Very true, Bolam by his own admission is a professional actor doing his job, once the job is finished he moves onto the next. He doesn't do TV interviews plugging books or new shows or talking about himself or the past. He said I've taken my car to get fixed and pay the mechanic to fix the car, I don't want to know all about his private life and what work he's done over the years and wether or not he keeps in touch with workmates from 20 years ago, and I can't see why he'd want to know about me..
You can say the same when you were at school, how many school mates did you actually play with outside school hours. To me it was very few likewise later in life you drift apart and develop other interests and friends.
I think the fact that Bolan refused to appear on Rodney Bewes "This is your life" and refusal to reshow it for years depriving the cast of royalties that pissed the cast off, also don't forget he slammed the phone down.
Sometimes in music or comedy you get those that fit like hand in glove. Their chemistry in front of the camera was magical, it was almost telepathic. We do let friendships drift don't we, it's just a shame they never got together to chew the fat and talk about old times. Together they brought endless joy to many millions of people. Loved watching them with my Mum and Dad growing up in my teens. Thanks to both of you for the memories.
As I recall, Rodney Bewes made it quite clear on more than one occasion that Bolam refused to have any contact with him. Not just in terms of doing another series, but refused to even speak to him.
Rodney bewes had told local radio Station that James Bolam wife ..Susan Jameson was pregnant or given birth..James was driving at the time..nearly crashed his car..when the likely lads were going to do a film, James got on the last train to the North East and first train back when the filming was finished..
One of the stories that Bewes told us that he "tried to call him back but received no reply" might suggest that he failed to call him at a second attempt, but we will never know for sure. It's all very sad.
Rodney was neurotic...took a lot of pills ...booze etc . . .James never ever stopped working in his career ......its pretty simple to work out who produced the fantasy ideas . . . . .!!!
I think the issue is that we (the public) all wanted them to be best friends off screen because it makes the story somehow more complete and them more likeable for us as people. Bolam had a much more successful and longer career and it's up to him who he befriends and keeps in contact with. Some people just move on in life. At least they left us great reminders of the times they worked so well together.
I loved that sitcom way back in the seveventies. I live in North Tyneside, born and bread here, so I could relate to the locations they filmed and the situations they found themselves in.
To be honest, just because James and Rodney worked well on screen doesn't mean that there was any connection with them in real life. As James said. It was only acting. In retrospect James was the most successful and better actor, with little time to reminisce about the past. It just shows that the acting between the two was so good, that the general public thought that they were best mates off screen.
On reflection , some 50 years later , when I hear the repeats of this series , a tear always wells up in my eyes because above all , this series perfectly described young men and the lifestyles they got up to , whether you were Bob or Terry makes no difference and i believe they should have reunited for a third installment of later life .In other words , it was their duty to continue . No other series ever made encapsulates what we once were .
Revivals of old TV series are seldom as good as the originals. Better to just enjoy the original episodes than watch some third rate programme trying and failing to recreate something from the past.
They weren't friends they were workmates and for anyone to say Bolam should have done more and let the reruns happen because Bewes wanted it is ridiculous. He's an actor and has to think of his own career.
So, what your saying is, Bolam had so much money, just agreeing to allow RE_RUNS, of their shows, and sitting back as extra money rolled in, was too much effort? Modern TV can only survive, by re-showing comedy Greats. Otherwise, it's mostly SHITE. Meanwhile, his long time mate --whohe is so sorry for, was stoney broke, and lived in his Car.
@@MrDaiseymay A totally inaccurate story. Bewes was not broke - he had a very nice house in Putney and a holiday cottage in Cornwall. And the story about the BBC not repeating the Likley Lads episodes because of a Bolam vetoe is also untrue. This from 'The British Comedy Guide' site (an article about their 'strained relationship' which I recommend you read): 'The reality, however, was that, since Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? finished its run in 1974, episodes from both versions of the sitcom had been repeated on BBC One or Two in 1975, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004, plus 2013 and 2015, in addition to countless re-runs on the satellite channels, as well as numerous repeats of the BBC radio adaptations, and have remained an option in terms of subsequent mainstream repeats'. You are simply repeating Rodney Bewes' spin on events. He was renowned in the business as a teller of tall tales - usually with himself at the centre of them (he was known as 'The Beast'). James Bolam was and is an intensely private man - how many talk shows have you seen him on? A fact that allowed Bewes to control the narrative on their relationship.
