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John Savident (born 21 January 1938) is a retired British actor, known for his numerous television roles, including his portrayal of Fred Elliott in the soap opera ''
Coronation Street ''Coronation Street'' is an English soap opera created by Granada Television and shown on ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres around a cobbled, terraced street in Weatherfield, a fictional town based on inner-city Salford. Origi ...
'' from 1994-2006. He is also known for his performance as Monsieur Firmin in the
West End West End most commonly refers to: * West End of London, an area of central London, England * West End theatre, a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London, England West End may also refer to: Pl ...
debut of The Phantom of the Opera and '' The Lion King.''


Early life

Savident was born in Guernsey and still lived there at the time of the German occupation of the island in 1940. He and his family escaped to England in a fishing boat. During his early years, he was a police officer before turning to acting as his profession.


Career

Savident created the role of Monsieur Firmin in the original production of '' Phantom of the Opera'', which opened on 9 October 1986 at Her Majesty's Theatre in Haymarket, London. He appeared as the renegade scientist Egrorian in a 1981 episode of the cult science fiction TV series '' Blake's 7''. He also had other television appearances in ''
The Saint The Saint may refer to: Fiction * Simon Templar, also known as "The Saint", the protagonist of a book series by Leslie Charteris and subsequent adaptations: ** ''The Saint'' (film series) (1938–43), starring Louis Hayward, George Sanders an ...
'', ''
Callan Callan is a given name and surname of Irish and Scottish origin. It can derive from Ó Cathaláin, meaning ''descendant of Cathalán''. Callan can also be an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Allin or Mac Callin. Notable people with the name includ ...
'' and ''
Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the u ...
'' .


''Coronation Street''

Despite his many film and TV roles (including civil servant Sir Frederick Stewart in '' Yes, Minister'' and a memorable part in '' A Clockwork Orange''), it was only during the 1990s when Savident joined the cast of ''
Coronation Street ''Coronation Street'' is an English soap opera created by Granada Television and shown on ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres around a cobbled, terraced street in Weatherfield, a fictional town based on inner-city Salford. Origi ...
'' as the bellicose but romantic butcher Fred Elliott that he became a household name. He made his first appearance on the show in 1994 and his character quickly became popular with viewers. In December 2005, Savident announced that he was to leave ''Coronation Street'' citing (undisclosed) "personal reasons". His character died of a stroke nine months later, in October 2006. He later revealed that he had retired from the show "because he wanted to spend more time with his family in Hertfordshire". Since leaving, he has been critical of the way the series is produced in a number of articles and television interviews, claiming that the programme is amongst other things "on too frequently" and "badly lit". He has also said he disagrees with the programme hiring well-known actors, as it takes jobs away from struggling, unknown actors.


Later work

Savident was one of the readers on the BBC's online Advent Calendar in December 2006. That year, he appeared in the pantomime '' Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'' as the henchman at Manchester Opera House, alongside his former ''Coronation Street'' co-star Suranne Jones, as well as Justin Moorhouse and an all-star seven dwarves including Warwick Davis. In 2007, he was touring as the lead in a production of ''
Hobson's Choice A Hobson's choice is a free choice in which only one thing is actually offered. The term is often used to describe an illusion that multiple choices are available. The most well known Hobson's choice is "I'll give you a choice: take it or leave ...
''. He appeared on ''
Loose Women ''Loose Women'' (previously known as ''Live Talk'' from 2000 to 2001) is a British talk show that broadcasts on ITV1 weekdays from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm. The show focuses on a panel of four female presenters who interview celebrities, talk about ...
'' on 19 March 2009 to discuss his part as Sir Joseph Porter in the
Gilbert and Sullivan Gilbert and Sullivan was a Victorian era, Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the dramatist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and the composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900), who jointly created fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which ...
operetta '' HMS Pinafore'', which toured the United Kingdom during the spring and summer of 2009. He guest-starred in the Christmas special episode of ''
Holby City ''Holby City'' (stylised on-screen as HOLBY CIY) is a British medical drama television series that aired weekly on BBC One. It was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a spin-off from the established BBC medical drama ''Casualty'', and pr ...
'' in 2012, playing patient Rupert Pool. He voiced the character Pendle in the ''
Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the u ...
'' audio-drama ''Order of the Daleks''.


