Private Walker • Character Chronicles

[@susanford2388]

The fact that James Beck died after two weeks of being in hospital meant he was in pain for weeks before hand & still working. RIP Mr. Beck.

[@kenblair6622]

Probably in pain for years. He had pancreatitous brought on by alcoholism.

[@garethroberts694]

@Fredrik Larsson His face was red in quite a few episodes before series 6 and series 6 turned out to be his last

[@martinholmes-ue9ko]

He was a very good actor.

[@LarryFleetwood8675]

50 years on now, I wonder if the modern hospital and today's medicine could've saved him or it'd been fatal and too late in any case. It is after all, half a century later and much has happened in the medical world since then. It's just so sad. R.i.P. James.

[@susanford2388]

@@LarryFleetwood8675 Pancreatic cancer is still in 2023 a death sentence. Even someone with oodles of money cannot outlive that horribly sad diagnosis. Michael Landon of Little House on the Prairie fame was diagnosed in April 1991 & died 1st July 1991. A recent famous person diagnosed managed to survive for 13 months. I cannot remember his name. Sorry.

[@theyellowlightsaber3193]

James Beck and George Cole were the most iconic spivs ever put on screen.

[@catmarrco7863]

And dell boy

[@philvanderlaan5942]

If The characters Private Walker and Lieutenant Junior Grade Nic Holden ( Operation Petticoat ) had ever met , OH boy ! A quote ‘ Our new ‘ Supply officer’ is probably the only man who will be awarded the Navy Cross at his court martial. ‘ Lieutenant Commander Matt Sherman U.S.S. Sea tiger ( Cary Grant ) Between Walker and Holden I don’t know who would be the worse influence on the other.

[@chrisstrider]

Until Boris

[@angelacooper2661]

Joe Walker and Arthur Daley!

[@kingy002]

@@chrisstrider Lol...ain't that the fuckin' truth!!

[@andrewcomerford9411]

What got me about, "Dad's Army," was the fact that - even as you're rolling around on the floor, laughing at their incompetence - you never forgot that if the unthinkable had happened, Mainwaring and his boys would've fought to the last round.

[@martinwarner1178]

Yeah, right, like those younger men at Dunkirk.

[@andrewcomerford9411]

@@martinwarner1178 Dunkirk only happened because the 51st Highland Division didn't withdraw. Afterwards, there was nowhere to run. While the competence of the Home Guard was always in question, their courage never was - the writers never forgot that these men were willing to die for their homes, and hoped to take a few Germans with them.

[@martinwarner1178]

@@andrewcomerford9411 France had the largest land army, the CharB tank was so good that the Germans were scared of it. The losses of the Germans were more than the Allies, we did the Germans harm by making the invasion of France so easy. Look up the invasion of Germany by French forces as Germany was invading Poland, the Allies didnt have the balls to thrust through. Only my view Sir.

[@vespelian5769]

The unwritten dark heart.

[@RomanHistoryFan476AD]

@@martinwarner1178 Those young men fought to survive, France was already lost at that point, it's army was shattered, it's government planning to surrender, Britain fighting on in France would have just wasted a lot of good experienced soldiers for nothing. Better to bring them home and use their experience for the possible defence of the home island or to train new troops.

[@johnhanson5943]

Still remember the day as a young boy when Jimmy Beck died. It was a real shock and perhaps my first shock and time of sadness. Dad’s Army with the family on Saturday’s after tea - what happy memories! The best. A great series which takes me back to a much better time in Britain in the 1970’s - even if materially things were not always so great.

[@john07973]

Seconded

[@MIck1-10]

How I long for the 70’s not perfect but better than today, plus I was a teenager happy days.

[@angelacooper2661]

I was too young to understand or remember that period- just three and Play School age. Walker's premature demise I heard about second hand. Watched the programme when old enough to do so.

[@geeky_gunner]

He was brilliant, a rogue but he really cared about the lads. Brilliantly wrote and acted.

[@mikmik9034]

Note for Americans: @23:05, The WW2 Victory "V" sign is with the fingers forward. When showing the "V" sign back of the hand it means "FU". [It was common in days of Yore for the FRENCH to cut off the (displayed) fingers of their foe English Bowmen. The backhanded "salute" was to show the Englishmen still had their fingers.]

