Derek Fowlds

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Derek Fowlds bigraphy, stories - Actor, Presenter

Derek Fowlds : biography

02 September 1937 –

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
1988 The Settling of the Sun Kurt Friedman/Michael Robson