Let's talk about Kevin
Max Shreck
In my B&B room in Edinburgh, I found a copy of Livewire Magazine ("The
Complimentary Magazine for Great North Eastern Railway Travellers") from
Oct/Nov 1997. Noticing that it contained an excellent interview with Kevin
Whately, I appropriated it on behalf of the newsgroup.
Choice snippets:
"...Kevin Whately, superstar? Actually, no. He's an intensely private family
man who lives not in some showbizzy area of london like Chelsea, Barnes, or
Hampstead, but in a house out in Bedfordshire near the Woburn Estates. This was
his and his actress wife Madelaine Newton's choice, and here they have raised
their two children, Kieran, 12, and Kitty, aged 14.
"The only thing slightly larger-than-life about Kevin is the car he drives: a
gleaming Jaguar XJ6, in burgundy colour and not a million miles removed from
the beloved (vintage) Jag of the fictional Inspector Morse. 'I was offered a
good deal on it... and I took it,' he says simply and practically. 'I thought
it was a bit grand and rather large at first, but now I admit I love the
thing.'
<snip>
"'I don't seem to be able to get rid of Lewis, and I'm certainly not
complaining about that. It's been 12 years now -- but there was a time, after
the first two, when I thought, "I'm out of here" ... fortunately, the problems
which I had then that had brought me to that point were all resolved amicably.
The next one we film in the Inspector Morse series, as a special this autumn,
is a fascinating story where Morse is hospitalised, reads a book on a
century-old crime in Oxford and then starts sending Lewis out to try and solve
it. That does appeal to me -- it puts a different slant on it all, you see.'
[Max's note: KW is referring to "The Wench is Dead," filmed this spring without
him.]
<snip>
"Inevitably the subject of sex appeal arises. 'I always know where and when
Inspector Morse has recently been screened around the world, because I get
delightful letters from places like Pakistan, Estonia and Russia.' With a
shamefaced smile, this most reluctant of sex symbols eventually admits he is
sent plenty of -- 'woolly socks. I don't know why!'"
ROTFL!! :^D He doesn't know WHY?! Then he hasn't been reading this newsgroup,
or he would have heard of oxytocin, the euphoria-inducing hormone released in
females both during sex and during "mothering" activities. I tremble in my
boots to think what Thaw gets in the mail from those Estonian ladies! Perhaps
lovingly pre-kissed Band-Aids for his leg boo-boo?
Anyone else find it interesting, BTW, that Whately speaks about "The Wench is
Dead" with eager anticipation in this interview? It makes one wonder all the
more exactly why he couldn't find some way to appear in the thing. *Sigh!*
Kevin, we hardly knew ye...
Finally, the photos accompanying the article reveal that the man is a darn
sight cuter w/o his hair slicked down Lewis-style, and has an adorable smile he
seldom displays as Lewis. English girls probably know this already, because, as
the article points out, Kevin has starred in a number of successful series, but
I felt it only fair to let the American hussies in on it as well.
-- HRHH Max
HelenS24
say he's got a bit of an odd walk himself. He sort of, bobs. I just wish he
didn't seem such a not really smart guy in Morse. Bit of a Laurel Hardy, but I
still like him. Any chance of sending around a scanned photo?
As to TWID: yes, very interesting. Quite so!
Thanks for the post Max.
Helen S.
Max Shreck
Helen wrote:
>Oh yes! Let's talk about Kevin. I think he's grand to look at. And I still
>say he's got a bit of an odd walk himself. He sort of, bobs.
According to Stedman's Medical Dictionary, that bobbing is technically known as
Lanky English Guy Gait.
But I encourage you to ask Alison to buy an extra plaster casting kit for you,
if you wish to do more research... <consummately evil grin!>
>I just wish he didn't seem such a not really smart guy in Morse.
Ah, yes, the pains of being an excellent actor. People associate you so closely
with your characters. I must say, though, that Lewis has never struck me as
unintelligent. Certainly he's patterned on the Watson archetype -- Watson is no
slouch either, at least not in the stories and the Jeremy Brett Holmes series.
It's just that, compared to his brilliant and charismatic partner, he seems a
bit plodding. Well, hey, that's no sin. Anyone would seem plodding next to
Morse/Thaw or Holmes/Brett.
Sadly, I've never seen Kevin in anything but Morse; anybody see him in The
English Patient? Can we get some Brits to report on his other TV work, mebbe?