Bewes was neurotic and unstable from about 50 years on ....-James could not work with the guy even if out of sympathy .- Rodney was known for psychotic episodes and pill-abuse . .. . .. .Bolam was simply the 'normal' one out of the two . . .his career carried on ...and people offered him jobs ...mainly out of his reliability .....Bewes had a reputation if you will .. .its that simple . ....@@Wotsitorlabart
Such a shame there wasn’t no more Likely Lads, I feel the series had legs to do many more. But I agree with James without the original writers I don’t think it could have worked. Seeing them old in a pub reminiscing about the old days would have been great. But some things are not to be, but what they did do together was excellent.
The story is that Rodney let slip on TV or radio a piece of personal information about James that he thought was already public knowledge. It wasn't and James was very angry. He cut of all contact with Rodney and refused to allow any repeats of The Likely Lads to be shown, (although he said it was because he didn't want to be typecast), thus depriving Rodney of a steady income in royalties. Apparently they both had to give permission. James has always denied any rift between the two.
@@jonsigsworth8788 The story about Bolam's refusal to allow repeats of The Likley Lads and WEHTTLL sounds dubious. Bolam has stated he couldn't prevent repeats being shown even if he wanted and to back that up episodes of the two programmes have been repeated on the BBC and cable channels on numerous occasions over the years.
@@Wotsitorlabart James Bolam DID have the right to stop repeats. Mike Smith who died blocked Top of the Pops episodes being shown, and Martin Shaw blocked The Professionals being repeated, it's only when Gordon Jackson's widow was in financial difficulties Martin Shaw allowed the reruns.
I recently read an article about this supposed fued which made for interesting reading. Bewes was notorious in showbiz circles to making up stories and for spinning tall tales out of momentary meetings. He had virtually no confidentiality filter. Bolam though private was friendly in a controlled way and would always ensure a confidence when chating to colleagues as much as demanding it. Also he did not have power of veto over repeats, in fact Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads has been repeated well over 20 times. The fact was they were very different. Bewes also did not get on with Bridget Forsyth who played Thelma, she said she could have cheerfully strangled him.
I have met and known many actors and performers in my lifetime. I know from experience that at times people want to move on and away from earlier episodes in life in order to live in the present. I can understand an actor or artist not wanting their past successes being constantly in the public eye when they want the focus to be on current achievements. Even the best of friends fall out and I wonder if Bolam was simply refusing (perhaps in an obstinate way) to give in to what he felt was emotional blackmail. I literally bumped into Rodney Bewes on the stairs in Mawson, Swann, and Morgan in Newcastle in the 1980's. I would have said something in praise of the 'Likely Lads' but Bewes came across as sullen and not wanting to be recognised or spoken too. A few years later I recognised Michael Palin across the street, and momentarily forgetting that he didn't know me from Adam, called out 'good morning Michael'! He waved, smiled bigly, and shouted back 'good morning'! Nice, polite, and professional response eh? Even if he though to himself 'who the hell is that guy'?
If Rodney just kept on about a new series which JB saw no sense in then sure that would strain any relationship. For whatever reason JB was the more successful and Rodney not so much. If Rodney had been up to his eyes in work then he would have happily moved on too. RIP Rodney Bewes and thank you.
dneilmusic14 Quite sure and he admitted it himself, personally I hold nothing against him. What he did in his private life is not for us to judge, I only judge his character on screen.
I think Rodney was stuck in the past, and the supposed feud was more in his mind than actually existed. Perhaps Rodney viewed the idea of a Likely Lad reunion as being as successful as the earlier shows, but the truth is that rarely is the case. You need to recognise when it's time to put something to bed, and he just couldn't get past that.