Personal life

On 1 December 2000, Savident was stabbed in the neck at his home in Manchester by Michael Smith, who claimed he was acting in self-defence. Savident said at the time, "I suddenly felt somebody come up behind me and whizz me round so I was face down on the bed and then I felt a prick on my throat". Smith demanded valuables from Savident, and the keys to his classic
Morgan Morgan may refer to: People and fictional characters * Morgan (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Morgan le Fay, a powerful witch in Arthurian legend * Morgan (surname), a surname of Welsh origin * Morgan (singer), ...
sports car. Savident had met Smith in Napoleon's, a gay bar, following a personal appearance at an event for World AIDS Day. They then went to Savident's home – apparently to discuss the theatre – which Smith claimed was a euphemism for sex. In September 2002, Smith, by then aged 30, was sentenced to seven years in prison. He had been charged with wounding Savident with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm and robbing him of his wallet, credit cards, a silver money clip and cash, a Georg Jensen watch and ring, keys, and an invitation to ''Coronation Streets 40th anniversary birthday party. Savident's neck was pierced twice in a struggle with Smith; one of the wounds only missed the main artery in Savident's neck by less than an inch, and sliced straight through a minor blood vessel. The next week on ''Coronation Street'', the large
sticking plaster An adhesive bandage, also called a sticking plaster, medical plaster, or simply plaster in British English, is a small medical dressing used for injuries not serious enough to require a full-size bandage. They are also known by the genericized tra ...
on his character's neck was explained as a "butchering accident". Savident has been married to Rona Hopkinson since 1961; the couple have two children and several grandchildren.