>Bit of a Laurel Hardy, but I still like him.
Funny. I think of him as more of a Stan Oliver, m'self. :^)
>Any chance of sending around a scanned photo?
I have set Prince Consort Moritz to the task of scanning. You'll be the first
to get a copy.
-- HRHH Max
Moyra S. Gough
<maxs...@aol.com> writes
>
>Sadly, I've never seen Kevin in anything but Morse; anybody see him in The
>English Patient? Can we get some Brits to report on his other TV work, mebbe?
>
Couldn't stand the English Patient and gave up on it after about an
hour, but I do remember Kevin doing a one-off TV play (can't remember
what it was called) where he played a wife-beating headmaster. He was
seriously excellent and genuinely frightening, and what was particularly
scary was the totally normal "Mr Average" facade he wore externally when
you contrasted it with the way he changed at home.
--
Moyra S. Gough
Ray Proven
[snip]
>
>Sadly, I've never seen Kevin in anything but Morse; anybody see him in The
>English Patient?
Where he played... a segeant!
--
Ray
HelenS24
>According to Stedman's Medical Dictionary, that bobbing
>is technically known as Lanky English Guy Gait.
Hmmmm. Does that mean that Lanky English Guys are, on average, bigger than
other men? (My breathing is picking up pace again!)
>But I encourage you to ask Alison to buy an extra plaster
>casting kit for you, if you wish to do more research...
Oh yes! Alison, please include dear Kevin in your research. Pleeeeeeeeease!
>Sadly, I've never seen Kevin in anything but Morse;
He was in the Miss Marple episode of "A Murder is Announced" where he plays (as
Ray pointed out about the "English Patient") -- a sergeant! And his Miss
Marple sergeant looked suspiciously like his Morse sergeant. BTW, the actor
that played the inspector in that movie is a real cutie himself!! Saddly,
Whately doesn't have much film time in "A Murder is Announced", but it's fun to
see him all the same.
>>Any chance of sending around a scanned photo?
>
>I have set Prince Consort Moritz to the task of scanning.
> You'll be the first to get a copy.
WAWHOO!!!
Helen S.
Max Shreck
I wrote:
>>According to Stedman's Medical Dictionary, that bobbing
>>is technically known as Lanky English Guy Gait.
Helen, MA, responded:
>Hmmmm. Does that mean that Lanky English Guys are, on average, bigger than
>other men? (My breathing is picking up pace again!)
Alas, my research on this point is insufficient. But they don't prune the boys'
Maypoles over there, if you get my drift, the way they routinely do here. That
alone gives them a bit of an edge in overall mass. And overall mess, too.
>>But I encourage you to ask Alison to buy an extra plaster
>>casting kit for you, if you wish to do more research...
>
>Oh yes! Alison, please include dear Kevin in your research. Pleeeeeeeeease!
Oh, my dear slaggish Minister! Alison is Minister of THAW Affairs! She's got
her, uh, hands full already with that job. I was suggesting that YOU do the
"legwork", if you will...
Perhaps it would be more economical if you two bought plaster in bulk, since
Alison also feels she will need several kits to get JT's "good side," and
anyway I'm not sure a standard-sized kit will accommodate him.
The Scene: Alison's house, late one morning.
(Doorbell rings. Alison opens the door to a delivery man with a clipboard. A
white Transit van is parked outside. The logo on the side says "White Cliffs
Plaster Supplies, Inc.")
ALISON: Hello?
DELIVERY GUY: We got your hundred pounds of plaster of paris and giant
Econo-Sized casting tub right here. Please sign... (Alison signs the receipt.
Burly men begin to unload the plaster bags from the truck.) Hey, that's a hell
of a lot of plaster, and a pretty big tub. What are you going to do with it
all? Make a life-size cast of Big Ben? (Delivery Guy chuckles.)
ALISON: (smiling mysteriously) Something like that.
-- HRHH Max, lending a whole new meaning to the term "casting couch"
HelenS24
>> research. Pleeeeeeeeease!
>
>Oh, my dear slaggish Minister! Alison is Minister of
> THAW Affairs! She's got her, uh, hands full already with
> that job. I was suggesting that YOU do the "legwork", if
> you will...
ALL RIGHT!!!
>Perhaps it would be more economical if you two bought
> plaster in bulk, since Alison also feels she will need
> several kits to get JT's "good side," and anyway I'm not
> sure a standard-sized kit will accommodate him.