[@rtb5732]

Walker was my favourite character, played brilliantly by,James Beck. The episodes made after his death were empty for me and I don’t enjoy watching them as much as the ones with him in .😊

[@michelleresistance]

He has always been my favourite. It feels like there’s something missing without him.

[@maskutchitamagotchiworld1911]

James Beck who played the spiv Joe Walker in Dad's Army sadly died in August 1973 aged 44. He was born in 1929.

[@ghostriderpa31]

He want to do a deal..

[@petermcculloch4933]

Sgt. Wilson was my favourite character but I agree, after Joe died, the show lost its personality

[@susanford2388]

Ah aren't you being a little harsh regarding the other actors. 'Walker was a great character & i was a little kid when he died but I do remember hearing the BBC say James Beck had passed away & thinking how sad. The cast no doubt were shocked & saddened but the rest of cast carried on giving us more laughs. At least they did not replace him that would have been horrible.

[@pauldg837]

A great character played by the very talented James Beck. It was very sad to lose him at the relatively young age of 44 in 1973.

[@frednesbittjr.7862]

The Walker character is the only one that knows what's actually going on during the war...

[@bronoun8884]

If you only knew the half of it

[@rosemaryallen2128]

James Beck was also a fine stage actor. I saw him as George in 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf', and was more impressed by him in that arduous role than by Richard Burton in the film. I sent him a fan letter, to which he took the trouble to make a charming and lengthy reply.

[@TosaMegasthenes]

Hello Rosemary, I would love to hear your recollections on his performance (in York I guess?) as together with a (family)friend we are working on an appreciation (hopefully culminating in a book) on the life and times of Jimmy and his wife Kay. Just let me know if you would like to get in touch with me. Thank you, Mariska

[@rosemaryallen2128]

@@TosaMegasthenes Not much to add, but will help if possible. I'm technically challenged, but can manage email!

[@TosaMegasthenes]

@@rosemaryallen2128 did you manage the email? It would be really great if you would contact me as there is a bit to tell you 🙂

[@ginamaxwell1822]

Hi. Rosemary I now have your actual fan letter in my possession. It was on ebay and as a family friend I was delighted to purchase it

[@rosemaryallen2128]

@@ginamaxwell1822 How splendid! I took a photocopy before selling it to an autograph dealer many moons ago. Fighting back through my memory bank, I recall going to see the York 'Who's Afraid' for a second time. We students invariably sat in the gods, but I thought it deserved a luxury seat in the stalls. I did a little acting myself later in life - Isn't theatre simply glorious?

[@rogerking7258]

If you watch the first ever episode, Walker was really the only character that came out of the box fully formed. For example, Pike changed considerably (for the better) as the series went on.

[@paulweir5031]

Jimmy Perry said there was no way they could have kept the character with a different actor; Ian Lavender remarked that although the show ran for four or five more series there was definitely something missing after James Beck's death.

[@mikeham1]

I met Jimmy many years ago when equity were on strike. He took a temporary job with us at Honda. We had many a laugh with him as he was quite a character. Sad that he had to meet his end so tragically. Have fond memories of him.

[@RipperBravo]

Great stuff. What year was this if you don’t mind me asking ?

[@mikeham1]

@@RipperBravo I would say this was around 1960/61. There was a strike by equity. Jim would sketch us during tea break, I wish I had kept mine. I know that he did have a small part as a policeman in Coronation street, before his break into Dad's Army.

[@RipperBravo]

@@mikeham1 Fantastic. I think that episode is of Coronation Street is on KZbin and was about a train crash. Did he talk about his acting ? Did he have his London accent still. He sounded in an interview that he spoke with received pronounciation, though I know he spent time in repertory in York ? Sorry, so many questions.

[@mikeham1]

@@RipperBravo Hi, Bear in mind I wasn't the only one working at Honda during this time but I know he was talking a lot with the other people there. He was sometimes very droll, and if he did mention any actor friends I can only recall him saying that Jonny Layton was one of his mates, the rest I'm afraid I can no longer recall. I know at that time he lived in Queens Gate, that's about all I can recall. Sorry to be so vague but time has smudged my memory.

[@brucemcintosh5898]

Walker and Fraser were my favourites. The entire cast was brilliant

[@josephmarrison4606]

I did like the episodes without Walker, but I must admit, it didn’t really feel the same after he died IMO.

