English actor Jack Shepherd, star of Wycliffe, dies at 85
---------------------------------------------------------
Jack Shepherd, the English actor perhaps best remembered for playing
the title role in the 1990s ITV detective drama Wycliffe, has died
at the age of 85.

The Leeds-born TV star passed away in hospital following a "short
illness", with his wife and children present, PA news agency reports.

"His passing is a sad loss to us all," said his agents Markham,
Froggatt and Irwin.

Awards he received include an Olivier for the original production of
the stage play Glengarry Glen Ross in 1983.

He had an earlier television incarnation as Bill Brand in the 1970s
ITV series of the same name about a fictional firebrand Labour MP.

Shepherd also had numerous film roles and was a playwright and
theatre director.

After school in Leeds, he won a scholarship to Newcastle University
to study fine art, then moved to London to study at The Central
School for Speech and Drama.

He went on to perform in the National Theatre and Royal Court
theatre.

For his breakthrough TV role as Bill Brand, he won a Bafta
nomination in the best actor category in 1977.

The show was described in a Spectator tribute last year as a "time
capsule of the 1970s - the brown everywhere, the fag-smoke and
lunchtime beer, the patterned wallpaper, the rusty Ford Cortinas and
sense of national decay".

The character Shepherd portrays is described as "part of a long
tradition, reminding the Left of the principles it has wandered from
in the search for power".

As the thoughtful Det Supt Charles Wycliffe, Shepherd solved murders
in Cornwall over 36 episodes between 1993 and 1998.

His work as an actor in BBC productions ranged from a schoolteacher
in Play for Today: Pidgeon - Hawk Or Dove? (1974) to a barrister in
Blind Justice (1988), and from the Austrian composer Franz Joseph
Haydn in the BBC docudrama Beethoven (2005) to an Auschwitz inmate
in the drama God on Trial (2008).

Shepherd directed The Two Gentlemen Of Verona in 1996 at
Shakespeare's Globe and the production also went to Broadway.

He worked with director Bill Bryden on numerous theatre productions
and was also a saxophonist and jazz pianist.

Jack Shepherd is survived by his wife Ann Scott and five children Jan,
Jake, Victoria, Catherine and Ben.


<https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8e9kj8n9kko>





--- PyGate Linux v1.5.1
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Your Name wrote:

ÿÿ English actor Jack Shepherd, star of Wycliffe, dies at 85
ÿÿ ---------------------------------------------------------
ÿÿ Jack Shepherd, the English actor perhaps best remembered for playing
ÿÿ the title role in the 1990s ITV detective drama Wycliffe, has died
ÿÿ at the age of 85.

ÿÿ The Leeds-born TV star passed away in hospital following a "short
ÿÿ illness", with his wife and children present, PA news agency reports.

ÿÿ "His passing is a sad loss to us all," said his agents Markham,
ÿÿ Froggatt and Irwin.

ÿÿ Awards he received include an Olivier for the original production of
ÿÿ the stage play Glengarry Glen Ross in 1983.

ÿÿ He had an earlier television incarnation as Bill Brand in the 1970s
ÿÿ ITV series of the same name about a fictional firebrand Labour MP.

ÿÿ Shepherd also had numerous film roles and was a playwright and
ÿÿ theatre director.

ÿÿ After school in Leeds, he won a scholarship to Newcastle University
ÿÿ to study fine art, then moved to London to study at The Central
ÿÿ School for Speech and Drama.

ÿÿ He went on to perform in the National Theatre and Royal Court
ÿÿ theatre.

ÿÿ For his breakthrough TV role as Bill Brand, he won a Bafta
ÿÿ nomination in the best actor category in 1977.

ÿÿ The show was described in a Spectator tribute last year as a "time
ÿÿ capsule of the 1970s - the brown everywhere, the fag-smoke and
ÿÿ lunchtime beer, the patterned wallpaper, the rusty Ford Cortinas and
ÿÿ sense of national decay".

ÿÿ The character Shepherd portrays is described as "part of a long
ÿÿ tradition, reminding the Left of the principles it has wandered from
ÿÿ in the search for power".

ÿÿ As the thoughtful Det Supt Charles Wycliffe, Shepherd solved murders
ÿÿ in Cornwall over 36 episodes between 1993 and 1998.

