"He's still the same old rogue that he ever was. I told him Id stolen it.. Greengrass was often found sitting on a bar stool, in his cottage or in his truck, so it's not that much different, I just get to relax in bed all day.". Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. Heartbeat made me a multi-millionaire. Bills debut came aged eight, singing in a working mens club, perched on a plank balanced between two buckets so he could be seen. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes. As for his character, not much has changed since he was seen leaving Heartbeat to jet off to the Caribbean to help his sister spend the money she had scooped on the West Indies Sweepstake. As the citation explains: As always you can unsubscribe at any time. In real life, actor Derek Fowlds had a long and lustrous acting career, appearing in everything from Yes Minister to Inspector Morse. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. Although he doesn't hail from Yorkshire, his work over the years at Yorkshire Television certainly qualifies him for the title honorary Yorkshireman! Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. The final scene in the pub in which the regulars raised a glass to him in tribute suggested that his chances of surviving were not good. They wanted me to inject a bit of humour into things. LAMDA-trained Jason was PC and DC Mike Bradley in Heartbeat from 1997 until 2003. She said the job was supposed to be a 12-month contract - but she ended up staying for 18 years. Childrens TV puppet Basil Brush was among the mourners and even recited a poem in tribute to Dereks appearances as Mr Derek on the Basil Brush TV Show. His fans were in the millions. Kids: Directed by Tim Dowd. In its heyday Heartbeat was the biggest show on the box, attracting up to 18 million viewers - and you can still catch the occasional repeat on ITV3. Alfred was a Bedlington Terrier - Whippet Greyhound cross. Heartbeat co-star Jason Durr, who played Mike Bradley in the iconic show, shared his condolences, posting on Twitter at the time: "So sad to hear the passing of William Simons. They were worried about it and asked if Id play this character Greengrass. His other popular acting roles included playing Simon Wicks in EastEnders from 1985 to 1990. Brenda Bowman (daughter, introduced in The Royal). On the show, he was constantly getting in trouble for stealing animals from other farms, which was one of the reasons why he was there. William starred as PC Alf Ventress through the entire series. For many of us, the sound of the Heartbeat theme song heralded the beginning of the end of the weekend. All Rights Reserved. 2000 Bill played loveable rogue Claude Jeremiah Greengrass from 1992 to 2000 a man better known by his surname. He was killed off in 2003 but didnt leave the police profession entirely - actor Jason Durr went on to appear in Inspector Lewis as DI Peterson. How did Claude Greengrass leave Heartbeat? By. Actor Bill Maynard, who had a career spanning eight decades and played the role of Heartbeat, passed away at the age of 89. "He certainly isn't a model patient. He was charged later that year with grievous bodily harm and assault after biting a pensioner who called his teen daughter a slag in a pub beer garden. It was Claude Greengrass that was clearing out an old barn belonging to a friend when he stumbled across a red MG TA that he sold to Nick Rowan in a sorry looking state. There's MUCH more where that came from! I started on 5,000 an episode and each series the money would go up, I think I finished on 25,000. Many have continued to act, appearing shows like Casualty and EastEnders, some have sadly died and others have turned their backs on their showbiz careers all together. It was a much loved period television show watched by millions - and more than 12 years after it went off the air Heartbeat is still remembered fondly by many. A lurcher dog, originally belonging to Claude Greengrass and inherited by David Stockwell when Greengrass left the series. Heartbeat made me a multi-millionaire. He has also forged a successful career in theatre, including the UK tour of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert. Dogged by ill health he had four strokes, a lung problem and diabetes. He even had Inland Revenue knocking at his door after refusing to pay Income Tax for 12 years. The actor left the series due to ill health, but he reprised the role in The Royal. In 1990, Maynard married Tonia Bern-Campbell. In 2013 Maynard celebrated 60 years since his first TV appearance by releasing a version of the song What a Wonderful World. The long-running drama initially focused on a young married couple, PC Nick Rowan and his GP wife Kate, who move from London to the fictional North Yorkshire village of Aidensfield. Bill Maynard, one of Britain's best loved comedy actors, was a founder member of the cast of Heartbeat. He died in June last year at the age of 78. I think Nick Berry started on about 1,600 an episode, he was thrilled at first because that was three times more than he got on EastEnders, then he heard what I was getting and was furious., Even after his first stroke in 2000 Bill continued to work: Yorkshire TV made The Royal as a spin off from Heartbeat. He married Rachel Robertson in 1994 and put his acting career on hold to become a stay at home dad to their sons Louis and Finley. The actor spent more than 60 years in showbiz. "I've received lots of letters since it was announced that Greengrass would be returning. The character of Claude Greengrass has not been affected in any way by the events of the show Heartbeat. His fans numbered in the millions. Small-time businessman and entrepreneur, and half brother to Bernie Scripps (though the two are entirely dissimilar in both appearance and nature). Perhaps best known for his appearance in the Carry On films, Bill Maynard appeared in 155 episodes of Heartbeat until 2000. After the show ended, he played two different cameo roles in Casualty in 2011 and again in 2013. 