Michael Jayston

[wellendcanons]

Happy birthday Michael. My earliest conscious memories of Michael are from the series Quiller, which I used to enjoy watching Friday nights on the BBC in the seventies. I never saw any repeats. I'm not even sure if it ever was repeated. So as a consequence I don't remember too much about the series, other than I liked it and I got to like Michael through it.



Michael also appeared alongside James Coburn and Ian Hendry in a great film called The Internectine Project. Coburn was killing off his rivals and Michael was the wisest of them for not trusting him. It's a while since I've seen that film too.



I am currently watching Michael in series three of The Power Game. He has also appeared in Tales Of The Unexpected, Sherlock Holmes, The Bill and Emmerdale among his many TV credits.



My favourite two performances of Michael's have to be in the two Thriller episodes he has appeared in, especially "A Coffin For The Bride", which is just so well written and acted. I most likely saw him in this episode before anything else, though I wouldn't have realized it at the time.



Michael is a very capable and competant actor, who I'm delighted to say still looks damn good for his years.



Wellendcanons.

[cornershop15]

Well done, well-end I'm also a fan of Michael's, especially his performances in Thriller. He was so compelling that he deserves to be 'rewarded' with a two-part celebration for each of them. It may take a while though. I was so happy to see Michael in Emmerdale, where he had some great scenes with 'wife' Nicola Wheeler, one of my favourite actresses of recent years. His leaving has given me less incentive to watch these days and Nicola hasn't been as much fun to watch either. The Soap has moved on since then, so I'm just left with (already) dim memories, but I can assure you, and myself, that I loved every minute he was on screen.



I actually have my favourite moment here, not just from Thriller but of all the hours I've seen Michael on television over the years. It comes from the episode Ring Once For Death, where he played killer butler Roger Masters, and is included in one of my photo albums here. This is during a scene where Victor Winding, also excellent as a detective, confronts him and finds a way of 'rattling' Masters, stating "Of course, you're a servant aren't you?":

I love his reaction to that put-down. He's trying to remain calm and professional but there is a flickering moment of anger which I hope comes across here, albeit out of context. Maybe you'll understand - or remember - what I mean when you see it again. I'm not sure if I finished screencapping the best moments from this episode but think I've done (most of) Michael's.



A more unusual memory of Michael Jayston is his teaming up with Mia Farrow and Topol in Carol Reed's last film, Follow Me. I can't remember much about it except that it was shown one afternoon on BBC2, in the mid-1980s, and Topol was a photographer who would secretly take pictures of a couple kissing in a public place. No, I'm not confusing it with Blow Up!



In fact, I've just found the IMDb profile for the film and have had my memory 'jogged' a bit. That's right, Topol was a private detective hired by Michael to photograph wife Mia Farrow, who he suspected of having an affair with another man. I don't think it was all that good but I liked the cast. MovieGoods has lots of great images from this film under it's ill-advised American title - Public Eye Sacrilege to my favourite TV programme!



I also remember The Internicine Project. It was shown a few times on BBC1 during the Eighties but with other decades following, the channel has (unhappily) decided to broadcast more recent, less sophisticated films. Finally, while wishing Michael a Happy Birthday myself, I must mention that one of his guest appearances was in an episode of Callan, called God Help Your Friends, that also included Rachel Herbert AND Stephanie Beacham! Dream casting indeed. Of course, he would work again with Patrick Mower, one of the main stars, when they were in Emmerdale together. Good luck, Michael

[didi-5]

A very good Rochester in 1973's Jane Eyre series as well. Happy birthday Mr J.

[darrenburnfan]

Also excellent as Czar Nicholas II in Nicholas and Alexandra (1971).

[Windthrop]

He is superb in The Homecoming



Great voice too

[wellendcanons]

Cheers for the praise Cornershop. And for the screencap of Michael. And for the information about the film Follow Me which I knew nothing about. Mia Farrow is a very good actress so I'm interested to find that film, even if it isn't very good.



Michael is very menacing in his role in the Thriller episode "Ring Once For Death". In his other Thriller episode "A Coffin For The Bride" he is a charmer. Both times he plays killers but very different types. I think that reflects what a really good actor he is.



I agree with Darrenburnfan that he was excellent in Nicholas And Alexandra as well.



Wellendcanons.

