Boris ‘won’t meet’ Harry Dunn’s family
Telly legend Derek Fowlds, star of Basil Brush, Yes, Prime Minister & Heartbeat dies at the age of 82
TRAGIC Harry Dunn
HARRY Dunn’s parents are “beside themselves” after Boris Johnson “rebuffed” all their requests to meet to discuss their son’s death.
“Even Donald Trump” took the time to see Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn, their spokesman Radd Seiger said – but the Prime Minister has “no wish or intention” to.
Mr Seiger added: “They were suspicious at the outset he would be more concerned about his relationship with Trump.”
An extradition request has been made for American Anne Sacoolas to be returned to the UK.
Her car and 19-year-old Harry’s motorbike collided near RAF Croughton, Northants, in August.
No10 said the PM “will continue to work to get justice for Harry”.
Tribute from old pal Basil on Twitter
BELOVED Yes Minister and Basil Brush star Derek Fowlds has died at the age of 82.
Fowlds found fame as Brush’s sidekick, Mr Derek, in the late 1960s.
Yet he was best known for his role as put-upon private secretary Bernard Woolley in the BBC political comedy and its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister.
He then became a fixture in Heartbeat, playing Oscar Blaketon for the ITV police drama’s entire 18-year run.
His career spanned six decades, but in his 2015 autobiography, A Part Worth Playing, Fowlds revealed he never thought he would be a paid performer.
Instead he acted “for kicks” as a child and “enjoyed mucking about on stage”.
The star recalled: “Growing up the thought of acting as a living never crossed my mind. I wanted to be a footballer or sportsman.”
Then a blunder in his first play, where he got his sword stuck up an actor’s skirt, brought the house down and he was hooked for life.
“I heard the sound of audience laughter for the first time in my life,” he wrote, “and I was just knocked out.”
tributes to the star, Tricia Penrose, who played Gina Ward in Heartbeat, said she was heartbroken by the loss of her “best friend”.
She added: “RIP you beautiful person you will be sadly missed.”
Born in 1937 in South London, Fowlds trained at Rada. His first professional gig was in weekly rep at Colwyn Bay’s Prince of Wales Theatre in 1958, while on holiday from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
Fowlds went on to make his West End debut in The Miracle Worker before appearing in films including Tamahine, East Of Sudan and Hotel Paradiso, and TV series Z Cars and The Liver Birds.
DEREK FOWLDS ON MOMENT HE KNEW HE’D FOUND HIS CALLING AS AN ACTOR
He became a household name on BBC children’s classic The Basil Brush Show from 1969-73 after replacing Rodney Bewes as presenter.
The puppet fox’s Twitter account paid tribute to the actor saying: “I don’t know what to say, I’m so desperately sad.
“Such times we had, rest in peace Mr Derek, my best friend forever.”
After appearing in Crown Court Kiss and Tell with Phyllida Nash in 1977, Fowlds starred in Yes Minister with Sir Nigel Hawthorne and Paul Eddington.
The show, which ran from 1980 to 1984, was followed by Yes, Prime Minister between 1986 and 1988.
And he was an ever-present in HeartLeading beat from 1992 to 2010, as Sgt Blaketon, then running the post office and pub after the character left the force.
Helen Bennett, his PA and friend for years, called him “the most beloved man... so well respected, adored by everyone.” She added: “You couldn’t have met a nicer person, ever, he was a wonderful man and I will miss him terribly.”
Gavin and Stacey actor Larry Lamb, who worked with Fowlds on 80s TV series Triangle, said: “Derek was a truly lovely man and a fantastic actor... a real legend.”
Jason Durr, who played policeman Mike Bradley in Heartbeat, said: “Such a great actor and a kind, intelligent man.
“I will treasure the memories of our time working together on Heartbeat.”
Fowlds died at Royal United Hospitals Bath in the early hours of yesterday morning, surrounded by his family.
He had suffered heart failure caused by sepsis after a bout of pneumonia.
He was married twice, first to Wendy Tory then to Blue Peter host Lesley Judd.
He is survived by his two sons, Jamie and actor Jeremy.
I heard audience laughter for the first time in my life and I was just knocked out