John Bird (actor)
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

John Michael Bird (22 November 1936 – 24 December 2022) was an English actor, director, writer and satirist. He performed in the television satire boom of the 1960s, appearing in '' That Was the Week That Was''. His television work included many appearances with John Fortune. Bird had an acting career in film, television, theatre and radio for over 55 years. He appeared in films including '' Take A Girl Like You'' (1970) and ''
Jabberwocky "Jabberwocky" is a Nonsense verse, nonsense poem written by Lewis Carroll about the killing of a creature named "the Jabberwock". It was included in his 1871 novel ''Through the Looking-Glass'', the sequel to ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' ...
'' (1977) as well as in television shows such as '' Joint Account'', '' Marmalade Atkins'', '' El C.I.D.'' and '' Chambers''. He and Fortune also starred with Rory Bremner in the sketch show '' Bremner, Bird and Fortune'' (1993–2010), on
Channel 4 Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by Channel Four Television Corporation. It is state-owned enterprise, publicly owned but, unlike the BBC, it receives no public funding and is funded en ...
, which was nominated for BAFTA TV Awards.


Early life

John Michael Bird was born in Bulwell, Nottingham, where his father ran a small chemist's shop. He lived at 445 Perry Road in New Basford, north of the (current) Nottingham Perry Road
Sainsbury's J Sainsbury plc, trading as Sainsbury's, is a British supermarket and the second-largest chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1869 by John James Sainsbury with a shop in Drury Lane, London, the company was the largest UK r ...
. He failed his 11-plus, but his
secondary modern A secondary modern school () is a type of secondary school that existed throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland from 1944 until the 1970s under the Tripartite System. Secondary modern schools accommodated the majority (70–75%) of pupils ...
headmaster managed to have him transferred, aged 12, to High Pavement Grammar School. At grammar school, he honed his acting skills in the dramatic society. In late January 1955 at the Co-operative Arts Centre (the former George Street Particular Baptist Church, which is now the Nottingham Arts Theatre in the city centre), he appeared in a school production of '' Strife'', by John Galsworthy (known for '' The Forsyte Saga''), where he played David Roberts; Geoffrey Braman played Simon Harness and Michael Hurworth played John Anthony. The female parts were played by girls from the Manning School, a girls grammar school, notably Angela Williams and Jacqueline Le Vick. The play was produced by a modern languages teacher, and the same group of people had taken part in a production of Julius Caesar, the year before, where he played Brutus. At the Arts Centre, he appeared in many productions of the Nottingham County Theatre Company. In 1956 he passed the entrance exam for King’s College, Cambridge; he read English literature and stayed for postgraduate studies with a thesis entitled "European Drama 1888–1914". At Cambridge in 1958, he jointly wrote a review, deliberately against the style of works by writers such as Julian Slade, who he disliked. He found American politics far more interesting than British politics, in content, but realised that American politics was much more coarser and uncivilised in tone; he thought that British politics, instead, was a lot more disciplined, but possibly too disciplined and straight-laced. He took an interest in anarchy, after reading '' The Secret Agent'' by
Joseph Conrad Joseph Conrad (born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski, ; 3 December 1857 – 3 August 1924) was a Poles in the United Kingdom#19th century, Polish-British novelist and story writer. He is regarded as one of the greatest writers in the Eng ...
.