Oh Alison luv. (I chime in sing-song.) How much plaster do you want, and do
want any particular brand? What other items are needed? Money is no object!
Helen S.
(Who's just TOO excited that we're finally talking about KW!!)
Tenderfoot
series Peak Practice. From the website:
About the Series
Set in the scenic Peak District, the series was launched with a
90-minute special on ITV with Amanda Burton, Simon Shepherd, Sylvia
Syms, Tom Beard and Melanie Thaw. (Whoa, a Thaw!)
Kevin plays Dr Jack Kerruish, who has ambitions to work in a country
practice in England after spending three years in Africa.
When Dr Daniel Acres (Tom Beard) leaves The Beeches surgery to join
the rival new clinic in the village, Dr Beth Glover (Amanda Burton)
and her partner Dr Will Preston (Simon Shepherd) are left with a
dilapidated practice and the need for a new partner. But is Dr
Kerruish (Kevin Whately) the answer to their prayers?
Setting up a clinic in the middle of nowhere was an ideal project for
the dynamic, go-getting Kerruish - but the small Derbyshire village of
Cardale may not be ready for the unorthodox doctor.
Kerruish is a man used to getting his own way, but he more than meets
his match in Beth Glover.
They're as headstrong as each other which means it's fireworks all the
way. But their forceful personalities also spark a sexual chemistry
between them....
The part of Jack Kerruish was specially written for Kevin Whately who
has worked for Central TV for the past 10 years. His Central run
started in November 1983 when viewers were first introduced to
Neville, the popular Geordie chippie in the cult series Auf
Wiedersehen, Pet. In 1987 he moved on to play Inspector Morse's
sidekick Sergeant Lewis in what was to become the most successful
drama series on television.
Now Peak Practice allows Kevin to take the limelight on his own.
"I wanted a complete change from Lewis but it's quite unnerving in a
way. In Auf Wiedersehen, Pet there was a big crowd of us and with
Inspector Morse, John Thaw always felt like a safety net. I feel more
exposed in Peak Practice but I'm enjoying the challenge.
"I'm also very happy to be playing someone who is not so nice as
Lewis! He's a much more pro-active character. He's full of energy and
ideas, but he can also seem selfish and uncaring. He's got a lot of
sides to his character to explore which makes him interesting."
Read the rest on
http://members.tripod.com/~nofrontiers/peakpractice.html
Tenderfoot
Tenderfoot
Read all about it on http://www.phill.co.uk/comedy/pet/index.html
Tenderfoot
Ali...@bismuth.demon.co.uk
Hello!
> I just wish he didn't seem such a not really smart guy in Morse.
Arrrh, but Lewis is smart, he just lets Morse take all the credit.
Alison.
judith lawrence
wavelength. Sometimes he does get good ideas. I just can't think of one at
the moment
--
Judy L Uni...@gte.net
Ali...@bismuth.demon.co.uk wrote in message
<363973bd....@news.demon.co.uk>...
Ali...@bismuth.demon.co.uk
I think that this one is really for the UK`ers.
It was a programme about two Christmases ago written by Ian Hislop
(editor of Private Eye and a wizz on a comedy show called "Have I got
news for you") about a black comedy concerning BSE but Turkeys were
infected instead of beef.
Anyway, along comes our Kev to investigate this turkey farm and to cut
a long story short, Kevin ends up totally naked and trusted up like a
Turkey on a meat hook!!!
Very funny programme - I have it somewhere on video tape...........
Alison.
Ali...@bismuth.demon.co.uk
Hello!
>>But I encourage you to ask Alison to buy an extra plaster
>>casting kit for you, if you wish to do more research...
Someone called my name..............
>Oh yes! Alison, please include dear Kevin in your research. Pleeeeeeeeease!
I`ll ask my sister-in-law, she loves Kevin and also the biggest
"Alde-pet" (as she calls it) fan in the world.
Oh, I remember another Kevin - The Broker.
He investigates Tax fraud.
Alison.
Ali...@bismuth.demon.co.uk
Hello!
(after reading this posting, my face has a real dirty grin all over
it)
>Oh, my dear slaggish Minister! Alison is Minister of THAW Affairs! She's got
>her, uh, hands full already with that job. I was suggesting that YOU do the
>"legwork", if you will...
Oh yes, my hands will be totally full.........................