ÿÿ His work as an actor in BBC productions ranged from a schoolteacher
ÿÿ in Play for Today: Pidgeon - Hawk Or Dove? (1974) to a barrister in
ÿÿ Blind Justice (1988), and from the Austrian composer Franz Joseph
ÿÿ Haydn in the BBC docudrama Beethoven (2005) to an Auschwitz inmate
ÿÿ in the drama God on Trial (2008).

ÿÿ Shepherd directed The Two Gentlemen Of Verona in 1996 at
ÿÿ Shakespeare's Globe and the production also went to Broadway.

ÿÿ He worked with director Bill Bryden on numerous theatre productions
ÿÿ and was also a saxophonist and jazz pianist.

ÿÿ Jack Shepherd is survived by his wife Ann Scott and five children Jan,
ÿÿ Jake, Victoria, Catherine and Ben.

ÿÿ <https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8e9kj8n9kko>

I was able to watch "Wycliffe" with my mother on BritBox with my mother,
while she was still watching TV, and we enjoyed it.

--Robin


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.1
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 2025-11-30 16:11:27 +0000, Robin Miller said:

Your Name wrote:

?? English actor Jack Shepherd, star of Wycliffe, dies at 85
?? ---------------------------------------------------------
?? Jack Shepherd, the English actor perhaps best remembered for playing
?? the title role in the 1990s ITV detective drama Wycliffe, has died
?? at the age of 85.

?? The Leeds-born TV star passed away in hospital following a "short
?? illness", with his wife and children present, PA news agency reports.

?? "His passing is a sad loss to us all," said his agents Markham,
?? Froggatt and Irwin.

?? Awards he received include an Olivier for the original production of
?? the stage play Glengarry Glen Ross in 1983.

?? He had an earlier television incarnation as Bill Brand in the 1970s
?? ITV series of the same name about a fictional firebrand Labour MP.

?? Shepherd also had numerous film roles and was a playwright and
?? theatre director.

?? After school in Leeds, he won a scholarship to Newcastle University
?? to study fine art, then moved to London to study at The Central
?? School for Speech and Drama.

?? He went on to perform in the National Theatre and Royal Court
?? theatre.

?? For his breakthrough TV role as Bill Brand, he won a Bafta
?? nomination in the best actor category in 1977.

?? The show was described in a Spectator tribute last year as a "time
?? capsule of the 1970s - the brown everywhere, the fag-smoke and
?? lunchtime beer, the patterned wallpaper, the rusty Ford Cortinas and
?? sense of national decay".

?? The character Shepherd portrays is described as "part of a long
?? tradition, reminding the Left of the principles it has wandered from
?? in the search for power".

?? As the thoughtful Det Supt Charles Wycliffe, Shepherd solved murders
?? in Cornwall over 36 episodes between 1993 and 1998.

?? His work as an actor in BBC productions ranged from a schoolteacher
?? in Play for Today: Pidgeon - Hawk Or Dove? (1974) to a barrister in
?? Blind Justice (1988), and from the Austrian composer Franz Joseph
?? Haydn in the BBC docudrama Beethoven (2005) to an Auschwitz inmate
?? in the drama God on Trial (2008).

?? Shepherd directed The Two Gentlemen Of Verona in 1996 at
?? Shakespeare's Globe and the production also went to Broadway.

?? He worked with director Bill Bryden on numerous theatre productions
?? and was also a saxophonist and jazz pianist.

?? Jack Shepherd is survived by his wife Ann Scott and five children Jan,
?? Jake, Victoria, Catherine and Ben.


?? <https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8e9kj8n9kko>

I was able to watch "Wycliffe" with my mother on BritBox with my
mother, while she was still watching TV, and we enjoyed it.

The series ended because Jack Shepherd refused to continue in the role
after the studio badly treated the production's police expert advisor.

"The series was cancelled because Jack Shepherd refused to
continue in the title role when the producers sacked Jimmy
Yuill (Det. Insp. Doug Kersey) for 'insurance reasons'
after he contracted life-threatening meningitis during
filming, and then would not reinstate him even though he
made a full recovery."

There was a series aof documentaries we watched a while back, with each episode about a different UK crime drama series. One of the was
"Wycliffe" and had a little bit about this. The police expert nearly
died.