Acting career


1960s and 1970s

While studying at Cambridge, Bird met fellow King's student John Fortune. During the television satire boom of the 1960s, Bird appeared in '' That Was the Week That Was'' (1962–1963), the title of which he had coined. The stage director Ned Sherrin intended for him to play
David Frost Sir David Paradine Frost (7 April 1939 – 31 August 2013) was an English television host, journalist, comedian and writer. He rose to prominence during the satire boom in the United Kingdom when he was chosen to host the satirical programme ...
's role in the series but Bird was committed elsewhere. He also appeared in the television programmes '' Not So Much a Programme, More a Way of Life'' (1964–1965), and ''If It Moves File It'' (1970). Bird acted in straight and comic roles in several television series and in films including '' My Father Knew Lloyd George'' (1965), '' Red and Blue'' (1967), ''
A Dandy in Aspic ''A Dandy in Aspic'' is a 1968 British spy film directed by Anthony Mann and starring Laurence Harvey, Tom Courtenay and Mia Farrow, with costumes by Pierre Cardin. It was written by Derek Marlowe based on his 1966 novel of the same title. It w ...
'' (1968), '' 30 Is a Dangerous Age, Cynthia'' (1968), '' This, That and the Other'' (1969), '' Take A Girl Like You'' (1970), ''
The Seven-Per-Cent Solution ''The Seven-Per-Cent Solution: Being a Reprint from the Reminiscences of John H. Watson, M.D.'' is a 1974 novel by American writer Nicholas Meyer. It is written as a pastiche of a Sherlock Holmes adventure, and was made into a film of the same ...
'' (1976) and ''
Jabberwocky "Jabberwocky" is a Nonsense verse, nonsense poem written by Lewis Carroll about the killing of a creature named "the Jabberwock". It was included in his 1871 novel ''Through the Looking-Glass'', the sequel to ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' ...
'' (1977). Bird also became an active stage director writer and actor, directing ''The Naming of Murderers’ Rock'' in 1960 at the
Royal Court Theatre The Royal Court Theatre, at different times known as the Court Theatre, the New Chelsea Theatre, and the Belgravia Theatre, is a West End theatre#London's non-commercial theatres, non-commercial theatre in Sloane Square, London, England, opene ...
in London. He toured with the production '' One Over The Eight'' in 1961 and appeared in ''Alice in Wonderland'', directed by
Jonathan Miller Sir Jonathan Wolfe Miller CBE (21 July 1934 – 27 November 2019) was an English theatre and opera director, actor, author, television presenter, comedian and physician. After training in medicine and specialising in neurology in the late 19 ...
in 1966. His stage career continued into the 1970s, with his writing of the adaptation of ''Council Of Love'' in 1970, which was shown at the
Criterion Theatre The Criterion Theatre is a West End theatre at Piccadilly Circus in the City of Westminster, and is a Grade II* listed building. It has a seating capacity of 588. Building the theatre In 1870, the caterers Spiers and Pond began developmen ...
in London, his appearance in ''Who’s Who?'' in 1972 in Guildford and Southsea and in ''
Habeas Corpus ''Habeas corpus'' (; from Medieval Latin, ) is a legal procedure invoking the jurisdiction of a court to review the unlawful detention or imprisonment of an individual, and request the individual's custodian (usually a prison official) to ...
'' by
Alan Bennett Alan Bennett (born 9 May 1934) is an English actor, author, playwright and screenwriter. He has received numerous awards and honours including four BAFTA Awards, four Laurence Olivier Awards, and two Tony Awards. In 2005 he received the Socie ...
at the
Oxford Playhouse The Oxford Playhouse is a theatre designed by Edward Maufe and F. G. M. Chancellor. It is situated in Beaumont Street, Oxford, opposite the Ashmolean Museum. History The Playhouse was founded as ''The Red Barn'' at 12 Woodstock Road (Oxford), W ...
in 1973, as well as at the Lyric Theatre from 1973 to 1974. During the 1970s, while
Idi Amin Idi Amin Dada Oumee (, ; 30 May 192816 August 2003) was a Ugandan military officer and politician who served as the third president of Uganda from 1971 until Uganda–Tanzania War, his overthrow in 1979. He ruled as a Military dictatorship, ...
was at the height of his infamy, Bird starred on the album '' The Collected Broadcasts of Idi Amin'', with lyrics based on
Alan Coren Alan Coren (27 June 1938 – 18 October 2007) was an English humorist, writer and satirist who was a regular panellist on the BBC radio quiz '' The News Quiz'' and a team captain on BBC television's '' Call My Bluff''. Coren was also a journalist ...
's anti-Amin '' Punch'' columns. In 1975 the single "Amazin' Man", from the album, was released on the
Transatlantic Transatlantic, Trans-Atlantic or TransAtlantic may refer to: Film * Transatlantic Pictures, a film production company from 1948 to 1950 * Transatlantic Enterprises, an American production company in the late 1970s * ''Transatlantic'' (1931 film) ...
label. The record stayed for 12 weeks in the
Australian Singles Chart The ARIA Charts are the main Australian record chart, music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA beca ...
, peaking at number 26. In 1975, Bird took the part of Mr Rembrandt in '' The Melting Pot'', a sitcom written by
Spike Milligan Terence Alan "Spike" Milligan (16 April 1918 – 27 February 2002) was an Irish comedian, writer, musician, poet, playwright and actor. The son of an English mother and Irish father, he was born in British Raj, British India, where he spent his ...
and Neil Shand. Milligan played Mr. Van Gogh (in
brownface Brownface is a social phenomenon in which a white or light-skinned person attempts to portray themselves as a "brown" person of color, but less overtly and with a lighter complexion than traditional blackface. It is typically defined as a racis ...
) alongside Bird as Mr. Rembrandt, father and son illegal Asian immigrants who are first seen being rowed ashore in England, having been told that the beach is in fact
Piccadilly Circus Piccadilly Circus is a road junction and public space of London's West End of London, West End in the City of Westminster. It was built in 1819 to connect Regent Street with Piccadilly. In this context, a ''List of road junctions in the Unite ...
. It was cancelled by the BBC after one episode had been broadcast. In 1979, Bird played an African chieftain in a cinema commercial for
Silk Cut Silk Cut is a British brand of cigarettes, currently owned and manufactured by Gallaher Group. The packaging is characterised by a distinctive stark white packet with the brand name in a purple, blue, red, silver, white or green square. History ...
cigarettes. He played Raymond, a nervous boy who stuttered, in
Dennis Potter Dennis Christopher George Potter (17 May 1935 – 7 June 1994) was an English television dramatist, screenwriter and journalist. He is best known for his BBC television serials '' Pennies from Heaven'' (1978) and '' The Singing Detective'' ...
's play ''
Blue Remembered Hills "Blue Remembered Hills" is the 14th episode of the ninth season of the British BBC anthology TV series ''Play for Today''. The episode was a television play that was originally broadcast on 30 January 1979. "Blue Remembered Hills" was written by ...
'' which was also broadcast in 1979.


1980s

In 1980 Bird appeared in ''
The Dangerous Brothers The Dangerous Brothers was a stage and TV act by anarchic comedy duo Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson, performing respectively as "Richard Dangerous" and "Sir Adrian Dangerous". Originally appearing on stage in London at the comedy club The Comic Stri ...
''. From 1981 to 1984, Bird made his mark in the world of children's entertainment taking the role of Mr Humphrey Atkins, the roguish father of Marmalade Atkins (played by
Charlotte Coleman Charlotte Ninon Coleman (3 April 1968 – 14 November 2001) was an English actress best known for playing Scarlett in the film ''Four Weddings and a Funeral'' (1994) and Jess in the television drama ''Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit'' (1990)''.' ...
) for
Thames Television Thames Television, commonly simplified to just Thames, was a franchise holder for a region of the British ITV television network serving London and surrounding areas from 30 July 1968 until the night of 31 December 1992. Thames Television broa ...
. In 1982, Bird performed in the role of the Duke of Albany in the
BBC Television Shakespeare The ''BBC Television Shakespeare'' is a series of British television adaptations of Shakespeare's plays, the plays of William Shakespeare, created by Cedric Messina and broadcast by BBC Television. Transmitted in the UK from 3 December 1978 to ...
production of ''
King Lear ''The Tragedy of King Lear'', often shortened to ''King Lear'', is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is loosely based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his ...
''. In 1984 he played the part of Jack Ormand, a local gang boss, in the tenth episode of the
Granada TV ITV Granada, formerly known as Granada Television, is the ITV franchisee for the North West of England and Isle of Man. From 1956 to 1968 it broadcast to both the north west and Yorkshire on weekdays only, as ABC Weekend Television was its ...
series '' Travelling Man''. From 1986 to 1988 he starred as Ernest Hemmingway, the university vice chancellor, in the first series of ''
A Very Peculiar Practice ''A Very Peculiar Practice'' is a British surreal black-comedy drama set in the health centre of a university, produced by the BBC, which ran for two series in 1986 and 1988. The two series were followed by a 90-minute made-for-television film ...
'', working alongside
Peter Davison Peter Malcolm Gordon Moffett (born 13 April 1951), known professionally as Peter Davison, is an English actor. He made his television acting debut in 1975 and became famous in 1978 as Tristan Farnon in the BBC's television adaptation of Jame ...
. Bird played the director of the British National Theatre in an episode of the
BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
situation comedy ''
Yes, Prime Minister ''Yes Minister'' is a British political satire sitcom written by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn. Comprising three seven-episode series, it was first transmitted on BBC2 from 1980 to 1984. A sequel, ''Yes, Prime Minister'', ran for 16 episodes f ...
'' broadcast in 1988. In 1988 he appeared in '' One Way Pendulum'' at the
Old Vic Theatre The Old Vic is a 1,000-seat, nonprofit producing theatre in Waterloo, London, England. It was established in 1818 as the Royal Coburg Theatre, and renamed in 1833 the Royal Victoria Theatre. In 1871 it was rebuilt and reopened as the Royal ...
. From 1989 to 1990, he played opposite
Hannah Gordon Hannah Campbell Grant Gordon
Film reference website
(born 9 April 1941) is a Scottish actress and presenter ...
in the 16-episode sitcom '' Joint Account'' which was set in a bank.