>Perhaps it would be more economical if you two bought plaster in bulk, since
>Alison also feels she will need several kits to get JT's "good side," and
>anyway I'm not sure a standard-sized kit will accommodate him.
Standard size STANDARD SIZE!!!! - no way.
I think that the sizes will go something like this:-
Size 1 "There is no way that you can do anything with that"
Size 2 " Not bad, I just hope you know who to use it"
Size 3 "Great looking one, a real smasher and all rounder if I ever
saw one"
Size 4 "Be very careful as I have ready eaten today"
Size 5 "MY GOD are you a reincarnation of King KONG!"
Size 6 "John Thaw size"
>The Scene: Alison's house, late one morning.
Late one Morning, I`m glad about that, I enjoy a good sleep...........
>(Doorbell rings. Alison opens the door to a delivery man with a clipboard. A
>white Transit van is parked outside. The logo on the side says "White Cliffs
>Plaster Supplies, Inc.")
Hahahaha.
>ALISON: Hello?
As always. but you forget to add the smile.
>DELIVERY GUY: We got your hundred pounds of plaster of paris and giant
>Econo-Sized casting tub right here. Please sign... (Alison signs the receipt.
>Burly men begin to unload the plaster bags from the truck.) Hey, that's a hell
>of a lot of plaster, and a pretty big tub. What are you going to do with it
>all? Make a life-size cast of Big Ben? (Delivery Guy chuckles.)
No, just a sized 6 person!!
>ALISON: (smiling mysteriously) Something like that.
You forgot about me asking them in for a cup of tea, just to try out
the new package............
>-- HRHH Max, lending a whole new meaning to the term "casting couch"
Max, don`t talk with your mouthful, its` rude you know VEL.. (very
evil laugh)
Alison.
Ali...@bismuth.demon.co.uk
Hello!
>ALL RIGHT!!!
Good for you!!
>Oh Alison luv. (I chime in sing-song.) How much plaster do you want, and do
>want any particular brand? What other items are needed? Money is no object!
How big is this Paris by the way..................
Alison.
>(Who's just TOO excited that we're finally talking about KW!!)
Oh bless, Helen, all you needed to do was ask.
Ali...@bismuth.demon.co.uk
>And gosh, he's done a series with JIMMY NAIL! Kevin, my hero!
And don`t we know about that prog.
Alison.
HelenS24
He *lets* Morse take the credit? Isn't that more like, he accepts that Morse
will take the credit anyway, so why bother fighting? Not that I'm trying to
trash Morse.
Helen S.
HelenS24
> and trusted up like a Turkey on a meat hook!!!
DAMN IT!! You UKers have all the fun!
Helen S.
HelenS24
>How big is this Paris by the way..................
I dunno. That's why your taking the cast. I know JT can't be longer than a
kilt, unless he was trussed up somehow. KW? I dunno. You're the one with the
naked-turkey video. (And I'm still upset by that.)
>Oh bless, Helen, all you needed to do was ask.
But I tried earlier and no one went for it. Perhaps I wasn't bold enough. No
worries. We're onto him now.
Helen S.
Ali...@bismuth.demon.co.uk
>DAMN IT!! You UKers have all the fun!
I`m not promising anything, BUT - I`ll get the ol` frame grabber and
see what I can come up with for you.
Alison.
Ali...@bismuth.demon.co.uk
>He *lets* Morse take the credit? Isn't that more like, he accepts that Morse
>will take the credit anyway, so why bother fighting? Not that I'm trying to
>trash Morse.
Alison.
Ali...@bismuth.demon.co.uk
>I dunno. That's why your taking the cast. I know JT can't be longer than a
>kilt, unless he was trussed up somehow. KW? I dunno. You're the one with the
>naked-turkey video. (And I'm still upset by that.)
Thanks and what a honour to be chosen to perform such a wonderous
task.
There was the long socks too!!
As for KW, I never really took that a closer peek - but I can, just
for you as long as I get my really nice picture of John to hand.
>But I tried earlier and no one went for it. Perhaps I wasn't bold enough. No
>worries. We're onto him now.
Like bloodhounds to a dead body.
Alison.
HelenS24
> grabber and see what I can come up with for you.
Ooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Me want!
Helen S.
HelenS24
>> wasn't bold enough. No worries. We're onto him now.
>Like bloodhounds to a dead body.
Arf! Arf! Snif, snif.
Helen S.