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Re Anneke Wills...

Just finished watching the last of only eight surviving episodes of the original 1960s series "The Likely Lads".

It certainly seemed very theatrical, with cast members declaiming their lines to what were obviously inferior studio mike systems as compared with today. The delightful Anneke was seen as the boss's secretary in the episode "Other Side Of The Fence", which foreshadows Bob's aspirational career moves in the later "Whatever Happened To..." series of the 1970s. There's even mention (in this 1966 series) of the unseen Thelma, who would be such an unstoppable force in the WHTTLL era.

Missed it. A shame.

I gather that Anneke has written a compelling autobiography which is un-put-down-able and contains some amazing and bizarre stories. When I interviewed her back in 2005, it was here that she revealed (for the first time) that she was often beaten by her (then) husband - also a very well known actor. She had, apparently, never talked about it before. It was, I assure you, one of those moments. She has certainly led an amazing and unconventional life.

The final William Hartnell story of Doctor Who (The Tenth Planet) is to be released on DVD later this year, with the final missing episode appearing in animated form. Such a shame that so many of the Hartnell and Troughton episodes were junked by the Beeb in the 1970s. As with so many other shows that can never now be enjoyed by future generations.

Re: The Likely Lads" from 1966 with Anneke Wills.

drakula63 wrote:Missed it. A shame.

You didn't miss it. It wasn't on TV. I have the "Likely Lads" and "Whatever Happened To The ...?" DVD box set and have only just got round to watching them.

drakula63 wrote:I gather that Anneke has written a compelling autobiography which is un-put-down-able and contains some amazing and bizarre stories. When I interviewed her back in 2005, it was here that she revealed (for the first time) that she was often beaten by her (then) husband - also a very well known actor. She had, apparently, never talked about it before. It was, I assure you, one of those moments. She has certainly led an amazing and unconventional life. The final William Hartnell story of Doctor Who (The Tenth Planet) is to be released on DVD later this year, with the final missing episode appearing in animated form. Such a shame that so many of the Hartnell and Troughton episodes were junked by the Beeb in the 1970s. As with so many other shows that can never now be enjoyed by future generations.

I was never really a Dr Who fan (though "Blake's Seven" was quite another matter), but I'm sure George Geddes will be able to swap commiserations with you. On the other hand, I'm well aware of how so much 1960s videotaped TV was junked, by the ITV companies as well as by the BBC.

drakula63 wrote:I gather that Anneke has written a compelling autobiography which is un-put-down-able and contains some amazing and bizarre stories. When I interviewed her back in 2005, it was here that she revealed (for the first time) that she was often beaten by her (then) husband - also a very well known actor. She had, apparently, never talked about it before. It was, I assure you, one of those moments. She has certainly led an amazing and unconventional life.

It's only just recently I discovered, via Wikipedia, that she had a child by Anthony Newley, following their meeting on the Gurney Slade series.

Bill

Yeah. I ought to point out that is WASN'T Anthony Newley who she claims used to hit her. As I say, she'll be in Derby on August 31st if anyone wants to come along and hear some great anecdotes (and one or two not so great, I imagine)...

GoldenStreet wrote:

drakula63 wrote:I gather that Anneke has written a compelling autobiography which is un-put-down-able and contains some amazing and bizarre stories. When I interviewed her back in 2005, it was here that she revealed (for the first time) that she was often beaten by her (then) husband - also a very well known actor. She had, apparently, never talked about it before. It was, I assure you, one of those moments. She has certainly led an amazing and unconventional life.

It's only just recently I discovered, via Wikipedia, that she had a child by Anthony Newley, following their meeting on the Gurney Slade series.
Bill

As is so often the case (understandably, given the laissez faire manner in which entries are made), that Wiki entry cannot be totally accurate. It reads:

At 17 she began a relationship with Anthony Newley while working on the TV series The Strange World of Gurney Slade. Newley fathered Wills' first child, but left her to marry Joan Collins.

Anneke's DOB was 20-Oct-1941, so she was 17 between October 1958 and October 1959. "The Strange World of Gurney Slade" was, of course, made in 1960 and was transmitted around the time of Anneke's 19th birthday. Even so, I'd have said that Anneke looked more than 18 years old in it.

As you were...

Indeed, Jim! According to Anneke's IMDB entry, probably equally unreliable, she has two children, Polly born in 1963 and Jasper in 1965...

Bill

Chris: I'm interested that you don't name the man you say Wills claims to have beaten her...

Bill: The point about Wikipedia, unlike IMDB, is that anyone can write there and no single person can be held accountable for its content. As a mixture of fact and fiction, it is not a reliable source on its own, although it can be a very useful starting point. I once corrected an error in the Shadows entry, only to find my contribution had been edited to confuse the issue again!

Iain,
With a situation as you describe, is there not a appeal procedure so that a topic can be locked to prevent malicious changes?

Ray

In Wikipedia? I don't know, Ray!
I suspect it's possible for malicious material to appear there for quite a while. I imagine it would need someone to complain before anything was done.