[@highdownmartin]

I always used to spot walker in the final credits after he died. Happened across his memorial stone in the actors memorial garden, in London. ( twenty years ago now?)I really was delighted to to read “ James Beck “. Gave me a nice warm feeling.

[@countofdownable]

Didn't quite work as well.

[@johnblanchard1592]

Great old program,still love watching it,what a shame Jim Beck died so young regards from Lincolnshire UK. 👍😂

[@mariarusso3790]

Hello John how are you. Hope you had a pleasant weekend 😊

[@perrydowd9285]

I love that! A supplier of essential supplies. 😂🤣

[@Borella309]

Great video! Only became a Dad's Army fan about 7 years ago and now adore it. Croft and Perry's idea was very clever, but their casting of the main 7 actors was brilliant. Lowe and Le Mesurier are absolutely perfect working against each other - then with Dunn rounding out the top tier, there is so much contrast and colour in place. To then bring in the other 4 great individual characters and have them all work together is a phenomenal balancing act that works. I've always felt that then highlighting other characters like the the ARP Warden, and the two clergy characters was too much, and was never happy with their acting (over-acting actually). The best episodes are the earliest ones, when it's just the 7 members of the platoon working through the crisis of the moment together, and their interactions as the story is resolved. James Beck played the spiv Joe Walker brilliantly and I was saddened to learn that he died far too many years before we would expect.

[@jeremyhaines4481]

RIP Jimmy Beck sadly Missed died way too young x

[@No1.OriginalTrilogyStarWarsFan]

R.I.P. James sadly missed. The show was never the same without you :(

[@Nick-mm5ml]

all the original actors brilliant no other actors would ever replace them,

[@Mumscup]

Walker was my first crush. I loved the accent and the dodgy skinny mo. I’m on a dads army binge in lockdown and it joyful to revisit. You’ve made a great guide to this show , thanks muchly mate☮️🍀♥️

[@Nawitisnae]

Walker was my favourite of the characters in this magnificent, classic comedy.

[@kenrobinson5176]

'Dad's Army' is on of the very few old TV series that still make me laugh.

[@wbertie2604]

It uses archetypal characters we can all relate to. Everyone knows someone who is pompous, someone clueless, someone vague, a pessimist, someone principled, etc. And someone cunning. The rest is 'just' a very well written set of stories to examine how those archetypes interact. People still laugh at Laurel and Hardy almost 100 years on. They will still be laughing at Dad's Army in fifty years.

[@Percy66c]

The "Leave it with me" bit at the end was brilliant! Keep up the great work!

[@bonniemoerdyk9809]

My favorite character on Dad's Army! Thanks for this video!!

[@mariarusso3790]

Hello Bonnie how are you. Hope you had a pleasant weekend 😊

[@franl155]

I've no idea why this appeared in my recommendations, but I'm very glad it did. Thank you I remember the original Romany Jones, and the "chinless wonder" type they used for the series after that. But Walker is fondly remembered, and sadly missed.

[@kittykatja5961]

Loved Dad Army and all the characters.

[@Handleyman]

Nicely put together Jeffrey. Absolutely my all time favourite series and Walker was one of my favourite actors! Thanks for posting.

[@Alex-cw3rz]

The fact the episode he is most present in was lost is such a shame

[@samsum3738]

Its out there somehere . Guaranteed .

[@alexsmyth17]

Happy would-be 92nd birthday to Jimmy Beck, co-star of my all-time favourite series. Good cheer and a dry wit with every scene. Taken way too soon.

[@brianjones3191]

The original cast was irreplaceable - or at least they haven’t succeeded yet, imo. RIP Dad’s Army and cast: Thanks for the videos!

[@bronoun8884]

Sort of . We had a family trip to see dads army at the theatre. My grandfather was with us previously private Walker . Home guard / auxillier When the compère announced that unfortunately private walker can not be with us tonight. One of us perked up and said : what do you mean he’s sitting here 🤣 Grandfather wasn’t amused when they stuck a spot lite on him and everyone looked round

[@lablackzed]

All nearly gone now great show .👏👏👏

[@fparkerni]

Thanks, really good research and a very interesting watch.

[@junesymonds8340]

Thanks for posting. Always loved him,so funny. Dads Army s very own 'Del boy' was Joe Walker 😀

[@rolfagten857]

Walkers older brother Johnny Walker was a good friend back in WW2.