--- PyGate Linux v1.5.1
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Your Name wrote:

On 2025-11-30 16:11:27 +0000, Robin Miller said:

Your Name wrote:

ÿÿ English actor Jack Shepherd, star of Wycliffe, dies at 85
ÿÿ ---------------------------------------------------------
ÿÿ Jack Shepherd, the English actor perhaps best remembered for playing
ÿÿ the title role in the 1990s ITV detective drama Wycliffe, has died
ÿÿ at the age of 85.

ÿÿ The Leeds-born TV star passed away in hospital following a "short
ÿÿ illness", with his wife and children present, PA news agency reports. >>>
ÿÿ "His passing is a sad loss to us all," said his agents Markham,
ÿÿ Froggatt and Irwin.

ÿÿ Awards he received include an Olivier for the original production of
ÿÿ the stage play Glengarry Glen Ross in 1983.

ÿÿ He had an earlier television incarnation as Bill Brand in the 1970s
ÿÿ ITV series of the same name about a fictional firebrand Labour MP.

ÿÿ Shepherd also had numerous film roles and was a playwright and
ÿÿ theatre director.

ÿÿ After school in Leeds, he won a scholarship to Newcastle University
ÿÿ to study fine art, then moved to London to study at The Central
ÿÿ School for Speech and Drama.

ÿÿ He went on to perform in the National Theatre and Royal Court
ÿÿ theatre.

ÿÿ For his breakthrough TV role as Bill Brand, he won a Bafta
ÿÿ nomination in the best actor category in 1977.

ÿÿ The show was described in a Spectator tribute last year as a "time
ÿÿ capsule of the 1970s - the brown everywhere, the fag-smoke and
ÿÿ lunchtime beer, the patterned wallpaper, the rusty Ford Cortinas and
ÿÿ sense of national decay".

ÿÿ The character Shepherd portrays is described as "part of a long
ÿÿ tradition, reminding the Left of the principles it has wandered from
ÿÿ in the search for power".

ÿÿ As the thoughtful Det Supt Charles Wycliffe, Shepherd solved murders
ÿÿ in Cornwall over 36 episodes between 1993 and 1998.

ÿÿ His work as an actor in BBC productions ranged from a schoolteacher
ÿÿ in Play for Today: Pidgeon - Hawk Or Dove? (1974) to a barrister in
ÿÿ Blind Justice (1988), and from the Austrian composer Franz Joseph
ÿÿ Haydn in the BBC docudrama Beethoven (2005) to an Auschwitz inmate
ÿÿ in the drama God on Trial (2008).

ÿÿ Shepherd directed The Two Gentlemen Of Verona in 1996 at
ÿÿ Shakespeare's Globe and the production also went to Broadway.

ÿÿ He worked with director Bill Bryden on numerous theatre productions
ÿÿ and was also a saxophonist and jazz pianist.

ÿÿ Jack Shepherd is survived by his wife Ann Scott and five children
Jan,
ÿÿ Jake, Victoria, Catherine and Ben.


ÿÿ <https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8e9kj8n9kko>

I was able to watch "Wycliffe" with my mother on BritBox with my
mother, while she was still watching TV, and we enjoyed it.

The series ended because Jack Shepherd refused to continue in the role
after the studio badly treated the production's police expert advisor.

ÿÿ "The series was cancelled because Jack Shepherd refused to
ÿÿÿ continue in the title role when the producers sacked Jimmy
ÿÿÿ Yuill (Det. Insp. Doug Kersey) for 'insurance reasons'
ÿÿÿ after he contracted life-threatening meningitis during
ÿÿÿ filming, and then would not reinstate him even though he
ÿÿÿ made a full recovery."

There was a series aof documentaries we watched a while back, with each episode about a different UK crime drama series. One of the was
"Wycliffe" and had a little bit about this. The police expert nearly died.

I vaguely remember reading about this back when I was learning about the
show as I was watching it. Bravo for Shepherd.

That set of documentaries you mentioned sounds quite interesting.

--Robin



--- PyGate Linux v1.5.1
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 2025-11-30 21:53:53 +0000, Robin Miller said:

Your Name wrote:

On 2025-11-30 16:11:27 +0000, Robin Miller said:

Your Name wrote:

?? English actor Jack Shepherd, star of Wycliffe, dies at 85
?? ---------------------------------------------------------
?? Jack Shepherd, the English actor perhaps best remembered for playing >>>> ?? the title role in the 1990s ITV detective drama Wycliffe, has died
?? at the age of 85.