Filmography

*''
Robbery Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take anything of value by force, threat of force, or by use of fear. According to common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the perso ...
'' (1967) – Policeman with Dog (uncredited) *'' The White Bus'' (1967) – Supporter *''
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'' (1968) - Henry Winthrop *'' Inadmissible Evidence'' (1968) – Mr. Watson *'' Otley'' (1969) – Businessman *'' Before Winter Comes'' (1969) – British Corporal *'' Battle of Britain'' (1969) – RAF Officer (uncredited) *''
Waterloo Waterloo most commonly refers to: * Battle of Waterloo, a battle on 18 June 1815 in which Napoleon met his final defeat * Waterloo, Belgium, where the battle took place. Waterloo may also refer to: Other places Antarctica *King George Island (S ...
'' (1970) – Muffling *''
A Family at War ''A Family At War'' is a British drama Television program, series that aired on ITV (TV network), ITV from 1970 to 1972. It was created by John Finch and made by ITV Granada, Granada Television for ITV. The original producer was Richard Doubled ...
'' (1970-1972, TV Series) – George Askew * '' Man of Straw'' (1972, TV series) – Von Wulchow *'' The Raging Moon'' (1971) – Fete Guest *'' A Clockwork Orange'' (1971) – Conspirator Dolin *'' Penny Gold'' (1973) – Sir Robert Hampton *'' Hitler: The Last Ten Days'' (1973) – Hewel *''
Diamonds on Wheels ''Diamonds on Wheels'' is a 1973 British family comedy film directed by Jerome Courtland and starring Peter Firth, Patrick Allen, George Sewell, Derek Newark, George Woodbridge and Barry Jackson. This was George woodbridge's last film and it ...
'' (1974) – Steward *'' Butley'' (1974) – James (uncredited) *'' QB VII'' (1974) – Anaesthetist *''
Galileo Galileo di Vincenzo Bonaiuti de' Galilei (15 February 1564 – 8 January 1642) was an Italian astronomer, physicist and engineer, sometimes described as a polymath. Commonly referred to as Galileo, his name was pronounced (, ). He was ...
'' (1974) – Second Senator *'' Looking For Clancy'' (1975) – Sir John Kernan *'' Trial by Combat'' (1976) – Oliver Griggs – Police Commissioner *'' Raffles (1976) (TV series) Series 1, Episode 10 Mr. Justice Raffles - Daniel Brigstock *''Rachel and the Beelzebub Bombardiers'' (1977) – Captain Verney, MP *''
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'' (1977) – Dan Mellor *''
The Professionals A professional is someone who is skilled in a profession. Professional or professionals may also refer to: * Professional sports Music *The Professionals (band), a British punk rock band formed in 1979 * ''The Professionals'' (The Professionals ...
'' (1978) - Robert Plumb (Servant of Two Masters episode) *'' Blake's 7'' (1979) – Samor *'' Yes Minister'' (1980) *'' Blake's 7'' (1981) – Egrorian *''
Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the u ...
: The Visitation'' (1982) – The Squire (1 episode) *'' Gandhi'' (1982) – Manager of the Mine *''
Oliver Twist ''Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress'', Charles Dickens's second novel, was published as a serial from 1837 to 1839, and as a three-volume book in 1838. Born in a workhouse, the orphan Oliver Twist is bound into apprenticeship with ...
'' (1982, TV Movie) – Mr. Fang *'' The Wicked Lady'' (1983) – Squire Thornton *'' The Bill'' (1984, TV Series) – Video shop owner *'' Little Dorrit'' (1987) – Tite Barnacle *''
A Summer Story ''A Summer Story'' is a British drama film released in 1988, directed by Piers Haggard, based on John Galsworthy’s 1916 short story "The Apple Tree (short story), The Apple Tree", with a script by Penelope Mortimer. It stars James Wilby, Imog ...
'' (1988) – A Banc Clerk *''Camping'' (1990) – English camper *'' Mountains of the Moon'' (1990) – Lord Murchison8 *'' Impromptu'' (1991) – Buloz *'' Hudson Hawk'' (1991) – Auctioneer *'' Mr.Bean Takes an Exam'' (1991) - examination invigilator *'' Jeeves and Wooster'' (1992) (TV Series) Series 3, Episode 2 Edgar Gascoyne Bickersteth, 8th Duke of Chiswick *''
Brain Donors ''Brain Donors'' is a 1992 American comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan and released by Paramount Pictures, loosely based on the Marx Brothers comedies ''A Night at the Opera (film), A Night at the Opera'' and ''A Day at the Races (film), A Day ...
'' (1992) – Edmund Lazlo * ''Mrs 'Arris Goes to Paris'' (1992) - Mr Armont *'' The Remains of the Day'' (1993) – Doctor Meredith *'' Tom & Viv'' (1994) – Sir Frederick Lamb *''
Coronation Street ''Coronation Street'' is an English soap opera created by Granada Television and shown on ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres around a cobbled, terraced street in Weatherfield, a fictional town based on inner-city Salford. Origi ...
'' (1994–2006) – Fred Elliott (1,063 episodes) *'' Middlemarch'' (1994) – Raffles *''
Othello ''Othello'' (full title: ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'') is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, probably in 1603, set in the contemporary Ottoman–Venetian War (1570–1573) fought for the control of the Island of Cypru ...
'' (1995) – 2nd Senator *'' Loch Ness'' (1996) – Dr. Binns *''Sharpe - Sharpe's Regiment'' (1996) - Maj. Gen. Sir Barstan Maxwell *'' The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall'' (2011) – Monsieur Firmin *''The Life and Times of Mim Stewart'' (2019) – Gary Brennan


Notes


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Savident, John 1938 births British police officers Living people People educated at Ashton-under-Lyne Grammar School Guernsey male actors British male actors British male film actors British male soap opera actors LGBT male actors