[@susanford2388]

Actors Arnold Ridley & John Laurie were amazing heroes by participating in both World Wars. They were made of tough stuff.

[@kingy002]

The weren't any tougher than any other young man that goes to war. There is nothing tough about it. They just did their best at the time and I respect them for that effort.

[@susanford2388]

@@kingy002 Arnold Ridley had suffered several blows to the head in WW1 yet signed up again in WW2 at the age of 45. He was not young but middle aged with an injury. Keep that in mind when declaring the late Mr. Ridley no tougher than other "young" men when he was not "young".

[@kingy002]

@ I'm not sure why you are telling me that, as I know the facts of what Arnold did.

[@susanford2388]

@@kingy002 I am glad you know of Mr. Ridley's facts as you seem to have forgotten he was born in 1896 & not "young" in the traditional sense in 1939!!!

[@kingy002]

@ Get over yourself, Susan.

[@MagiTailWelkin]

The exchange that sums up Walker best is this one; Mainwaring: You'd sell your own grandmother, wouldn't you? Walker: There's not market for her.

[@Victoria-qb3dr]

Another favourite of mine was: Walker: That whisky I get you doesn't just fall off the back of a lorry of it's own accord you know...it has to be pushed.

[@kiwitrainguy]

Walker - Find out who the beak (Magistrate) is and straighten them. Bribe them with a bottle of Scotch. One of the others - I think one of the magistrates is a woman. Walker - Ah well then, knicker elastic.

[@skinner219]

If you remember back in episode 1, “The Man and the Hour” we see that the home guard had retire and we see a older Walker. I’m guessing he came back off screen, and celebrated with the Home Guard on screen.

[@Bobbydazzlla]

Spivs were the oil in the war machine that made everything around it run. Tony Curtis's character in Operation Petticoat and Lester Gruber in McHales navy played parts as spivs as well.

[@DarkAutumn3D]

I've never smoked but that's one of the reasons I gave up alcohol over 3 years ago. Pancreatitis is incredibly painful and if you get cancer of it you're screwed. I've had it 4 times in my life and am fortunate that I've gotten no lasting damage from it.

[@michelleresistance]

I’m glad you’re doing well x

[@DarkAutumn3D]

I am very well thanks! 😊

[@lightbulb8587]

I love James Beck so much🤧❤️

[@michelleresistance]

Me too

[@janethammond5925]

James Beck played Private Walker brilliantly...so sad that he died young. Just imagine Private Walker, Arthur Daley and Del Boy Trotter if they got together...what spiv heaven it would be! RIP James Beck 💖💖🕯️🕯️

[@richardallard3408]

Feel in love this show from the first time l watched it

[@miriamwilson9542]

I LOVED James Beck. RIP.

[@davidirving9242]

Captain Square reminds me of Col Haihi too, I've thought that for years. Good video, Jeffrey!

[@stevewatts7126]

James Beck was without doubt my favourite dads army character, followed closely by Wilson. Great acting, and a lovable rogue Such a shame he went so early..

[@ruthmuran1244]

Oh yea.we all felt really safe with this crew.love this show , always have.🤣✌️🇭🇲

[@DavidFraser007]

He was my favourite character, he was just great at pointing out how silly some of the situations were. A realist with a sense of humour and his character was also a good team player. I watched as a kid, my gran fancied James Beck, thought he was clever and good looking. My Grandad was a Sgt in the home guard, he thought Dad's Army was accurate and similar to how it actually was.

[@mariarusso3790]

Hello David how are you. Hope you had a pleasant weekend 😊

[@ListerDavid]

I liked the use of Ted Glenn song from Postman Pat. This is a fantastic look at one of my favourite characters from Dads Army.

[@jimcy1318]

Nice to see Bridlington and Flambrough North landing in the more recent of the films, haven't been there for a couple of years as I'm living with the enemy in Germany. Don't tell capt; Mannering.😂

[@ThroatSore]

Great stuff and the song is well worth waiting for.

[@LavendarCoys]

Can you do a private pike one?! This is really good!!

[@charlesachurch7265]

Superb presentation. Thankyou !

[@EUROWEFILMS]

Thank you good production..

[@mariarusso3790]

Hello David how are you. Hope you had a pleasant weekend 😊

[@timholder6825]

Bruce Forsyth as the spiv in Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Talk about spot on casting. That was basically Bruce's personality and his whole career.