What I cannot understand, or Forgive, when Rodney Bewes lost his Wife, he didn’t even contact him then!!! No matter what personal differences I have with a person who has been that close to me. Manners dictate that you forget, and come together ( even for a brief moment of time) that’s the measure of a person. If you are so consumed by hate, then I pity you,for you have to live with it .
According to reports away from the set Bolam and Bewes were not that close.They socialised in the BBC bar after recording but never outside of work so the thing about them being close friends is just a myth
@@michaelconlon9277 Rodney Bewes gave a different account of the rift and he claimed that James Bolam had told him about the car crash resulting from Mrs. Bolam (Susan Jameson) telling him that she was pregnant while he was driving. Rodney admitted blurting this out to a press man and regretting it and so rang James to apologise but he slammed the phone down on him. We may never know for sure. A pity if that is accurate.
People who work together doesn't mean they're always friends. I worked with people whom got along with me and once the contract ends, we lose contact then.
We don't know what happened for sure. It's very sad. But Rodney Bewes was not as successful an actor as James Bolam has been after Bob and Terry. I often wondered if it was a bit of professional jealousy on Rodney's part. But that's all circumstantial. RIP and thanks for a great series.
I just spent a couple of weeks watching the two series. They were incredibly beautifully observed scripts. The actors were all excellent even in the tiniest roles. The observations were really well drawn as was the commentary on the state of their world. Bob and Terry feel very real in a way that most sitcom creations don’t. I am surprised that their relationship was only professional and lasted only for the period that they worked together on the show. Francis and La Frennais had a great passion for writing real voices and bitter sweet monologues and exchanges. The drama was so often in pairs of actors having conversations. Bolam and Bewes brought their characters to life. I was wondering if James Bolam was afraid of being type-cast; playing different versions of Terry for ever more or continually playing opposite Rodney Bewes in other shows that wanted that pairing. I guess that might have been the answer, considering how careers can be bogged down by rinse and repeat lazy thinking.
..he was a superb actor . .. its very telling that Rodney could not exist without him ....while James had the pick and choose of work projects. . . . . . . . . .
Because they keep bringing it up on social media now, people enjoy gossip, everything is fine and dandy doesn't lead to much conversation does it, otherwise the news papers headlines would be “All is ok” good and bad, shit happens.
Everyone has their own personal reasons for not talking to ex-partners, family or friends. Complete strangers have no right to judge. After all, would you like people judging you about those matters in your life? It's not their business. In any case, regarding James Bolam...his Jack Ford towers over his Terry Collier and he should be remembered for that really.
There never was a feud it was just James (like many others in the industry) found Rodney irritating and not someone he'd want to be friends with so when the job finished he went off to live his life post Likely Lads which was something Rodney never managed to do
I interviewed Rodney Bewes back in 2006 when i was working on the radio . Rodney was just as I expected . Happy to be working on his one man show at the Edinburgh Festival. He was full of stories from his past and how he enjoyed the notoriety of playing Bob Ferris in the Likely Lads. I asked him if he was to bump into James Bolam what would you say after 30 years. He paused for a few moments then said "great to see you old chum, how are you' i got the feeling he would have picked up where they left off withput question! But Bolam's ego was in the way unlike Rodney Bewes . It's very sad that Bolam could never make up. It says more about him than the late Rodney Bewes RIP.
@@dneilmusic1434 It was recorded at the time of broadcast as the interview was done live on Talk 107 part of the former UTV Talksport . I do have a copy somewhere but where is a good question!
@@dneilmusic1434 From recollection there was quite a few callers to the station. He was touched that over 30 years after the TV series and film, many people still remembered the series with fond memories . It was broadcast on the second Saturday in August 2006 from Talk 107's former Edinburgh studios.
very very sad Rodney died such a shame they couldn't have made a possible one off special,but james hated him apparently.sadly we,ll possibly never know.god bless Rodney.
This is bullshit. He blocked repeats causing other finance difficulties and hung up on him never speaking to him of of him again.....until he passed away. No point in talking about it now Rodney isn't around James.