<snip>

?? <https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8e9kj8n9kko>

I was able to watch "Wycliffe" with my mother on BritBox with my
mother, while she was still watching TV, and we enjoyed it.

The series ended because Jack Shepherd refused to continue in the role
after the studio badly treated the production's police expert advisor.

?? "The series was cancelled because Jack Shepherd refused to
??? continue in the title role when the producers sacked Jimmy
??? Yuill (Det. Insp. Doug Kersey) for 'insurance reasons'
??? after he contracted life-threatening meningitis during
??? filming, and then would not reinstate him even though he
??? made a full recovery."

There was a series of documentaries we watched a while back, with each
episode about a different UK crime drama series. One of the was
"Wycliffe" and had a little bit about this. The police expert nearly
died.

I vaguely remember reading about this back when I was learning about
the show as I was watching it. Bravo for Shepherd.

That set of documentaries you mentioned sounds quite interesting.

--Robin

I don't know where you can watch it, but the 2006 documentary series is
called "Super Sleuths". <https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0887240/episodes/?ref_=tt_eps>

There is an episode each on the TV shows Poirot, Inspector Morse,
Inspector Wexford. Midsomer Murders, A Touch of Frost, and Wycliffe.

It was quite interesting, if a little dull.



--- PyGate Linux v1.5.1
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Your Name wrote:

On 2025-11-30 21:53:53 +0000, Robin Miller said:

Your Name wrote:

On 2025-11-30 16:11:27 +0000, Robin Miller said:

Your Name wrote:

ÿÿ English actor Jack Shepherd, star of Wycliffe, dies at 85
ÿÿ ---------------------------------------------------------
ÿÿ Jack Shepherd, the English actor perhaps best remembered for
playing
ÿÿ the title role in the 1990s ITV detective drama Wycliffe, has died >>>>> ÿÿ at the age of 85.

<snip>

ÿÿ <https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8e9kj8n9kko>

I was able to watch "Wycliffe" with my mother on BritBox with my
mother, while she was still watching TV, and we enjoyed it.

The series ended because Jack Shepherd refused to continue in the
role after the studio badly treated the production's police expert
advisor.

ÿÿ "The series was cancelled because Jack Shepherd refused to
ÿÿÿ continue in the title role when the producers sacked Jimmy
ÿÿÿ Yuill (Det. Insp. Doug Kersey) for 'insurance reasons'
ÿÿÿ after he contracted life-threatening meningitis during
ÿÿÿ filming, and then would not reinstate him even though he
ÿÿÿ made a full recovery."

There was a series of documentaries we watched a while back, with
each episode about a different UK crime drama series. One of the was
"Wycliffe" and had a little bit about this. The police expert nearly
died.

I vaguely remember reading about this back when I was learning about
the show as I was watching it. Bravo for Shepherd.

That set of documentaries you mentioned sounds quite interesting.

--Robin

I don't know where you can watch it, but the 2006 documentary series is called "Super Sleuths". <https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0887240/episodes/?ref_=tt_eps>

There is an episode each on the TV shows Poirot, Inspector Morse,
Inspector Wexford. Midsomer Murders, A Touch of Frost, and Wycliffe.

It was quite interesting, if a little dull.

I think I watched all of those (at least some of each show) except
Inspector Wexford. That's not a title that I've heard of. Thanks for the
info.

--Robin


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.1
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 2025-12-01 23:04:48 +0000, Robin Miller said:

Your Name wrote:

On 2025-11-30 21:53:53 +0000, Robin Miller said:

Your Name wrote:

On 2025-11-30 16:11:27 +0000, Robin Miller said:

Your Name wrote:

?? English actor Jack Shepherd, star of Wycliffe, dies at 85
?? ---------------------------------------------------------
?? Jack Shepherd, the English actor perhaps best remembered for playing >>>>>> ?? the title role in the 1990s ITV detective drama Wycliffe, has died >>>>>> ?? at the age of 85.

<snip>

?? <https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8e9kj8n9kko>

I was able to watch "Wycliffe" with my mother on BritBox with my
mother, while she was still watching TV, and we enjoyed it.