[@mariarusso3790]

Hello Tim how are you. Hope you had a pleasant weekend 😊

[@fintonmainz7845]

Perfect casting.

[@arejaycee5704]

As a kid Private Walkers character wasn't in Dads Army it was only as I got older and saw reruns that I was able to appreciate the character.

[@KatMusic2009]

Why does the famous scene with "Don't tell him Pike" have a soundtrack replacement with a piece of Fawlty Towers??

[@chrisdee5032]

I love every single episode of Dad's Army, but it was never the same without Walker.

[@Alex-cw3rz]

I do wish they had a dedication to him in one of the episodes, maybe a funeral one like they did with Grandad in Only Fools and Horses.

[@paulweir5031]

Pte. Walker didn't die, so how could they have a funeral?

[@Alex-cw3rz]

@@paulweir5031 yeah but just disappearing and pretending like he didn't exist. I don't think was the best solution, Dad's Army has a couple of poinent serious moments and they are some of the most memorable of the series. This could have made for another. I can understand reasons why they didn't, but I just think having one would have been so much more respectful and dignified.

[@Enevan1968]

The never could have a funeral, because in the very first episode (The Man and The Hour) there is a gathering of men, including Walker, that is set after W.W. II.

[@Alex-cw3rz]

@@Enevan1968 they did change other things though too, so wouldn't be out of the ordinary. Like frazers proffession changing and even the Island he was born on.

[@michelleresistance]

@@Alex-cw3rz that’s true, but killing someone off whom we know survived makes less sense.

[@jackominty3633]

Nice work. Thank you.

[@stuartbarclay7940]

Next to Fraser, Walker is my favourite character of Dad's Army!

[@kennethpetty8351]

James Beck you made the show for me! RIP

[@adamsmith8307]

I am a big fan of Private Walker.

[@techElephant]

Enjoyed this, but at 18:57 Basil Fawlty oddly enters the soundtrack instead of the 'Don't tell him Pike' line... or that's what I'm guessing has happened....

[@MajPickles]

I remember as a very young child asking my parents if Walker could come round for tea. They explained very gently, that sadly he'd passed away. 😭

[@john07973]

Very good thanks

[@matrixwakeup]

Watching the scene where Walker's note says he's gone to the Big Smoke you can see the serious faces of the actors in the background, so unlike their actual characters.

[@russellwhite1581]

I think Matthew Horne based his version (especially the voice) of Walker on the radio version played by Larry Martyn.

[@angelbellbell3755]

He made the Dads Army work like clock work. Very said he passed away.

[@MURDOCK1500]

I quite like the new Dad's Army film. I thought it was well cast and the plot is brought up more to date which worked quite well

[@andywright3450]

Classy James beck top actor went too soon from us brilliant actor lovely man too 😭😭😭😭

[@MrGulstad]

Greetings from Sweden, on regards to the reemake film I liked it and wish they would start to produce a tv show that continues where the original left off.

[@Mackeson3]

The episode where Walker was found to be allergic to corned beef using the original cast was shown on TV, I remember it well.

[@Treblaine]

He wouldn't have to "steal" them, he would have to pay the producers for access to goods before they went into the rationing bureaucracy. For example going directly to a dairy to obtain cheese which they'd be happy to sell at a mark-up because it avoided the harsh limits on sales by rationing.

[@williampaulbeaugruendler7901]

1968-1977 were the gilded years of Brit Telly. We Yanks previously had had our McHale's Navy, Gomer Pyle, and the notoriously tasteless Hogan's Heroes.

[@mariarusso3790]

Hello William how are you. Hope you had a pleasant weekend 😊

[@bazza945]

You are obviously unaware that all the German characters in HH were Jewish actors?!

[@Victoria-qb3dr]

Missed him so much after his character left. He was my favourite. Still loved the series though.

[@brucethomson3512]

Certainly right there 😊

[@pacificostudios]

There's another great "spiv" in the video for "Come Dancing" by The Kinks. "The Spiv" is played by Ray Davies, who also sang the song.

[@deniscronin5383]

One of my favourites was when Capt Mainwarings no good brother turned up to show him up !

[@rolfagten857]

the platoon's ammo pouches were actually binocular bags. Walker was a great figure with his trade. The actor Beck died of course way too early.