From British Comedy Guide website article Strained Relationships: "...The reality, however, was that, since Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? finished its run in 1974, episodes from both versions of the sitcom had been repeated on BBC One or Two in 1975, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004, plus 2013 and 2015, in addition to countless re-runs on the satellite channels, as well as numerous repeats of the BBC radio adaptations, and have remained an option in terms of subsequent mainstream repeats...."
In the 1990's Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais had hoped to write a new series catching up with Bob and Terry as they approached retirement and began sketching out potential plots such as Terry having become a self-made millionaire. However, although the BBC and most of the original cast were very keen, James Bolam was not interested in reprising the role of Terry and the idea was dropped. In interviews in his final years Rodney Bewes would often claim that James Bolam had vetoed repeats of the series. The reality, however, was that, since the series finished its run in 1974, episodes from both versions of the sitcom had been repeated on BBC One or Two in 1975, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004, plus 2013 and 2015, in addition to countless re-runs on the satellite channels, as well as numerous repeats of the BBC radio adaptations, and have remained an option in terms of subsequent mainstream repeats. Rodney Bewes somehow managed to take (what may or may not have been) a fleeting meeting in a music studio with Jimi Hendrix, during which the guitarist (may or may not have) played a few notes on a song Bewes's friend was recording, and - ever the anecdotal upgrader - turned it into the strange claim that he had persuaded the guitarist to play on the theme tune of "The Likely Lads". Even though Hendrix was not in Britain when composer Ronnie Hazlehurst recorded the music, and there were no electric guitars discernible on the track, and Hendrix was dead long before the sequel's much more memorable theme tune was written, Bewes never tired of telling the tale, having somehow seemed to have convinced himself that it was all very vivid and true. For many years after, Bewes tried rather desperately to maintain the illusion that he was still in touch with Bolam, telling journalists who inquired that they had only recently had dinner together, enjoyed 'a swift half' or met up at the races - 'It was easier that way,' he later confessed - but, after Bolam declined to appear as a guest in his edition of "This Is Your Life" in 1980, and then ignored a number of other attempts at a rapprochement, Bewes finally began to address the issue in public - first in his 2005 autobiography, "A Likely Story", and then in countless interviews over the final twelve years of his life. It will remain a matter for conjecture how much he really believed, or managed to convince himself, that he was now mourning the loss of a genuine friendship, but certain elements in the narrative that he would recite always sounded somewhat contrived. He made a number of conflicting and confusing claims, for instance, that Bolam, riding high in a succession of other series while his erstwhile co-star was now struggling to revive his flagging career, had selfishly refused to sanction repeats of "The Likely Lads" on network British television. In 2007, a mere two years after he had claimed that he was "happy they keep on showing the old episodes" ("let's face it," he added, "you get the repeat cheques, and the bank manager smiles"), Bewes, in a bizarre volte-face ignored by the media, told an interviewer that Bolam had "vetoed" all repeats of the shows 'for 18 years' on the grounds that it would have been "a retrospective step" in his career.
What put me off when I read his book. Deirdre Birchwod was known to be an easy lay in Likely Lads. It's based of a real girl Rodney Bewes knew who was also called Deirdre Birchwood who was brutally raped behind some bushes. He mentions nothing about the aftermath or any support she might of gotten or even remorse. Deirdre Birchwood is also mentioned Dear Mother...Love Albert which he wrote.
Well some people just don't get on. Maybe he just didn't like him. Just because he worked with him doesn't mean he has to keep in touch. That's life. James did have a good character name though.
I loved "Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads" however, I wonder if the very private Bolam ever kept in touch with the cast from "Only When I Laugh", "When The Boat Comes In" and "The Beiderbecke Affair" trilogy whereas the "not so publicity shy" Bewes didn't do very much after this and seemed intent on perpetuating his involvement in "Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads" ......
I read an article about Rodney in MSM when he was in his 70s and touring UK in a One man show I think it was because JB wouldn’t consent to repeats of TLL which Rodney considered as his pension pot.They we’re repeated towards the end of his life tho,I think on one of skys channels.
