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James Saxon (actor)
William James Smyth (12 June 1955 – 2 July 2003), better known by his stage name James Saxon was an English television and theatre character actor. He began his career in British television productions in the early 1980s, and as the decade progressed he became an in-demand charismatic support actor with the plump physique and expressive moon face that he developed in his thirties, noted for his acting range, from frenetic intensity and garrulousness through to refined genteel introspection. To the mid-1980s generation of British children he was known for his role as Roland Rat's inept agent, D'Arcy DeFarcy, who would mistakenly refer to his client as "Reynard". Early life Saxon was born William James Smyth on 6 April 1955, in the town of Swindon in the county of Wiltshire. He trained to be an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, in London. Career Saxon began his career on television in the series ''Jukes of Piccadilly'' in 1980 before landing the part of Morris Hard ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Swindon
Swindon () is a town and unitary authority with Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough status in Wiltshire, England. As of the 2021 Census, the population of Swindon was 201,669, making it the largest town in the county. The Swindon unitary authority area had a population of 233,410 as of 2021. Located in South West England, the town lies between Bristol, 35 miles (56 kilometres) to its west, and Reading, Berkshire, Reading, equidistant to its east. Recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book as ''Suindune'', it was a small market town until the mid-19th century, when it was selected as the principal site for the Great Western Railway's repair and maintenance Swindon Works, works, leading to a marked increase in its population. The new town constructed for the railway workers produced forward-looking amenities such as the UK’s first lending library and a ‘cradle-to-grave' health care centre that was later used as a blueprint for the National Health Service, NHS. After the W ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Twelfth Night
''Twelfth Night'', or ''What You Will'' is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night's entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Viola and Sebastian, who are separated in a shipwreck. Viola (who is disguised as Cesario) falls in love with the Duke Orsino, who in turn is in love with Countess Olivia. Upon meeting Viola, Countess Olivia falls in love with her thinking she is a man. The play expanded on the musical interludes and riotous disorder expected of the occasion, with plot elements drawn from the short story "Of Apollonius and Silla" by Barnabe Rich, based on a story by Matteo Bandello. The first recorded public performance was on 2 February 1602, at Candlemas, the formal end of Christmastide in the year's calendar. The play was not published until its inclusion in the 1623 First Folio. Characters * Viola – a shipwrecked young woman who disguises herself a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
McCallum (TV Series)
''McCallum'' is a British television series that was produced by STV Productions (Scottish Television) and ran from 1995 to 1998. Dr Iain McCallum was the original lead character, played by Scottish actor John Hannah. McCallum is a forensic pathologist working in the morgue of St. Patrick's Hospital in London's East End, on TV.com. Accessed on 2 May 2014. who travels by , is generally charming and solves s. The character has romantic involvements with two of the other principal characters, Joanna Sparks (played by [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Captain Pugwash
''Captain Pugwash'' is a fictional pirate in a series of British children's comic strips and books created by John Ryan. The character's adventures were adapted into a TV series, using cardboard cut-outs filmed in live-action (the first series was performed and broadcast live), also called ''Captain Pugwash'', first shown on the BBC in 1957, a later colour series, first shown in 1974–75, and a traditional animation series, ''The Adventures of Captain Pugwash'', first shown in 1998. The eponymous hero – Captain Horatio Pugwash – sails the high seas in his ship called the ''Black Pig'', assisted by cabin boy Tom, pirates Willy and Barnabas, and Master Mate. His mortal enemy is Cut-Throat Jake, captain of the ''Flying Dustman''. History Captain Horatio Pugwash made his debut in a comic-strip format in the first issue of ''The Eagle'' in 1950, then appeared regularly as a strip in ''Radio Times''. In 1957, the BBC commissioned a series of short cartoon films produc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Poldark
''Poldark'' is a series of historical novels by Winston Graham, published from 1945 to 1953 and continued from 1973 to 2002. The first novel, '' Ross Poldark'', was named for the protagonist of the series. The novel series was adapted twice for television by the BBC, firstly in 1975 and later in 2015. Historical setting The series comprises 12 novels: the first seven are set in the 18th century, concluding in Christmas 1799; the remaining five are concerned with the early years of the 19th century and the lives of the descendants of the previous novels' main characters. Graham wrote the first four ''Poldark'' books during the 1940s and 1950s. Following a long hiatus, he decided to resume the series and published ''The Black Moon'' in 1973. Novels Each of the novels is subtitled ''A Novel of Cornwall''. In a preface to ''The Black Moon'', Graham explained his decision to revive the series after a two-decade hiatus. Main characters Ross Poldark Ross Poldark is the eponymou ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Prince Regent
George IV (George Augustus Frederick; 12 August 1762 – 26 June 1830) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover from the death of his father, King George III, on 29 January 1820, until his own death ten years later. At the time of his accession to the throne, he was acting as Prince Regent, having done so since 5 February 1811, during his father's final mental illness. George IV was the eldest child of King George III and Queen Charlotte. He led an extravagant lifestyle that contributed to the fashions of the Regency era. He was a patron of new forms of leisure, style and taste. He commissioned John Nash to build the Royal Pavilion in Brighton and remodel Buckingham Palace, and commissioned Jeffry Wyatville to rebuild Windsor Castle. George's charm and culture earned him the title "the first gentleman of England", but his dissolute way of life and poor relationships with his parents and his wife, Caroline of Brunswick, earned him t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
