Actor who was both heart-throb and hardman as Bodie in The Professionals
In a 1980 episode of the hit British cop show The Professionals, an ill-advised villain tries to threaten the ex-mercenary William Bodie with his snarling doberman pinscher. After a brief altercation, Bodie, all sang-froid and minimally curled lip, inquires: "Would your little dog like to chew this electric fire? Or maybe you'll just leave."
This kind of butch badinage, along with rugged good looks, helped make Lewis Collins, who played Bodie in all 57 of the show's episodes from 1977 and 1983, and who has died aged 67 after suffering from cancer, into a household name. During that time he formed one half of Britain's answer to Starsky and Hutch, a crime-fighting duo called Bodie and Doyle who worked for a shadowy criminal intelligence agency, CI5, headed by Gordon Jackson's strait-laced George Cowley. At its height, The Professionals was watched by 12 million viewers a week,...
In a 1980 episode of the hit British cop show The Professionals, an ill-advised villain tries to threaten the ex-mercenary William Bodie with his snarling doberman pinscher. After a brief altercation, Bodie, all sang-froid and minimally curled lip, inquires: "Would your little dog like to chew this electric fire? Or maybe you'll just leave."
This kind of butch badinage, along with rugged good looks, helped make Lewis Collins, who played Bodie in all 57 of the show's episodes from 1977 and 1983, and who has died aged 67 after suffering from cancer, into a household name. During that time he formed one half of Britain's answer to Starsky and Hutch, a crime-fighting duo called Bodie and Doyle who worked for a shadowy criminal intelligence agency, CI5, headed by Gordon Jackson's strait-laced George Cowley. At its height, The Professionals was watched by 12 million viewers a week,...
- 11/29/2013
- by Stuart Jeffries
- The Guardian - Film News
Diane Keen is to leave BBC One's Doctors, it has been confirmed. The long-serving soap actress, who has played practice manager Julia Parsons for almost a decade, will bow out of the programme next month. Keen told What's on TV: "It's been a heck of a ride and a huge learning curve. There are so many people I'm going to miss. But we will always keep in touch. "Julia has had a tough time over the years, but she has always come through with grace and humour. While she doesn't suffer fools, she does have a heart (more)...
- 4/13/2012
- by By Kate Goodacre
- Digital Spy
It's time for another edition of our Soap Scoop Q&A, where we answer the most popular questions you've been sending us. Read on for replies on Hollyoaks, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and more... Has Diane Keen left Doctors?
We've asked Doctors about rumours that Diane has left the show, but at the moment they're not confirming or denying this - so make of that what you will! For those who don't know, there were recently some tweets from members of the Doctors team which sparked speculation that Diane had left. Additionally, Diane's character Julia Parsons is going to be involved in a big stunt that is coming up (details here). Fans should also keep an eye out for a possible new love interest for Julia when she gets to know garage owner Martin Millar (played by Miles Anderson) in a few weeks' (more)...
We've asked Doctors about rumours that Diane has left the show, but at the moment they're not confirming or denying this - so make of that what you will! For those who don't know, there were recently some tweets from members of the Doctors team which sparked speculation that Diane had left. Additionally, Diane's character Julia Parsons is going to be involved in a big stunt that is coming up (details here). Fans should also keep an eye out for a possible new love interest for Julia when she gets to know garage owner Martin Millar (played by Miles Anderson) in a few weeks' (more)...
- 3/12/2012
- by By Daniel Kilkelly
- Digital Spy
Doctors' Kevin Tyler announces some big news next week as he tells Julia that he wants to leave The Mill. Kevin (Simon Rivers) is still struggling following a turbulent few weeks and feels that none of his colleagues want him around anymore. Julia (Diane Keen) tries to convince Kevin that he's wanted, but it proves to be a tricky task. When Julia orders Jimmi (Adrian Lewis Morgan) to spend some quality time with Kevin, the two men end up going on a paintballing day with Daniel (Matthew Chambers) in tow. Will it be enough to change Kevin's mind? Meanwhile, as Karen (Jan Pearson) tries to get Zara (Elisabeth Dermot-Walsh) (more)...
- 11/3/2011
- by By Daniel Kilkelly
- Digital Spy
Doctors' dark murder storyline continues to impact on the lives of the regular characters in next week's episodes, with Julia and Elaine facing particular struggles. Even though Harrison has now been exposed as Lauren's killer, patients at The Mill refuse to see Kevin (Simon Rivers) and cancel their appointments. Julia (Diane Keen) takes on board Zara's suggestion of sending out a letter to all patients explaining that Kevin has been fully exonerated, but this only adds fuel to the fire and people want to leave faster than they did before! Julia is then left wondering if The Mill can survive this crisis... Meanwhile, Elaine (more)...