Well having listened to James Nolan here I now have a different perspective on what may have happened between him and Rodney beers.I understand what hes saying about the strength of the scripts lay in the writers and to try and replicate that with different scriptwriters wouldn't be quite the same.so many times you have seen attempts to rewrite shows or bring back shows that were pieces of genius and that's how you want to remember them.but when they are brought back you think now why did they do that? why not leave it were it was at the top.porridge and open all hours a point in case.so I think James was right to turn it down as it could have turned out very badly for both of them and he wasn't ridneys keeper much as I liked Rodney.it seems to me James has been painted the villain of the piece over the years but having listened to him here I understand fully what hes saying.also he's right about as you move on from one job to another its very fast moving the acting world and its impossible to stay in contact with everyone but if Rodney did no a call to him now and then he should have been gracious enough to accept it which hopefully he did.end of day only they know what really happened between them but as I say James in this interview spoke warmly of Rodney and he did give his condolences to ridneys family and it did seem very sincere so don't think he can do more than that.recriminations of who was right or wrong will not bring Rodney back but all there is to do is hope that Rodney is at peace with his beloved wife and wish James well for his life
Here's what was left out ! Bolam refused to give his permission for repeats of the series to be played again on TV ! Denying Bewes his royalty fees ! R.I.P. Rodney Bewes ❤🙏
The shows were repeated in the 1980s, 90s and early 2000s, all whilst Bewes was still alive. Bolam moved on from the Likely Lads, he just didn't want to make any more new ones.
@@WedThursday you're right ! But that's when the problems began in 2003 when bolam started in New tricks ! That's when he refused to sanction any more repeats and as there were 26 episodes of whatever happened to the likely lads filmed in the 70s that was upto £4000 per episode royalties that Bewes never got plus there were 8 episodes in existence from the original titled show from the 60s " The likely lads " which Bewes was denied his royalties again ! You obviously haven't watched all the Rodney Bewes videos where all this is explained ? . And Nobody asked Bolam to make anymore new ones that wasn't the issue ! . When fans would ask Bolam in the street "how's your mate Rodney he would tell them he's dead ! And he didn't mean Rodney's character !
@@vinnyvincent2862 Actors can't do that. There's no evidence that Bolam was involved in stopping them being repeated, other than Bewes' saying it. In my opinion it's unfortunate that Bewes wasn't as successful as Bolam and needed to rely on Likely Lads repeats.
Maybe he had his reasons, perhaps he didn't want people getting sick of seeing it on TV all the time. You say he denied Bewes royalty fees, well he denied himself fees didn't he ? Not Bolam's responsibility to enrich Bewes.
@@WedThursday Actors certainly CAN block repeats. A famous example is Martin Shaw blocking The Professionals. He only allowed the reruns when Gordon Jackson's widow was in financial difficulties.
He's right about once the job has finished you move on but its an easy way of getting out of going to in-depth about what really happened but that's James is business nobody else
In spite of the tribute from James Bolam, I get the feeling that there must be more to it. After all, it was reported for years that he avoided any attempt at talking to Rodney Bewes again after 1976.
Michael Conlon - Well maybe she didn't like working with Rodney Bewes. After all, some of the people employed as extras said that Bewes wasn't a very nice person toward them.
James Bolam is a legend in his own lunch time. He strikes me as a cruel man. He blanked him for 4 decades. Rodney Bewes made the fatal mistake of telling it as it is, James didn't like that.
You were not there. Neither was I. Remember, there are two sides to every story. Why do you assume that J.B is the villain in this situation? Is it simply based on whatever your favorite character is? Not judging just simply asking.
I personally don't blame Bolam for the feud as Bewes was well known as an arrogant man and very gossipy in the showbiz world which at that time was a big no no. Bolam seemed to take the high road over the years and never mentioned it whereas Bewes was forever having digs at Bolam about it whenever he gave an interview. I think what it was is because Bolam as he said didn't want to do any more without Clement and La Frenais's writing chops behind it which would have destroyed the legacy if it had happened, and Bewes knew without Bolam the show would never return, and with his dwindling popularity knew his showbiz future was bleak so decided to put the blame on Bolam without looking at his own shortcomings in life.
