Life on Mars/Ashes to ashes cast
Discussion
A lot of the guest stars in those shows were already well established by the time they appeared in them, but one or two were fairly new to TV work. Many were regular faces in various '60s shows, while some went even further back, for example Diana Dors' star was pretty much on the wane by the time she appeared in The Sweeney (1976 I think), but her hubbie Alan Lake appeared as a villain in the first episode 'Ringer' in January '75. Alongside Lake in that first episode was Ian Hendry who's career at that point was certainly past its peak.
His biography 'Bring On The Clowns' is excellent, well worth reading. Hendry, Blessed and Lake make a perfect trio of villainy in 'Ringer'.
Johhny Shannon was another good casting choice, he was in the Sweeney and Professionals but was a genuine 'face' many years before appearing in these shows, his first acting job came about when he was one of several faces keeping James Fox company during the making of 'Performance' back in 1968, Fox thought he was so convincing he persuaded Nick Roeg and Donald Cammel to give him a part of gangster Harry Flowers in the film. Two years later he played a villain in, er.... 'Villain'! Much later he played one of Arthur Daley's dodgy pals in 'Minder', appearing twice.
Johhny Shannon was another good casting choice, he was in the Sweeney and Professionals but was a genuine 'face' many years before appearing in these shows, his first acting job came about when he was one of several faces keeping James Fox company during the making of 'Performance' back in 1968, Fox thought he was so convincing he persuaded Nick Roeg and Donald Cammel to give him a part of gangster Harry Flowers in the film. Two years later he played a villain in, er.... 'Villain'! Much later he played one of Arthur Daley's dodgy pals in 'Minder', appearing twice.
biggbn said:
Its great to watch the sweeney, minder and the professionals and look for actors who subsequently made it and obscure motors. Big list from those programmes, but to be going on with, Ray Winstone, Brian Cox, Brian Blessed, Peter Capaldi, Joss Ackland, Steven Rea, James Cosmo
Janet Ellis of Blue Peter fame made an appearance in The Sweeney - I maybe mistaken but think she got her chebs out n all 
andySC said:
I finished Life on Mars this afternoon, really enjoyed it. Just watched the first episode of Ashes to Ashes (which featured my favourite Roxy Music song)....I think this’ll be great too.
I'm doing the same (can't believe they passed me by first time round... guess I must have been busy!)Ashes to Ashes soon finds it feet.. but as I mentioned in another thread the handbrake turns in the Quattro during every chase scene are a bit annoying. It is a lovely motor though, especially against the backdrop of the other cars on screen.
ShyTallKnight said:
Janet Ellis of Blue Peter fame made an appearance in The Sweeney - I maybe mistaken but think she got her chebs out n all
She was in it, but are you not thinking of Diane Keen in the Sweeney movie (from the Cuckoo Waltz) or perhaps Lynda Bellingham who was in the 'confessions' movies too?A lot of big UK stars popped up in those sort of shows because the UK movie industry was on its arse in the 1970s and they needed the work! Morecambe and Wise were in the Sweeney too.
V8fan said:
She was in it, but are you not thinking of Diane Keen in the Sweeney movie (from the Cuckoo Waltz) or perhaps Lynda Bellingham who was in the 'confessions' movies too?
A lot of big UK stars popped up in those sort of shows because the UK movie industry was on its arse in the 1970s and they needed the work! Morecambe and Wise were in the Sweeney too.
Pamela Stephenson was in the Professionals a couple of times.A lot of big UK stars popped up in those sort of shows because the UK movie industry was on its arse in the 1970s and they needed the work! Morecambe and Wise were in the Sweeney too.
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