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I started on 5,000 an episode and each series the money would go up, I think I finished on 25,000. Best known as the lovable rogue in the ITV series, he was also in Carry On films and The Royal. RIP Bill.". Tricia said the show changed her life, even leading to the release of single Where Did Our Love Go in 1996. The star, who played Claude Jeremiah Greengrass in the series between 1992 and 2000, died in hospital in. His other credits include Lovejoy, The Bill and The Royal. He left Heartbeat after suffering a stroke; but after making a recovery, bounced back the help launch the related medical drama series The Royal, still playing Yorkshire's craftiest rogue! Then I found out someone had even measured my caravan and found out it was the biggest, by eight inches! Vernon Scripps, a Liverpool actor who took over Greengrass in his role as the villages charming prankster, was portrayed by Geoffrey Hughes. Bill played loveable rogue Claude Jeremiah Greengrass from 1992 to 2000 - a man better known by his surname. His rle as Claude Jeremiah Greengrass enabled him to win the title of Yorkshire Arts and Entertainment Personality of the Year in the 2003 Yorkshire Awards. Derek played Sgt Oscar Blaketon in Heartbeat for 18 years. Id been the lead star in The Gaffer, my last show for Yorkshire TV, earning 5,000 an episode, so thats what they paid me for Heartbeat. Derek played Sgt Oscar Blaketon in Heartbeat for 18 years. Maynard was said to have passed away in a hospital in Leicestershire not long after breaking his hip as a result of falling off of his mobility scooter, as stated by his daughter-in-law. Claude Jeremiah Greengrass, played by Bill Maynard deceased. His last ever TV appearance came when he joined former co-star Tricia Penrose on Pointless Celebrities in 2018, a month after his death. ", Michael Starke as Ken HopkirkAndy Wear as Alun MorrisAiding him in his money-making schemes are the hospital's Head Porter Ken Hopkirk and Theatre Technician Alun Morris: "Ken and Alun are wise to the kind of person that Greengrass is. Earlier in his career he was known for his role as Bernard Woolley in Yes Minister, a part he played for four years. He first appeared on our screens in 1955 in Great Scott, Its Maynard. Maynard died in hospital in Leicestershire shortly after breaking his hip in a fall from his mobility. The actor was later found not guilty of the charges at trial, as he had acted in self-defence. Three of his co-stars in Heartbeat pleaded with show bosses to sack him. Copyright 2023 H-Town News. His last project was a minor role in 2012s Run for Your Wife. Bless you and rest well sir.". She also mentioned that he was larger than life and had a passion for the entertainment industry. Early episodes of the series consistently drew audiences in excess of 10 million people, with the series eventually reaching its highest-ever audience of 13.82 million in 2001 and 12.8 million in 2003. I wont name them, I dont want to hurt anyone, but none of them have been particularly successful, said Bill. A rotund, colourful, larger-than-life . Her character was sent to stay with Gina at the pub to get away from a bad crowd in Manchester and she soon became a fan favourite. The character of Claude Greengrass was in no way influenced by the events of the Heartbeat show. His father Walter worked as a gardener, his mother Edith as a laundress. What happened to Claude Greengrass in Heartbeat? He left Heartbeat after suffering a stroke; but after making a recovery, bounced back the help launch the related medical drama series The Royal, still playing Yorkshire's craftiest rogue! Since leaving Heartbeat, the 55-year-old actor has gone on to appear in a number of hit soap operas, including Hollyoaks and Casualty. The long serving policeman had never managed to rise beyond the rank of constable in all his years of dedication - perhaps because of his penchant for sleeping on the job or setting fire to his desk. Bill Maynard had to cut short his appearance at the performance because he was ill. Maynards most recent role was in the drama The Moorside, which aired in 2017, and was centred on the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Shannon Matthews. But then, in 2010 Heartbeat was axed amid falling ratings, leaving both its fans and the village where it was filmed devastated as an entire tourist industry had developed in the filming locations. William also had brief stints in Coronation Street and Emmerdale. Id tell the producers, I shall be in a small village in Leicestershire when you change your mind and decide to do things my way. I just had to turn up on filming days, say my lines and go home. Working on The Royal also reunited him with the man who gave him his first theatrical break. He was played by: Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place. Vernon Scripps, was played by Geoffrey Hughes. He became David's constant companion and appeared in numerous episodes. Maynard played the lovable rogue Claude Jeremiah Greengrass in ITVs Heartbeat for eight years. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. His character arrived from London and initially rubbed people up the wrong way before settling in to village life. Peter played Bernie Scripps in Heartbeat between 1995 and 2010. His even tried his hand at pantomime, appearing in a Rochdale production of Dick Whittington in 2018 and 2019. 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Derek died at the age of 82 in January 2020. Mark pleaded not guilty in court and was granted unconditional bail. In 2012, at the age of 68, he lost his battle with prostate cancer. Although they are wary of him, they are still prepared to help him out with his scams. Tricia Penrose, who played Gina on the soap opera Heartbeat and competed against Bill on the game show Pointless, also paid tribute to Bill. His reputation as a borderline criminal appeared to be common knowledge among the villagers and police but nobody in particular showed any real dislike towards him. Who is Tricia Penrose married to? Muriel died of cancer in 1983. Advertisement ITV Studios in the UK produced the historical drama series Heartbeat from 1992 to 2010. With what little cash he had left, Bill flew to New York and toured its comedy clubs just to watch up-and-coming American comics. Here's what some of our favourite actors from the series are up to now, a decade on: Nick played Nick Rowan from series one to series seven, with his storylines including losing his wife to leukaemia and ffinding love again. By the age of 11, Bill was making more money than his father from club stand-up comedy. A producer at Yorkshire TV rang me up and said they had this new show about a copper in Yorkshire but that they didnt think it would do much, said Bill. Then there was money from all the repeats. He could be 6ft 1in of pure trouble if he wasnt getting his way but nobody ever questioned his acting ability and supreme comic timing. In 1984 Bill stood as an Independent Labour candidate, in order to oust Tony Benn from his seat - but placed fourth in the official rankings. He recalled how rumours about his vast wages and perks caused a rift with the Heartbeat cast: I was the only one who had his own chauffeur who would pick me up in Leicestershire, take me up to Yorkshire and stay there until I wanted to come home. Another of Heartbeats tragic losses was actor Peter Benson, who passed away in 2018. Appeared in 155 episodes from 1992 - 2000. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Often appearing cynical, suspicious and bad-tempered and very serious and hard, he has mellowed somewhat with age. The jack-of-all-trades did everything from car repairs to funeral directing during his time in the show, and eventually was able to meet with his long lost daughter Ruth. REST IN PEACE.. Tricia Penrose, who portrayed Gina on the soap opera Heartbeat and competed against Bill on the game show Pointless, also paid tribute to Bill. 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Liverpool actress Tricia played Gina Ward - later Bellamy, first seen pulling pints in her uncle's pub. However, he did make an appearance in the Heartbeat spinoff series titled The Royal. Greengrass (Bill Maynard), the main character of this episode, is having problems getting paid for the gardening work that he has been performing for Stringer. His gullible nature led to him becoming a dogsbody for many characters around Aidensfield, and was made godfather to Ginas baby. She mentioned in her post that its only been a few weeks since theyve worked together. He was so proud of the fact that he had been working for 81 years.. Beloved ITV drama Heartbeat came to an end 10 years ago, but what happened to the cast? He was a wonderful actor and a good friend, and he was also a snooker fanatic who lived nearby in Leicester. I was 10 years old when I recall him trying to dissuade me from pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. ITV Studios in the United Kingdom was responsible for producing the historical drama series Heartbeat from 1992 till 2010. Bill played Claude Jeremiah Greengrass from 1992 to 2000. Greengrass's schemes often went wrong when it came to making money but he always managed to come up with another idea or two. Bernie was the Yorkshire-based drama's funeral director and he also ran a garage in Aidensfield. Where are they now? The villages longest serving copper, Mike was seen as a sort of action hero - often grappling with baddies and dragging survivors from the wreckage of disasters. Bill is thrilled that the viewing public are happy to see him back on their screens. His other popular acting roles included playing Simon Wicks in EastEnders from 1985 to 1990. