Derek Fowlds : biography
Derek Fowlds (born 2 September 1937) is an English actor, known for playing Bernard Woolley in popular British television comedies Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister and Oscar Blaketon in the long-running ITV police drama Heartbeat.
Education
Fowlds was educated at Ashlyns School, a former Secondary Modern School in the historic town of Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire.Who’s Who on Television. Publisher: ITV Books Ltd./Michael Joseph Ltd. Published: 1985. Retrieved: 27 January, 2013.
Life and career
After amateur acting, Fowlds trained at RADA and made his debut on the West End stage in The Miracle Worker. He appeared in various film roles, including East of Sudan (1964), Hotel Paradiso (1966), Frankenstein Created Woman (1967) and The Smashing Bird I Used to Know (1969), prior to becoming familiar to British television viewers as ‘Mr. Derek’ in the children’s series The Basil Brush Show, replacing Rodney Bewes as presenter. Perhaps his most famous role was that of Bernard Woolley in Yes Minister and its sequel Yes, Prime Minister alongside Paul Eddington and Nigel Hawthorne.
From 1983–1985, Fowlds played the lead role in the sitcom Affairs of the Heart. He featured in a more sinister role in the 1990 political thriller Die Kinder. Fowlds then played Oscar Blaketon in the long running ITV police drama nostalgia series Heartbeat for its entire run. The character first appeared as the local police sergeant, then retired from the force and ran the post office before becoming a publican.
Early life
Fowlds was born in Wandsworth, London, the son of Ketha Muriel (née Treacher) and James Witney Fowlds, a salesman.
Family
Fowlds was previously married to actress Adrienne Corri and Blue Peter presenter and dancer Lesley Judd.
Television roles
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
1964 | Gideon’s Way Episode 26 "The Nightlifers" | Tim Coles |
1969–1973 | The Basil Brush Show | Mr Derek |
1980–1984 | Yes Minister | Bernard Woolley |
1982 | Minder | Meadhurst |
1983–1985 | Affairs of the Heart | Peter Bonamy |
1986–1988 | Yes, Prime Minister | Bernard Woolley |