malcolm "Sarge" White * Jason Watkins as Kevin "Taz" Delaney * Craig Fairbrass as Hero *Sue Johnston Susan Johnston OBE (née Wright; born 7 December 1943) is an English actress. She is known for portray ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Richard Wilson (Scottish Actor)
Richard Wilson (born Iain Carmichael Wilson; 9 July 1936) is a Scottish actor, theatre director and broadcaster. He is most famous for playing Victor Meldrew in the BBC sitcom ''One Foot in the Grave''. Another notable role was as Gaius, the court physician of Camelot, in the BBC drama '' Merlin''. Early life Wilson was born in Greenock, Scotland. He went to the Lady Alice Primary school in Greenock. He studied science subjects at Greenock Academy, then completed his National Service with the Royal Army Medical Corps, serving in Singapore. Career Wilson worked in a laboratory at Stobhill Hospital in Glasgow as a research assistant before switching to acting at age 27. He trained at RADA and then appeared in repertory theatres in Edinburgh ( Traverse Theatre), Glasgow and Manchester (Stables Theatre). Wilson initially turned down the role of Victor Meldrew and it was almost offered to Les Dawson before Wilson changed his mind. Wilson was awarded the OBE in the 1994 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |