Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Likely Lads’ James: There was no feud between us
Star ‘sad’ over death of Bewes
LIKELY Lads star James Bolam yesterday denied having a 41-year feud with his former co-star Rodney Bewes, who died this week aged 79.
It was claimed they never spoke to each other again after Bolam shunned his old friend over a personal yet harmless anecdote that Bewes always regretted.
But Bolam, 82, insisted there was no resentment, saying lack of contact was caused by busy schedules. “There was no fall-out as far as I was concerned,” he said.
“We worked together very happily and very well, enjoyed each other’s company and when we finished, we finished.
“It’s what happens in acting. You can’t keep contact with everybody you know.
“I think Rodney wanted to do more Likely Lads and I never did. What we’d done was to me so perfect – and I was busy doing other things.” He was alleged to have hung up as Bewes phoned to apologise for saying in a 1976 interview that Bolam almost crashed his car on learning his wife was pregnant.
But Bolam, who played Terry Collier opposite Bewes as Bob Ferris in the 1964-74 sitcom, said: “I just remember him with great warmth and happiness. And the time we had when we did the shows is the greatest memory of all.” He said in a separate statement: “I am very sad to hear of Rodney’s passing and my thoughts are with his family.”
Bewes’ four children thanked the public for “all the warm messages people have left”.