Take comfort in Mary show
Star entertained millions on kids’ show & in dramas
FROM his searing performance in Boys from the Blackstuff to voicing the nation’s favourite steam train, Michael Angelis was a regular on Britain’s TV screens for 40 years.
The star, who died on Saturday aged 76, found fame as Lucien in Carla Lane’s 70s sitcom The Liver Birds and as Chrissie in drama Boys from the Blackstuff.
Then, in his longest-ever gig, Michael’s languid Liverpudlian tones became loved by millions of young fans following the adventures of Thomas The Tank Engine.
He narrated the show for 13 series, after taking over from former Beatle Ringo Starr in 1991, when it was called Thomas The Tank Engine And Friends.
Other roles included
Arnie in September Song, Mickey
Startup in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Martin Niarchos in GBH. His powerful
BRIDE & JOY performance in Boys from the Blackstuff, set in Thatcher’s Liverpool in 1982, still resonates today.
Recalling his “tremendous” work with the show’s writer, Alan Bleasdale, who was also the creator of GBH, comedian Matt Lucas described Michael as “one of the greatest TV actors I’ve ever seen”.
In 2011, Angelis described the series as “possibly the finest thing I’ve ever done” and admitted that it changed his career.
Skins screenwriter Jack Thorne was similarly moved by the actor’s work in the series. Referring to one script, he said: “There’s a moment in it that made my heart stop. His kids are starving, he finds £5. He goes out, buys chips, lager and whisky.”
Born in Liverpool, Michael was married twice, first to Coronation Street actress Helen Worth, who plays Gail Platt, from 1991 to 2001.
Following their divorce he married model Jennifer Khalastchi.
He had trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow before first appearing on screen in the 1970s.
In his early career he featured in programmes such as Z Cars, ThirtyMinute Theatre and an episode of Coronation Street before stints in Minder and World’s End.
He later appeared in Casualty, The Bill, Holby City and Heartbeat.
His last credited TV role came in 2012 BBC drama Good Cop.
Thick Of It writer Simon Blackwell summed up his versatility by saying: “Exquisite and moving in Boys from the Blackstuff, enormously funny as Lucien in The Liver Birds.”
Michael died suddenly at home on Saturday, his agent confirmed yesterday.
WIFE Model Jennifer
ADVERTISING FEATURE 5
In the US, a dime is worth how many cents?
TV cook Mary Berry hopes her new series about comfort food will “help put us back on an even keel”.
Six-parter Mary Berry’s Simple Comforts will air on BBC Two later this year.
The 85-year-old added: “I loved filming the series.”