They say in the north there is "nowt so queer as folk" As for James Bolam it may dawn on him that a couple of words to Rodney Bewes would stop the remorse he is feeling now or in the future. We will never know, but what is true remorse is a dreadful thing to live with.
Life is too short for holding grudges and having feuds with family and friends , So I hope there wasn't any ill feelings between them I've heard various stories and rumours that are hopefully not true....
I am afraid if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck it is probably a duck. There is now enough evidence that Bolam is a mean spirited and miserable individual.
@Trixie K I'm sure he had time to record a small message to him that could have been played to the audience & viewers of the "This is your Life" show. I think Rodney Bewes was unlucky not to get other acting roles as he was a very good actor.
If we think about all the people we have worked with over the years do we keep in contact with them I think not people move on and people are not always best friends and keep in touch.
That’s not at all accurate, Nimoy was at Shatner’s home in the late 90s for dinner and expressed concern that Shatners then wife had an obvious drink problem (Nimoy himself was a recovering alcoholic ). To talk so frankly is a mark of the fact that, in spite of the occasional fall out, 30 years after Star Trek finished they were still close friends. It was James Doohan and George Takei who hated Shatner not Nimoy
@@gerardmackay8909 Thanks for the comment. I was being sarcastic towards Bolam who was proved wrong by other lead actors maintaining their friendships beyond the time they worked together.
@@FiveLiver whoops I guess I had an irony by pass there so apologies 🤪 Yes you’re right on point that Bolam’s narrative is utter crap and the real truth is well and truly out there (from Bewes’ own lips) All the best to you
I did hear that Rodney bewes was very difficult to work with, i think Bolam was sugar coating things in this interview, but credit to James it would of been very easy to slag off a dead man, but having said that what a fantastic show the likely lads was, and whatever happened to the likely lads was absolutely class 👍
Definately more to this than this interview portrays, Rodney Bewes begged James to bury the hatchet only recently but to no avail? so sad the way this panned out, life really is too short for this kind of ending.. RIP Rodney
Rodney Bewes give nasty interviews where he accused James bolem of ruining his life all because bolem wanted to leave the show. Bewes was the bitter one.
@@stewartkee6115 I remember James Bolam saying "Rodney, only wanted to do Likely Lads" after Rodney Bewes died. James Bolam is no doubt grateful that Likely Lads opened up many doors for him but didn't want to keep doing it or dwell on it. He never blocked repeats they were aired numerous times and DVD sales were in demand when they were released. Rodney Bewes upset a lot of the right people who could of help find more work and he was terrible with money, he lived near to George Harrison big country house.
Was well known that Bewes was strapped for cash later in life, even saying he still had a mortgage 'at my age'. Money from repeats would have helped I'm sure, but James Bolam was reluctant. His business really.
Rodney Bewes lived in a big mansion in Henley On Thames. Near neighbours to George,Olivia,and Dhani Harrison. He was NEVER strapped for cash or as struggling as he'd like to make out.Total fantasist.
No mention of putting the phone down on Rodney Bewes in 1976 (the last time they spoke). And not contacting Rodney when his wife Daphne passed away. Or of blocking repeats of "Whatever Happens to the Likely Lads", causing financial distress to people like Olive Milbourne (Terry's mum). This tribute is a bit like Krusty the Klown's autobiography, self-serving and full of glaring omissions.
QuorkEx or it could be that Rodney Bewes was full of shit. I wouldn't want to contact someone who clearly lied. There have always been repeats of the likely lads. Most of us grew up watching the repeats so that was clearly untrue. Makes you wonder what else he lied about.
1976.. its not his problem is it.. and youre whining 40 years later ahahah talk about insane losers,.. theres no law that says you have to call anyone 40 years later for anything
It was repeated frequently, and still is. Gold ran the entire series in 2017 and 2018. BBC repeated all episodes during the 1980s and 1990s. The rights to the program would have been owned by the BBC - how can one actor who happened to be in it “block” repeats? What Bolam did do was refuse to consider reviving the character of Terry. So what? He wanted to move on. Maybe you should try it.