1990–2017

From 1990 to 1992, he starred in 18 episodes of the television detective series '' El C.I.D.'' which was set in Spain. The series was serious rather than comedy-based and co-starred
Alfred Molina Alfred Molina (born Alfredo Molina; 24 May 1953) is a British and American actor. He is known for his leading roles and character actor roles on the stage and screen. In a career spanning over five decades he has received a Drama Desk Award ...
in the first two series and
Amanda Redman Amanda Jacqueline Redman (born 12 August 1957) is an English actress, known for her roles as Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman in the BBC One series ''New Tricks'' (2003–2013) and as Dr. Lydia Fonseca in '' The Good Karma Hospital'' (2 ...
in the third. In 1993, Bird featured in the role of Professor Plum in the fourth series of ''
Cluedo ''Cluedo'' (), known as ''Clue'' in North America, is a murder mystery game for three to six players (depending on editions) that was devised in 1943 by British board game designer Anthony E. Pratt. The game was first manufactured by Waddingt ...
'' and appeared as a newspaper editor in the political drama '' To Play the King''. Also in 1993, he was the guest star in the '' Sooty & Co.'' episode "Voice Problems". From 1996 to 1999, Bird starred as barrister John Fuller-Carp in the BBC radio and television sitcom '' Chambers''. He starred as well in the
BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. The station replaced the BBC Home Service on 30 September 1967 and broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes from the BBC's headquarters at Broadcasti ...
and
BBC Two BBC Two is a British free-to-air Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom, public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's second flagship channel, and it covers a wide range of subject matte ...
series '' Absolute Power'' with
Stephen Fry Sir Stephen John Fry (born 24 August 1957) is an English actor, broadcaster, comedian, director, narrator and writer. He came to prominence as a member of the comic act Fry and Laurie alongside Hugh Laurie, with the two starring in ''A Bit of ...
. Bird guest-starred in two television series by writer
David Renwick David Peter Renwick (; born 4 September 1951) is an English author, television writer, actor, director and executive producer. He created the sitcom ''One Foot in the Grave'' and the mystery series ''Jonathan Creek''. He was awarded the Writers ...
, namely in three episodes of the BBC mystery crime drama series ''
Jonathan Creek ''Jonathan Creek'' is a long-running British mystery fiction, mystery crime drama series produced by the BBC and written by David Renwick. It stars Alan Davies as the title character, who works as a creative consultant to a stage magician whi ...
'' as well as in one episode of the BBC sitcom ''
One Foot in the Grave ''One Foot in the Grave'' is a British television British sitcom, sitcom written by David Renwick. There were six series (each consisting of six half-hour episodes) and seven Christmas specials over a period of ten years from early 1990 to late ...
''. Bird worked with John Fortune and Rory Bremner in the Channel 4 sketch comedy show'' Bremner, Bird and Fortune'', which was nominated for BAFTA TV Awards. In the series of sketches with Fortune, ''The Long Johns'', one of the two men interviewed the other, with the latter in the guise of a senior figure such as a politician, businessman or government consultant. Invariably the character was named George Parr. In 2012, Bird appeared in the BBC produced TV film '' Bert and Dickie''. Bird worked with David Renwick again in 2016 on the BBC Radio 4 comedy show ''Desolation Jests''. Bird's final television appearance was in an episode of ''
Midsomer Murders ''Midsomer Murders'' is a British Mystery fiction, mystery television series, adapted by Anthony Horowitz and Douglas Watkinson from the novels in the ''Chief Inspector Barnaby'' book series created by Caroline Graham (writer), Caroline Graham. ...
'' in 2017.