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Last year he said he hoped to return to Emmerdale in the future. The actress went on to have a recurring role as Trish Davidson in Coronation Street in 2012. "It was wonderful to be offered the chance to return. But his life wasnt always dedicated to acting. On the show, he was constantly getting in trouble for stealing animals from other farms, which was one of the reasons why he was there. The Cheshire-born actress went on to have a recurring role as Trish Davidson in Coronation Street in 2012. The actor also played the title role in the ITV comedy Oh No, Its Selwyn Froggitt, and starred in the Carry On films Carry On at Your Convenience, Carry On Matron and Carry On Dick. He took on the Claude Greengrasses role, after Claude left for the West Indies. Actor William Simons began acting as a child, appearing in films like No Place for Jennifer and West of Zanzibar. Maynard, whose real name was Walter Williams, chose his stage name as a reference to the confectionery company Maynards, Reddin said. and Dont Wanna Be Alone. I was 10 years old when I remember him trying to dissuade me from pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. Bill Maynard net worth: How much was the late Heartbeat actor worth? In 1957, he tried his hand at singing - coming second in the British heat of. His rle as Claude Jeremiah Greengrass enabled him to win the title of Yorkshire Arts and Entertainment Personality of the Year in the 2003 Yorkshire Awards. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. He first appeared on our screens in 1955 in Great Scott, Its Maynard. Following his passing, he has received tributes from a variety of people, including athletes, fans, and other performers. The actor had a long 60 year career in the showbiz industry and is said to have made millions after first appearing on. The character of Claude Greengrass has not been affected in any way by the events in the show Heartbeat. He appeared in 87 episodes from 2001 - 2005 and a one-off episode in 2007. Peter played Bernie Scripps in Heartbeat between 1995 and 2010. After the show came to an end he had a role in Casualty as Jacob Hinter in a 2014 episode. ". "Acting is a wonderful way of earning a living. But I liked Nick, we got along well.. You can unsubscribe at any time. Later he gambled away much of his fortune on horse races, went bankrupt thanks to a huge unpaid tax bill and was left so poor his wife and two children had to sleep on the floor beside the fire in their living room because the bailiffs had taken everything they owned including their beds. While Heartbeat is well-known for quickly forgetting characters who have departed, Greengrass is unusual in continuing to be mentioned by his former sidekick David Stockwell in subsequent series, as both Vernon Scripps and Peggy Armstrong have tried to use Greengrass's old tricks in their schemes. Maynard was born in Heath End, Farnham, Surrey. Greengrass was the village wheeler dealer and a loveable rogue who seemed to permanently find himself in sticky situations. RIP.. On top of that, he appeared as former soldier Daz Spencer on Emmerdale, only to fall in love with one of his co-stars. Snooker player and commentator Willie Thorne, who hails from Leicestershire, posted the following on Twitter: The passing of Bill Maynard has made this a very sad day. Therell never be another like you - talented, kind and gentle in equal measure. I didnt call him average, I said he was adequate, which he was, but thats all he needed to be, said Bill. A rotund, colourful, larger-than-life character, he replaced Claude Greengrass as the author of the hare-brained schemes which drive the show's . Last year she made appearances in TV shows Defending the Guilty and Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators. Peter himself appeared in programmes like The Bill, Jeeves and Wooster and Tenko. Bill Maynard dead: How did the the Heartbeat actor die aged 89? What happened to Claude Greengrass in Heartbeat? Tricia Penrose, who portrayed Gina on the soap opera Heartbeat and competed against Bill on the game show Pointless, also paid tribute to Bill. After moving to Leicestershire with his family, Maynard enrolled at the Kibworth Beauchamp grammar school. Greengrass was best known for driving a maroon 1956Morris truck that he would use for his day to day business, he later left this vehicle to David Stockwell. 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Claude Jeremiah Greengrasss last appearance came in the episode of Heatbeat entitled Cold Turkey. Clare played local DS Rachel Dawson, who had a relationship with PC Joe Mason, from 2006 until the series ended in 2010. Swansea-born actor William Simons remained in Heartbeat for its entire run, starring as PC Alf Ventress since the shows inception. Liverpool actor Geoffrey played Vernon Scripps, who replaced Greengrass as the loveable rogue in the village. Similarly, he appeared on the ITV show Heartbeat for eight years, playing the role of lovable villain Claude Jeremiah Greengrass. Although he often had troubles with the police, he did come to have a (slightly grudging) respect for Nick Rowan (or "Ronan" as he habitually mispronounced it), who would often warn him in advance to keep a low profile if there was any kind of trouble brewing. Known for his crotchety attitude and general bad temper, Oscar was forced to retire from the police force after a nearly fatal heart attack and instead became the proprietor of the Aidensfield Post Office. The landlady at the Aidensfield Arms, Ginas life was full of drama - from complicated romances to dealing with the death of her fianc Phil. Nick rebuiilt the car and used it frequently in further episodes. Mark had the role of PC Phil Bellamy from series one until series 17. I did a charity show in Birmingham and the singer and actor Anthony Newley came up to me afterwards saying hed loved my jokes and asked where Id got all my material from.