Rodney Bewes: Whatever Happened to the Likely Lad, Part Two

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It would be churlish to suggest that the main reason for seeing Rodney Bewes remains hearing him speak ill of his Likely Lads co-star James Bolam. After covering their fallout in his initial solo Fringe show, this is a lovely afternoon hour with a genial survivor of one of British sitcom's most celebrated eras. Effusive as he is in his praise and love for the sitcom's writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, acting chums like Tom Courtenay and just about everyone he's ever met though, Bewes hardly mentions Bolam. And when he does, it's only in the most dismissive tones as a sour, crabby grump, ungrateful for the fame and fortune the show bestowed on them both. As a showbusiness slapdown, it's mildly devastating.

Other strongly delivered refrains, at least with an occasional shake of the head, are Bewes' utter bewilderment at the history of BBC Television Centre being obliterated for luxury flats and a perspective-affording comparison of The Likely Lads' enormous viewing figures compared to a ratings juggernaut of today like Top Gear, paltry by comparison. Although reading from autocue, the likeable Yorkshireman isn't afraid to ramble off script or lose his thread. Encounters with the likes of Paul McCartney and dear David Attenborough tend towards the luvviesh but he's compelling on his child acting career and the sacrifices of his parents. Best of all though, is his unlikely account of how Jimi Hendrix came to play on the theme tune of his own sitcom, Dear Mother… Love Albert.