Personal life and death

Bird married Ann Stockdale on 8 February 1965. They were married from 1965 to 1970; she was the daughter of Grant Stockdale, who served as the US Ambassador to Ireland from 1961 to 1962, the marriage ended in divorce. He married television presenter Bridget Simpson in 1975, however they divorced in 1978. He was unhappy in his private life and his career was stalled; he began drinking heavily and taking
amphetamine Amphetamine (contracted from Alpha and beta carbon, alpha-methylphenethylamine, methylphenethylamine) is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that is used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy, an ...
s. During the mid-1970s he was seriously ill,
paranoid Paranoia is an instinct or thought process that is believed to be heavily influenced by anxiety, suspicion, or fear, often to the point of delusion and irrationality. Paranoid thinking typically includes persecutory beliefs, or beliefs of con ...
, and was contemplating suicide. Bird lived with concert pianist and teacher Libby Crandon after 1978 and they later married. He had two stepsons from her previous marriage. Crandon died in 2012. Bird died from complications of a stroke at Pendean House Care Home in
Midhurst Midhurst () is a market town and civil parish in the Chichester District in West Sussex, England. It lies on the River Rother (Western), River Rother, inland from the English Channel and north of Chichester. The name Midhurst was first reco ...
, West Sussex, on 24 December 2022, aged 86.


Selected acting credits

*Sourc
John Bird
at the
British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves filmmaking and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...


Film

*'' Red and Blue'' (1967) *''
A Dandy in Aspic ''A Dandy in Aspic'' is a 1968 British spy film directed by Anthony Mann and starring Laurence Harvey, Tom Courtenay and Mia Farrow, with costumes by Pierre Cardin. It was written by Derek Marlowe based on his 1966 novel of the same title. It w ...
'' (1968) *'' 30 Is a Dangerous Age, Cynthia'' (1968) *'' This, That and the Other'' (1969) *'' Take A Girl Like You'' (1970) *''
The Breaking of Bumbo ''The Breaking of Bumbo'' is a 1970 British comedy film directed by Andrew Sinclair and starring Richard Warwick, Joanna Lumley, Jeremy Child and Edward Fox (actor), Edward Fox. The screenplay was by Sinclair, a former Coldstream Guards National ...
'' (1970) *''
The Alf Garnett Saga ''The Alf Garnett Saga'' is a 1972 British comedy film directed by Bob Kellett and starring Warren Mitchell, Dandy Nichols, Paul Angelis and Adrienne Posta. The film was the second spin-off from the BBC TV series '' Till Death Us Do Part'' (1 ...
'' (1972) *''
The Seven-Per-Cent Solution ''The Seven-Per-Cent Solution: Being a Reprint from the Reminiscences of John H. Watson, M.D.'' is a 1974 novel by American writer Nicholas Meyer. It is written as a pastiche of a Sherlock Holmes adventure, and was made into a film of the same ...
'' (1976) *''
Jabberwocky "Jabberwocky" is a Nonsense verse, nonsense poem written by Lewis Carroll about the killing of a creature named "the Jabberwock". It was included in his 1871 novel ''Through the Looking-Glass'', the sequel to ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' ...
'' (1977) *''Yellow Pages'' (1985) *''
A Fish Called Wanda ''A Fish Called Wanda'' is a 1988 heist comedy film directed by Charles Crichton and written by Crichton and John Cleese. It stars Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, and Michael Palin. The film follows a gang of diamond thieves who double- ...
'' (1988) (uncredited) *''The Strange Case of Delfina Potocka: The Mystery of Chopin'' (1999)