England My England
''England, My England'' is a 1995 British historical film directed by Tony Palmer and starring Michael Ball, Simon Callow, Lucy Speed and Robert Stephens. It depicts the life of the composer Henry Purcell, seen through the eyes of a playwright in the 1960s who is trying to write a play about him. It was written by John Osborne and Charles Wood. Cast * Simon Callow ... Charles II * Michael Ball ... Henry Purcell * Rebecca Front ... Mary II * Lucy Speed ... Nell Gwyn * Letitia Dean ... Lady Castlemaine * Nina Young ... Frances Purcell * John Shrapnel ... Samuel Pepys * Robert Stephens ... John Dryden * Terence Rigby ... Captain Henry Cooke * Bill Kenwright ... Bill * Murray Melvin ... Earl of Shaftesbury * Corin Redgrave ... William of Orange * John Fortune ... Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon * Guy Henry ... James II * Peter Woodthorpe ... Kiffen * Edward Michie ... Young Harry * Tom Shrapnel ... Young Pelham * Antonia de Sancha ... Louise * Constantine Gregory ... Colonel ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Henry Purcell
Henry Purcell (, rare: September 1659 – 21 November 1695) was an English composer. Purcell's style of Baroque music was uniquely English, although it incorporated Italian and French elements. Generally considered among the greatest English opera composers, Purcell is often linked with John Dunstaple and William Byrd as England's most important early music composers. No later native-born English composer approached his fame until Edward Elgar, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Gustav Holst, William Walton and Benjamin Britten in the 20th century. Life and work Early life Purcell was born in St Ann's Lane, Old Pye Street, Westminster – the area of London later known as Devil's Acre, a notorious slum – in 1659. Henry Purcell Senior, whose older brother Thomas Purcell was a musician, was a gentleman of the Chapel Royal and sang at the coronation of King Charles II of England. Henry the elder had three sons: Edward, Henry and Daniel. Daniel Purcell, the youngest of the b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sharpe's Honour (TV Programme)
''Sharpe's Honour'' is a 1994 British television drama, the fifth of a series screened on the ITV network that follows the career of Richard Sharpe, a fictional British soldier during the Napoleonic Wars. It is based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Bernard Cornwell. Plot In 1813, Napoleon is reeling from his disastrous invasion of Russia the year before, and Lord Wellington is preparing to drive the French out of Spain. Richard Sharpe (Sean Bean) is mourning the death of his wife Teresa. Sharpe's archenemy, French Major Ducos (Feodor Atkine), proposes a plan to his emperor to split the alliance between Spain and England (and gain revenge on Sharpe). He has a French spy, la Marquesa (Alice Krige), write a letter to her Spanish husband claiming that Sharpe tried to force his unwanted attentions on her. Sharpe is forced into a duel with the outraged nobleman, but the fight is broken up by Wellington's men. Later that night, while he is sleeping, the Spaniard has his thro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Napoleonic
Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led successful campaigns during the Revolutionary Wars. He was the ''de facto'' leader of the French Republic as First Consul from 1799 to 1804, then Emperor of the French from 1804 until 1814 and again in 1815. Napoleon's political and cultural legacy endures to this day, as a highly celebrated and controversial leader. He initiated many liberal reforms that have persisted in society, and is considered one of the greatest military commanders in history. His wars and campaigns are studied by militaries all over the world. Between three and six million civilians and soldiers perished in what became known as the Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon was born on the island of Corsica, not long after ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rik Mayall
Richard Michael Mayall (7 March 1958 – 9 June 2014) was an English actor, stand-up comedian and writer. He formed a close partnership with Ade Edmondson while they were students at Manchester University and was a pioneer of alternative comedy in the 1980s. Mayall starred in numerous successful comedy series throughout his career, including '' The Young Ones'', '' The Comic Strip Presents...'', ''Blackadder'', ''Filthy Rich & Catflap'', ''The New Statesman'', ''Bottom'' and ''Believe Nothing''. Mayall also starred in the comedy films ''Drop Dead Fred'' and ''Guest House Paradiso''; he won a Primetime Emmy Award for his voice-over work in '' The Willows in Winter''. His comedic style was described as energetic "post-punk". Mayall died suddenly at his home in London on 9 June 2014 at the age of 56. BBC Television director Danny Cohen praised him as a "truly brilliant" comedian with a unique stage presence, whose "fireball creativity" and approach to sitcom had inspired a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The New Statesman (1987 TV Series)
''The New Statesman'' is a British sitcom made in the late 1980s and early 1990s satirising the United Kingdom's Conservative government of the period. It was written by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran at the request of, and as a starring vehicle for, its principal actor Rik Mayall. The show's theme song is an arrangement by Alan Hawkshaw of part of the ''Promenade'' from ''Pictures at an Exhibition'' by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky. The programme was made by the ITV franchise Yorkshire Television between 1987 and 1992, although the BBC made two special episodes; one in 1988, the other in 1994. Cast list *Rik Mayall as Alan B'Stard MP *Michael Troughton as Piers Fletcher-Dervish MP *Marsha Fitzalan as Sarah B'Stard *Rowena Cooper as Norman/Norma Bormann (Series 1; she was credited as "R. R. Cooper" in all but episode six, in order to keep her gender uncertain) * Charles Gray as Roland Gidleigh-Park (Series 1) *Vivien Heilbron as Beatrice Protheroe (Series 1) * Stev ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
_-_Scene_from_'Twelfth_Night'_('Malvolio_and_the_Countess')_-_N00423_-_National_Gallery.jpg "Click for more on -> Twelfth Night")
