The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Popular Heartbeat actor William Simons, aged 79
Heartbeat actor William Simons has died aged 79.
The Welshman, full name Clifford William Cumberbatch Simons, played PC Alf Ventress in all 18 series of the ITV police drama between 1992 and 2010.
In a statement confirming his death, his agent said: “He was a wonderful, kind, warm, witty, lovely human being and anyone who ever worked with him or knew him will be devastated.”
PC Ventress was known for his cantankerous personality and continued to appear in the show as a civilian even after retiring from the force.
Simons also appeared in Emmerdale in 1976 and Coronation Street between 1972 and 1987.
A 60-year acting career saw him play Patrick Malahide’s sidekick in the BBC’s The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries.
He also took roles in Last Of The Summer Wine, Bergerac and The Darling Buds Of May, among other series.
His agent said: “He was a wonderful, kind, warm, witty, lovely human being and anyone who ever worked with him or knew him will be devastated.”
Jason Durr, who appeared alongside Simons in Heartbeat paid tribute to the “lovely man”.
Simons, who was born in Swansea, was already 51 when he landed the biggest role of his career, playing Alf Ventress when Heartbeat first landed on TV screens in 1992 as a prime-time vehicle for former EastEnders star and chart-topping singer Nick Berry.
The show, set in the fictional Yorkshire villages of Ashfordly and Aidensfield, attracted more than 13 million viewers and saw guest appearances by Gary Barlow, Charlotte Church, Lulu, and David Dickinson – and Yorkshire’s legendary cricket umpire Dickie Bird.
Simons was very popular with viewers and his character continued to appear in the show as a civilian even after he retired from the force.
When ITV launched a spin-off show called The Royal, he was asked to play Ventress in six episodes.
According to the Yorkshire Post, Simons enjoyed his role in Heartbeat so much that he bought a house in the village of Goathland, where much of the show’s filming took place.
He sold it 14 years later, explaining in an interview with the Daily Express Goathland had become so popular with tourists drawn by the Heartbeat factor that “it was impossible to step outside without being recognised”.