James Bolam and the writers only blocked 6 episodes of The Likely Lads that survived and the BBC had no intentions of repeated them anyway. No one can blame James Bolam wanted to take on other projects.
They did fall out , but nice words there, 2 years ago he ran a story in the Mirror about wanting to talk again and he didn't send a card or flowers when his wife died , why he couldn't have said this when he was alive God know Rodney would have loved to hear it, it counts when they are alive not dead, James overdid it , he maybe meant a lot of it, but there is a massive slice of bull crap in it too. RIP Rodney Bewes
I think they were good friends but that James Bolam was a very private man and Rodney Bewes gave an interview probably unwittingly saying his wife was pregnant which caused a rift between them that never healed, these things sadly sometimes happen in life, I suppose the fact that one went onto big success after and the other didn't probably made it that much worse as the years went on
James Bolam is so wrong . He said it himself when the first series was then superceded by the second series in which the two lads were older , the series was more ploished and then ended ?? No, if they had come back for a third series , it would have had a different angle as middle aged men and finaly a fourth series as old men .....would have been a masterpiece of writing and made James and Rodney just about the two most wonderful charachters that the entertainment industry had ever seen . Bolam knows this and is in denial for a silly spat that made him sulk forever after like a spoilt child . His work on other series never quite hitting the bullseye like the Likely lads did every time .
Yea right, keep telling yourself that. Fact is we were not there, we do not know exactly what happened. Besides obviously, it was not J.B. doing the sulking.
I loved the show, totally loved it, the characters were amazing, I had the hotz for Thelma, a stunning portrayal of two working class men who grew from kidz to adults but never really matured, very funny. As for the falling out, I think that Bolam isn't being as honest as he could be regarding the forty year hiatus, but maybe in a sort of tribute he gave it was not he right time to air his honest opinion, too late now anyways.. Death has stepped in to seal the friendship to yesteryear.
I am sure they did like each other, but that doesn't mean they were best friends like they were on screen. Unfortunately, every sitcom has a shelve life, the writers and James Bolam probably felt they took the show as far as they could and wanted to work on new projects. I know people have unfairly cast James Bolam as the bad guy, but how many of us haven't seen or spoken to our old school friends or work colleagues in years that we have gotten on well with in the past? I think it was more to do with their busy schedules rather than resentment.
@@dneilmusic1434 From an article on the British Comedy Guide website "...The reality, however, was that, since Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? finished its run in 1974, episodes from both versions of the sitcom had been repeated on BBC One or Two in 1975, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004, plus 2013 and 2015, in addition to countless re-runs on the satellite channels, as well as numerous repeats of the BBC radio adaptations, and have remained an option in terms of subsequent mainstream repeats...."
Excellent point. I have just re-watched the Likely Lads each one is a gem and the movie is great and was successful at the box office. I like to think that Terry got on the ship as Bob got off and Terry having an even more colourful military life.
Just because 2 actors worked with each other playing other people's scripts that made them out to be friends it doesn't mean that they were. But that's the magic of the theatre, they make us believe it's true. We all have people we have worked with that we no longer see or even think about. Are we all callous?
@@geoffreypiltz271 He would've received royalties from the re-runs of The Likely Lads, but it needed consent from both stars. Bewes felt that Bolam denied them out of mean-spiritedness.
Spoke about bolams marriage, never forgave him... Other actors needed the royalties as well.... Bolam refused the repeats for years.... Just like Martin Shaw in the professionals.....
Bolam denies a feud, is this man real? The only way he could hurt Bewes was to stop repeats and that's exactly what he did. I never really rated Bolam as a good actor, and now my opinion of him as a human being isn't good either. I hope Bollam can live with himself knowing the impact not allowing the repeats had on Bewes Family, and how it affected Bewes for the rest of his life.