- 10/12/2011
- by By Daniel Kilkelly
- Digital Spy
Doctors star Diane Keen has revealed that she is eager to have more scenes which explore the family life of her character Julia Parsons. The actress, who is the longest-serving cast member on the BBC daytime soap, explained that she would like Julia to have new storylines with son Patrick and granddaughter Chloe in the months ahead. Fans of the programme were recently given a fresh glimpse of Julia's life outside of The Mill as part of her Lyme disease storyline, which aired on screen late last year. Speaking to Digital Spy, Keen commented: "With the Lyme disease storyline, we saw her granddaughter and her son - I'd like to see her get closer to her son Patrick. "And I'd like to see more of her with her little granddaughter, which we are doing more (more)...
- 2/16/2011
- by By Daniel Kilkelly
- Digital Spy
Doctors actress Diane Keen has predicted that fans will be surprised by the daytime soap's 2,000th episode. The BBC medical drama reaches its milestone tomorrow afternoon, marking the occasion with an hour-long special which sees a deadly virus unleashed at The Mill. Speaking to Digital Spy about what viewers can expect from the episode, Keen - who plays long-standing character Julia Parsons - commented: "Oh, wow - everything they wouldn't be expecting, really! It's way out there and it's really good. "A regular Doctors fan will be riveted because it's got so much in it that they're not used to and they haven't come to expect from Doctors. It's extraordinary. I watched the episode recently at a cast (more)...
- 2/15/2011
- by By Daniel Kilkelly
- Digital Spy
I recently had a chat with Doctors favourite Diane Keen to hear about the daytime soap's 2,000th episode and what has made the show so popular over the past ten years. If you haven't yet read the main interview, click here to hear what Diane had to say. Alternatively, read on for a bonus Q&A with the actress... Doctors is known for its serious drama storylines but also for being slightly surreal sometimes, with dream and fantasy sequences. How do the cast feel about the more experimental episodes?
"Bewildered, sometimes! Sometimes they work and we generally feel that they often don't. But Doctors is also not afraid to touch on very controversial subjects - I don't think there's anything that Doctors wouldn't tackle, because I think we've had just about everything. We'll pick up on anything - but that's (more)...
"Bewildered, sometimes! Sometimes they work and we generally feel that they often don't. But Doctors is also not afraid to touch on very controversial subjects - I don't think there's anything that Doctors wouldn't tackle, because I think we've had just about everything. We'll pick up on anything - but that's (more)...
- 2/13/2011
- by By Daniel Kilkelly
- Digital Spy
Former Emmerdale star Alyson Spiro has landed a guest part on BBC daytime drama Doctors. The actress, who played the Yorkshire soap's Sarah Sugden between 1994 and 2000, is filming her one-off appearance this week for an episode due to air in July. Spiro is taking on the role of Gill Ferry, the daughter of an elderly Alzheimer's sufferer named Lorna Robson. Lorna is introduced to the serial as a neighbour of regular character Julia Parsons (Diane Keen). As previously revealed, veteran actress Susannah York is also filming with Doctors this week in the (more)...
- 3/24/2010
- by By Daniel Kilkelly
- Digital Spy
Veteran actress Susannah York has signed to make a guest appearance in BBC medial drama Doctors. The 71-year-old, who starred in A Man For All Seasons and We'll Meet Again, begins filming with the Birmingham-based serial this week as the show celebrates its 10th anniversary on air. York takes on the role of Alzheimer's sufferer Lorna Robson, an elderly friend and neighbour of Julia Parsons (Diane Keen). Julia becomes embroiled in Lorna's story when she makes a shock discovery at the bottom of her garden. The episode, titled (more)...
- 3/23/2010
- by By Kris Green
- Digital Spy
The age of the Aztecs remains a source of mesmerising mystery, a contrast between brutal human sacrifice and the cultural splendour of gold, gems and mighty pyramids.
It's a world brought back to life in The Feathered Serpent, a classic TV historical fantasy show where dark corridors of whispered evil threaten to undermine the glory of the empire.
I had fond memories of this UK children's drama from my childhood and was delighted when it finally surfaced on DVD earlier this year. It was released by Network, which specialises in bringing long-lost TV and film classics to disc format.
Thames Television broadcast two seasons between 1976 and 1978. Starring Diane Keen and the late Patrick Troughton (who had been the second Doctor Who between 1966 and 1969), The Feathered Serpent is a story of murder, intrigue and political manoeuvring set in 11th century Mexico.
The story begins as the old Aztec religion of god...
It's a world brought back to life in The Feathered Serpent, a classic TV historical fantasy show where dark corridors of whispered evil threaten to undermine the glory of the empire.
I had fond memories of this UK children's drama from my childhood and was delighted when it finally surfaced on DVD earlier this year. It was released by Network, which specialises in bringing long-lost TV and film classics to disc format.
Thames Television broadcast two seasons between 1976 and 1978. Starring Diane Keen and the late Patrick Troughton (who had been the second Doctor Who between 1966 and 1969), The Feathered Serpent is a story of murder, intrigue and political manoeuvring set in 11th century Mexico.
The story begins as the old Aztec religion of god...
- 6/10/2009
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
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