Television

*'' That Was the Week That Was'' (1962–1963) *'' Not So Much a Programme, More a Way of Life'' (1964–1965) *'' My Father Knew Lloyd George'' (1965) *''
Alice in Wonderland ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (also known as ''Alice in Wonderland'') is an 1865 English Children's literature, children's novel by Lewis Carroll, a mathematics university don, don at the University of Oxford. It details the story of a ...
'' (1966) *''If It Moves File It'' (1970) *'' The Melting Pot'' (1975) *''
Blue Remembered Hills "Blue Remembered Hills" is the 14th episode of the ninth season of the British BBC anthology TV series ''Play for Today''. The episode was a television play that was originally broadcast on 30 January 1979. "Blue Remembered Hills" was written by ...
'' (1979) *''
The Dangerous Brothers The Dangerous Brothers was a stage and TV act by anarchic comedy duo Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson, performing respectively as "Richard Dangerous" and "Sir Adrian Dangerous". Originally appearing on stage in London at the comedy club The Comic Stri ...
'' (1980) *''Marmalade Atkins'' (1981–4) *''King Lear'' (1982) *'' Travelling Man'' (1984) *''
A Very Peculiar Practice ''A Very Peculiar Practice'' is a British surreal black-comedy drama set in the health centre of a university, produced by the BBC, which ran for two series in 1986 and 1988. The two series were followed by a 90-minute made-for-television film ...
'' (1986–8) *''
Yes, Prime Minister ''Yes Minister'' is a British political satire sitcom written by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn. Comprising three seven-episode series, it was first transmitted on BBC2 from 1980 to 1984. A sequel, ''Yes, Prime Minister'', ran for 16 episodes f ...
'' (1988) *'' Joint Account'' (1989–90) *'' El C.I.D.'' (1990–2) *''
Cluedo ''Cluedo'' (), known as ''Clue'' in North America, is a murder mystery game for three to six players (depending on editions) that was devised in 1943 by British board game designer Anthony E. Pratt. The game was first manufactured by Waddingt ...
'' (1993) *'' To Play the King'' (1993) *'' Sooty & Co.'' (1993) *'' Rory Bremner...Who Else?'' (1993–1998) / '' Bremner, Bird and Fortune'' (1999–2010) *''
One Foot in the Grave ''One Foot in the Grave'' is a British television British sitcom, sitcom written by David Renwick. There were six series (each consisting of six half-hour episodes) and seven Christmas specials over a period of ten years from early 1990 to late ...
'' (1995) *'' Chambers'' (1996–9) *''
Jonathan Creek ''Jonathan Creek'' is a long-running British mystery fiction, mystery crime drama series produced by the BBC and written by David Renwick. It stars Alan Davies as the title character, who works as a creative consultant to a stage magician whi ...
'' (2000, 2014) *'' Absolute Power'' (2003–5) *'' Bert and Dickie'' (2012) *''
Midsomer Murders ''Midsomer Murders'' is a British Mystery fiction, mystery television series, adapted by Anthony Horowitz and Douglas Watkinson from the novels in the ''Chief Inspector Barnaby'' book series created by Caroline Graham (writer), Caroline Graham. ...
'' (2017)


Theatre

*''The Naming of Murderers’ Rock'' (1960) *'' One Over The Eight'' (1961) *''Alice in Wonderland'' (1966–7) *''Council Of Love'' (1970) *''Who’s Who?'' (1972) *''
Habeas Corpus ''Habeas corpus'' (; from Medieval Latin, ) is a legal procedure invoking the jurisdiction of a court to review the unlawful detention or imprisonment of an individual, and request the individual's custodian (usually a prison official) to ...
'' (1973–4) *''Murder in a Bad Light'' (1979) *'' One Way Pendulum'' (1988)


Radio

*'' Chambers'' (1996–9) *'' Absolute Power'' (2000–6) *''Desolation Jests'' (2016)


References


Further reading

*


External links

*
John Bird
at the
British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves filmmaking and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...

John Bird
(Aveleyman)

BAFTA The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA, ) is an independent trade association and charity that supports, develops, and promotes the arts of film, television and video games in the United Kingdom. In addition to its annual awa ...
filmed event, March 2009
Obituary
at ''
The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a British daily broadsheet conservative newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed in the United Kingdom and internationally. It was found ...
'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Bird, John 1936 births 2022 deaths 20th-century English male actors 20th-century English male writers 21st-century English male actors Alumni of King's College, Cambridge Best Entertainment Performance BAFTA Award (television) winners English male comedians English satirists Male actors from Nottingham People educated at Nottingham High Pavement Grammar School People from Bulwell Socialist Party of Great Britain members Comedians from Nottinghamshire Actors from the City of Nottingham