Obituary: EDWARD WOODWARD

Edward Woodward in The Wicker Man 1973

Edward Woodward sadly passed away yesterday at the age of 79. In memory of this television icon OtB searched the web to find out more about the man who was TV’s Equalizer.

Edward Woodward Factfile:

• Born: 1 June, 1930 in Croydon, London (then Surrey).
• As a child Woodward’s family home was bombed out on three occasions.
• Woodward went to Elmwood school in Wallington, Surrey, where he developed his interest in drama, and then arrived at Kingston commercial college at the age of 14 with the ambition of becoming a journalist.
• A stint as a shorthand typist for a sanitary engineers followed, before he went to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) at 16.
• Woodward’s London debut was in Where There’s a Will, at the Garrick in 1955.
• Woodward later enjoying a popular success in Rattle of a Simple Man, opposite Sheila Hancock, at the Garrick in London in 1962. He went to Broadway with the play the following year and appeared there in two more shows in the mid-60s: High Spirits and The Best Laid Plans.
• Woodward took on a number of roles on UK television, including an appearance in The Saint in 1967, but his first steady acting role on television was as David Callan in the series Callan which ran on UK television from 1967 to 1972.
• Woodward’s most famous role on the big screen came in 1973 when he played Sergeant Howie in the film The Wicker Man.
• In 1985 Woodward took on the role of Robert McCall in the television series The Equalizer, which will probably be the role he is most remembered for. The series ran for 87 episodes between 1985 and 1989.
• In 1987 Woodward appeared as Tom Weaver in Simon Pegg’s film Hot Fuzz.
• Woodward also appeared on the popular UK soap opera Eastenders earlier this year.

Edward Woodward; June 1, 1930-November 16, 2009

Babs quits Eastenders

Perhaps I am imagining things, but I feel the news of Barbara Windsor leaving Eastenders is news I have heard before.

Maybe though Babs leaving will be the end of the soap that was once required viewing in my house, but has slipped to depths so low that I hardly ever even glance at this show now.

Read More:

From UK.Yahoo.com TV:

Soap icon Barbara Windsor has announced that she is leaving EastEnders.

The actress, who has played Peggy Mitchell in the show for 15 years, will leave in a storyline next year.

Barbara first appeared in EastEnders back in 1994 and went on to become one of the soap’s best-loved characters. She was awarded an MBE in 1999 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Soap Awards in May this year.

Speaking about her departure, Barbara said: “EastEnders has been wonderful to me and it’s no secret that it changed my life all of those years ago. I’ll be so sad to leave Peggy behind; she’s such a wonderful character to play.

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Wendy Richards dead at 65.

Months ago I finally gave up my days of watching the depress-fest that is Eastenders, yet it still comes with some degree of sadness that I report today that Wendy Richards, who played miserable Pauline Fowler for 21 years has died.

The actress who also played Miss Brahms in Are You Being Served for thirteen years had been battling cancer.

An article in The Times today sums up this blogger’s feelings exactly; I will miss Wendy Richards, but I am glad Pauline Fowler will never return to the the square.

See: EastEnders fans miss Wendy Richard but not Pauline Fowler

SoapBox… introducing the streets new detective

…keeping you up to date with street and the east end!

15-18 December

 

Coronation Street:

• Steve is still trying to get Michelle to break up with him so he can spend the rest of his life with Becky. He has tried being lazy, and rude, and this week chose to go for the unclean strategy… Why doesn’t he just tell her he has been knocking boots with Becky that would probably work!
• Maria, the Sherlock Holmes of the cobbled street, has figured out that Tony killed Liam. She has had some luck trying to get Tony to confess, he almost came out with it, but ultimately he has kept quiet. So Maria has gone to the police, and they have had no luck (did they think he would just confess?). Carla though is starting to feel that Maria might have a point, and I feel she will soon be joining Maria in her quest to get bug eyed Tony banged up!
• John Thompson made a guest appearance on the street, playing a children’s performer called Jesse James. I am not sure how the appearance will affect ratings, but Eileen certainly was paying attention!
• Peter and ex-prostitute/fraudster/arson Leanne are playing happy families… that is until Peter gets drunk and makes a pass at Leanne… and here was I thinking she had no standards!

 

Eastenders:

• Dodgy paedophile Tony has finally been rumbled, and Whitney has finally been convinced to talk to the police. Now Bianca has the task of trying to get the most dysfunctional family in East London functioning again, and hopefully most of this work will be done off screen, as her family especially that little Liam who is so dim he can’t even wear a hat properly, irritate me senseless!
• Phil has been having a bit of bother with Suzy’s ex-partner, but he sorts him out with a brick of gold. There was a time he would have battered him with the brick, but the new softer Phil only handed it to him. During the confrontation Phil let it slip that Suzywas preggers, but is she really???
• God help us! It is looking likely that Janine Butcher will be back for Christmas. Please can the writers give it up, first Bianca, then Ricky and now Janine… who’s next?… Fat Barry???

Soap and Flannel… I’m starting to agree with Ian

Coronation Street:

Is it just my imagination or is Rodger Windass the long lost brother of Little Britain’s Andy?

Eastenders:

Bianca – ” Ian Beale just think I am a big mouth waste of space”

I’m starting to worry… I actually agree with Ian Beale!

Coronation Street:

Back to the Windass family, is Gary Windass, Chesney’s long lost brother?

Soaps & Flannel… formally known as soap bubble.

 Eastenders:

Can anybody explain to me how Vinny, the man who appears not to have a job, can afford to run a 67 Ford Mustang?

I used to have one, and if I recall it has a 400 cubic inch engine which gets about 15 miles to the gallon. I mean a trip to central London and back would cost him at least £15!

Coronation Street:

Jed Stone- annoying old git!

Why could the writers not have had Tony kill Jed when they had the chance… HE IS BY FAR THE MOST ANNOYING PERSON EVER TO HAVE WALKED THE CORONATION STREET COBBLES!

Soap Bubble (30-11-08)

Eastenders:

Bradley has finally revealed the truth about Max… he is a superhero!

Nothing can stop dad… you can’t run him over… nothing!

Coronation Street:

Am I the only person who wishes Haley had stayed in Africa. All she has done since she has gotten back is run around with that stupid look on her face whining about western society.

 

Eastenders:

Can anyone explain to me how Sean always has three days worth of stubble on his face? At some point that caveman must shave or else he would have a beard!

Coronation Street:

Has there ever been a sexier person behind the bar then Michelle Connor (Kym Marsh)?

No I didn’t think so, then can anyone explain why Steve McDonald keeps cheating on her with Becky?