[cornershop15]

I hope you found the pictures in that MovieGoods link to Follow Me interesting.



Here's one from the beginning of A Coffin For The Bride, but he's not looking his best with this disguise:



First used at 'Name That Face'. Was he the inspiration for those sketches in The Joy of Sex?

[EHV_Emmetts]

Here's Michael Jayston with David Jason in an episode of Only Fools and Horses called Time on Our Hands from 1996.

[m35541]

Two memorable roles:



* the husband who rejects wife Joan Collins in favour of a tree in Tales That Witness Madness



*the Valeyard in the Dr Who epic Trial of a Timelord with Colin baker in which he turns out to be



(MASSIVE SPOILER BELOW)















































An evil Dr Who

[taffy1967]

Two memorable roles:



* the husband who rejects wife Joan Collins in favour of a tree in Tales That Witness Madness



*the Valeyard in the Dr Who epic Trial of a Timelord with Colin baker in which he turns out to be



(MASSIVE SPOILER BELOW)















































An evil Dr Who

I was lucky to meet him back in 1998 when he appeared with ex-Dr Who star Colin Baker at the then annual Dr Who convention in Longleat.



It was a long day and a very long queue for autographs, but both stars made a big effort to make everyone feel very happy.

[Tigon Man]

Great actor used to drink at my local in Hove. Still turns out for Rottingdean cricket club!

[steereomono]

If you haven't it seen it already, I highly recommend 'Finisterre' a Film about London by Saint Etienne featuring Michael's superb narration.

[Hummies]

Great to see Michael Jayston has his own thread on here!



Think we first saw him in "Nicholas and Alexandra" which darrenburnfan mentioned here. Would like to see the film again on TV. We also remember him being in "Cromwell". Must admit he appeared in one of our least favourite episodes of "UFO", but then it's not his fault...



Here are two screencaps of him from UFO "The Sound of Silence", where he played a famous show jumper who mysteriously disappeared, kidnapped by aliens...lol:











Best regards,

Hummies

[Harbottle]

Some Quiller caps:



Michael Jayston with Edward Judd:





Moray Watson:





Ed Bishop:

[cornershop15]

"Good morning. Michael Jayston here. Can you give my thread a bump please? Page 13 isn't good enough"

My pleasure, Michael I shall endeavour to make sure it doesn't happen again. See you tomorrow (in another episode of The Power Game).

[wellendcanons]

"Good morning. Michael Jayston here. Can you give my thread a bump please? Page 13 isn't good enough"

My pleasure, Michael I shall endeavour to make sure it doesn't happen again. See you tomorrow (in another episode of The Power Game).

Very funny cornershop. That was a nice little chat with Michael.



I just read the post Taffy wrote about meeting Michael with Colin Baker at a Dr Who convention............. You are still very much missed on here Taffy, wherever you are.



wec

[theuofc]

"Good morning. Michael Jayston here. Can you give my thread a bump please? Page 13 isn't good enough"

My pleasure, Michael I shall endeavour to make sure it doesn't happen again. See you tomorrow (in another episode of The Power Game).

Hi, Cornershop,



I had a laugh at your one-way conversation with Michael Jayston. I always liked the gravity (and droll wit) he could bring to the screen.







One of my favourite Jayston roles was his Peter Guillam in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. I was disappointed he wasn't in the sequel, Smiley's People as Young Peter G.





Nice chatting,



Barbara

[billy farmer]

Here are some screencaps of Michael Jayston as Roger Fitzpatrick (one of his most sinister roles) in the ITV Drama Somewhere To Run (1989) also featuring Angela Pleasence as Anita Fitzpatrick.

[didi-5]

I can't recall him in Cromwell - must take another look. I saw Michael on stage in Quartet recently; he has incredible stage presence and a great voice. I'd like to see more of Quiller: I was only a little child when it aired and on seeing the episode with Edward Judd at the BFI recently it looks to have held up well, PC concerns apart.



One play he did for TV appears to have vanished - The Importance of Being Earnest. Such a shame that the BBC's Oscar Wilde set chose to use the Paul McGann version instead of the Jayston one.

[wellendcanons]

I'd like to see more of Quiller: I was only a little child when it aired and on seeing the episode with Edward Judd at the BFI recently it looks to have held up well.

I used to love Quiller. Great series (from what I remember of it). It's about time it had a DVD release.



wec