[@billygillan821]

So disappointing the way Croft could not make him a hero that died in the Blitz's ,rather than a fiver on parade ground ,and sadly after his death Corporal Jones got lines clearly meant for Walker which don't work , show still funny , but not the same with out such a important and loved member.

[@glen7318]

Walker was not a hero... he wasn't likely to make a brave stand of any kind, he left to pursue his calling in London.....

[@naly202]

@@glen7318 i don't agree. Walker proved brave on numerous occasions. Still, "going up to the smoke" is a very nice way of putting it. If they announced clearly that he died, they would have saddened the whole episode. I think the sgudio public aren't even aware that Joe died. During the "note" scene they laugh a lot. If they knew, there would have been silence. A very sad and tense moment.

[@glen7318]

@@naly202 but Walker doesn't die. The actor died, which is sad and they had to hastily find a way of writing him out... but the character didn't die, heroicially or otherwise...

[@michelleresistance]

We know Walker survived the war as he is there at the start of episode one, which takes place after WW2; so having the character die wouldn’t make any sense. Maybe have him called up or transferred? Perhaps become a spy? James Beck was still in a coma at the time the ‘note scene’ was made but died shortly afterwards. It’s a pity Walker was ignored as though he never existed.

[@chrissim9982]

@@michelleresistance his note was about a tip he heard happening in london The Smoke is slang for London. He would of been in jail I reckon, he wasnt medically fit for combat so he wouldn't of been called up.

[@PortsladeBySea]

Sadly Ian Lavender is the only remaining member of this wonderful team 😢

[@RalphBrooker-gn9iv]

There’s an air of Sid James to James Beck. Beck is superb.

[@gregbolitho9775]

Nice 1, Pity about James Beck, he didn't look 100% in a couple of episodes before he disappeared from the front rank. Appreciated all of them. Still haven't seen the movie, I'll get round to it, no rush.

[@mrmethane10]

If you watch series 6, he gets less and less dialogue,until "Things that go bump in the night" (exterior scenes only). He barely says anything so I suspect either be was in discomfort or it was edited down when he died before broadcast.

[@MrPmutley]

" Let us pray ...." :-)

[@andyjay9346]

Yeah it was a great TV series.

[@coldste]

Loved Joe in this, really sad the actor passed away before the end of the show. Never really enjoyed it without him in the rest of the show

[@johnhopkins6658]

Still miss him when I watch the show on KZbin.

[@PrideOfTorbay]

At 19:25, did the great Fulton McKay only play characters called Mr McKay? A bit like Sid James!!

[@kiwitrainguy]

He was in two episodes of Dad's Army: We Know Our Onions and The Misers Hoard.

[@HiddenCreaturesHQ]

What's with the Basil Fawlty voice over on the "Don't tell him Pike" clip ?

[@746laurie]

Went to a recording of an episode of "Romany Jones" with James Beck and Arthur Mullard at the television studios.

[@TosaMegasthenes]

Hello,I would love to hear your recollections, if you have any, on this recording of Romany Jones, as together with a (family)friend we are working on an appreciation (hopefully culminating in a book) on the life and times of Jimmy and his wife Kay. Just let me know if you would be ok to get in touch with me. Thank you, Mariska

[@AndoverIT]

I’ve just realised where Midge Ure got his early Ultravox look from 😂

[@Al-iv3mb]

Although Dad's Army remained one of the best comedy series we've ever produced it was never quite the same after the death of Jimmy Beck.

[@SpikeXtreme]

I thought of Walker never as a thief,he was too intelligent to go breaking in. He knew everyone and was a middleman for goods that had 'fallen off the back of a lorry'. Dads Army wasn't the same when he left,it lost a bit of sparkle.

[@63mckenzie]

I always felt they could have made a great spin off show with Walker's character. Sad James Beck left us too soon.

[@1mmickk]

Cheeseman is a LEGEND.

[@MrGeorocks]

I liked Walkers solution to the crashed german bomber that came down in the water reservoir by paying someone off to release water into it to force the crew to surrender, showing up the regular infantry that arrived to take over.

[@timoblok]

Nice videos

[@fus149hammer4]

James Beck was just like Richard Beckinsale. A talented actor with a glittering career ahead of him but taken away from us and his family far too early. He would have made a great character in Only Fools.

[@michelleresistance]

Too right he would