The series ended because Jack Shepherd refused to continue in the role >>>> after the studio badly treated the production's police expert advisor. >>>>
?? "The series was cancelled because Jack Shepherd refused to
??? continue in the title role when the producers sacked Jimmy
??? Yuill (Det. Insp. Doug Kersey) for 'insurance reasons'
??? after he contracted life-threatening meningitis during
??? filming, and then would not reinstate him even though he
??? made a full recovery."

There was a series of documentaries we watched a while back, with each >>>> episode about a different UK crime drama series. One of the was
"Wycliffe" and had a little bit about this. The police expert nearly
died.

I vaguely remember reading about this back when I was learning about
the show as I was watching it. Bravo for Shepherd.

That set of documentaries you mentioned sounds quite interesting.

--Robin

I don't know where you can watch it, but the 2006 documentary series is
called "Super Sleuths".
<https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0887240/episodes/?ref_=tt_eps>

There is an episode each on the TV shows Poirot, Inspector Morse,
Inspector Wexford. Midsomer Murders, A Touch of Frost, and Wycliffe.

It was quite interesting, if a little dull.

I think I watched all of those (at least some of each show) except
Inspector Wexford. That's not a title that I've heard of. Thanks for
the info.

--Robin

The documentary episode is a little misleading - most of those are the
name of the TV series, but Inspector Wexford was just the main police detective, while the TV show itself was called "The Ruth Rendell
Mysteries" and was based on her books.
<https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0166458/>

Those are some of the big name UK mystery-crime shows / characters, but
there are of course hundreds of others - they are the type of show that
the UK does very well (usually). Presumably the documentary series may
have planned to go on to other shows / characters like Vera, Miss
Marple, Bergerac, etc., but for whatever reason never got the chance.




--- PyGate Linux v1.5.1
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Your Name wrote:

On 2025-12-01 23:04:48 +0000, Robin Miller said:

Your Name wrote:

On 2025-11-30 21:53:53 +0000, Robin Miller said:

Your Name wrote:

On 2025-11-30 16:11:27 +0000, Robin Miller said:

Your Name wrote:

ÿÿ English actor Jack Shepherd, star of Wycliffe, dies at 85
ÿÿ ---------------------------------------------------------
ÿÿ Jack Shepherd, the English actor perhaps best remembered for >>>>>>> playing
ÿÿ the title role in the 1990s ITV detective drama Wycliffe, has >>>>>>> died
ÿÿ at the age of 85.

<snip>

ÿÿ <https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8e9kj8n9kko>

I was able to watch "Wycliffe" with my mother on BritBox with my
mother, while she was still watching TV, and we enjoyed it.

The series ended because Jack Shepherd refused to continue in the
role after the studio badly treated the production's police expert
advisor.

ÿÿ "The series was cancelled because Jack Shepherd refused to
ÿÿÿ continue in the title role when the producers sacked Jimmy
ÿÿÿ Yuill (Det. Insp. Doug Kersey) for 'insurance reasons'
ÿÿÿ after he contracted life-threatening meningitis during
ÿÿÿ filming, and then would not reinstate him even though he
ÿÿÿ made a full recovery."

There was a series of documentaries we watched a while back, with
each episode about a different UK crime drama series. One of the
was "Wycliffe" and had a little bit about this. The police expert
nearly died.

I vaguely remember reading about this back when I was learning about
the show as I was watching it. Bravo for Shepherd.

That set of documentaries you mentioned sounds quite interesting.

--Robin

I don't know where you can watch it, but the 2006 documentary series
is called "Super Sleuths".
<https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0887240/episodes/?ref_=tt_eps>

There is an episode each on the TV shows Poirot, Inspector Morse,
Inspector Wexford. Midsomer Murders, A Touch of Frost, and Wycliffe.

It was quite interesting, if a little dull.

I think I watched all of those (at least some of each show) except
Inspector Wexford. That's not a title that I've heard of. Thanks for
the info.

--Robin

The documentary episode is a little misleading - most of those are the
name of the TV series, but Inspector Wexford was just the main police detective, while the TV show itself was called "The Ruth Rendell
Mysteries" and was based on her books. <https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0166458/>

Those are some of the big name UK mystery-crime shows / characters, but there are of course hundreds of others - they are the type of show that
the UK does very well (usually). Presumably the documentary series may
have planned to go on to other shows / characters like Vera, Miss
Marple, Bergerac, etc., but for whatever reason never got the chance.

This has all been very interesting, thanks!

--Robin


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.1
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)