He"ll sleep just fine, trust me. These people don't have guilt. That why they can do what they do. Though i do think Bewes might well have been a "problematic" person in real life, as there was no rush to pay respects with the rest of his co-stars/actors. It still does not excuse going out your way to deny a man a living just through spite -- if the rumours of bolan refusing to allow repeats are to be believed.
It's very easy to confuse what we see on television with real life but, at the end of the day, these were just two work colleagues who finished one job where they were closely connected then moved on. In the real (non acting) world, how many ex-colleagues who we got on famously with whilst working together, have we all subsequently lost touch with?
For the hard of thinking. They weren't friends in real life. Merely work colleagues. Actors playing the part of friends in a successful television sitcom. They never knew each other or socialised before working together so why should they have kept in contact afterwards? Bewes - it seems - was jealous that Bolam 's career had moved on whilst his had all but dried up-to-date so he concocted this hard done by tale.
He's not being honest in this interview. His excuses for having zero contact with Rodney - and not through lack of Rodney trying - just don't hold water. Why no occasional interview or TV specials together? Why no contact when Rodney's wife died?
Like Bolam said, that's acting. It was a job and while they were working together they got on. When Bolam moved on to another job he wasn't friends with Bewes anymore. Bolam is a private person and knew he wouldn't get on socially with Bewes. We've all been in workplaces where we get on with people whilst we are there, but when we leave, we don't keep in contact with all of them.
It is so sad about them not speaking for years. They basically grew up together and it made them famous. Also did bolam go to Rodney funeral. I did like the first episode of when the boat comes in. But it was the Seatons who made the series not bolam. As you only saw him in uniform trying to look big everyone supposed to be afraid of him so stupid. The second episode was rubbish. I believe that another series of the likely lads would not be the same. The only when I laugh was funny but I could not be bothered with him in anything else. He always was up his own arse.
Bewes and Bolam didn't grow up together. Bewes was from Leeds and Bolam was from Sunderland. You may be getting confused with the characters of Bob and Terry.
James Bolam went on to do a tirade of work after likely lads whereas Bewes faded. That must have been hard for Rodney to stomach . Something must have taken place between them but I hasten to say we will never know what now.
I’m afraid the fact that “whatever happened to the likely lads” hasn’t/isn’t being shown on any platform or available on iTunes proves what a small minded, twisted liar Bolam is.
It was shown on Gold frequently, most recently in 2018 when the entire series was run. It has also been shown on UK Drama. All episodes were also released on DVD - I have the DVD box set in fact. You’re talking nonsense.
I find it strange that you should keep saying this. I distinctly recall watching repeats of the shows across various BBC channels over the years. The BBC website, surely a more credible source than either you or my memory itself clearly says the series were shown again in the 80s (BBC 1), the 90s (BBC 2) and in 2013 (BBC 4). www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0077kqp
Well I'm not swallowing this bullshit about not seeing Rodney after the finish of The Likely Lads.....how do you not see someone for all those years afterwards that you were so intrinsically linked to....it's like McCartney saying oh after The Beatles I never saw Ringo.....nah....this was all like Rodney said....Bolam got upset just cos of Rodney (and without any malice) telling the story about when Bolam had been told he was to become a father.....Bolam got mardy and slammed the phone down on Rodney Bewes who'd called to apologise......Bewes always hankered for a reunion......I respect James Bolam as an actor but not for how he treated Rodney Bewes...he could have let bygones be bygones!
Nothing like it at all. The Beatles were all actually mates with each other(To begin with). Paul and George went to school together. They weren't just work colleagues brought together for a show like Bewes and Bolam.
bolam says theres no feud and nothing else.. how can that be petty.. why would he say anything nice or rude about someone, a poor slimey drug abuser, who constantly whines about some unknown feud..ahahaha.. rest in hell
I never met both chaps. One is dead and the other I am unlikely to meet. However, I do think that Bolam could have written, just a note, when Rodney's wife died. It would not have taken much. After all, they did both know each other very well. It is sad that we have two great talents, one an extrovert and another seemingly mean spirited. To me James Bolam will always be Jack Ford. A great talent, despite it all.
