The un-Professionals

[Mark O]

I thought the episode where the Family are held hostage (with Bodie and Doyle) was a good one, there's a defunct Land Rover in a Barn that they're trying to start, Sarah Lawson and Brian Rix/Elspeth Gray daughter is in it........had me gripped right to the end!

[Mark O]

Originally Posted by DB7 ... if it was set in Essex.

I can assure you the Series was definitely not set in Essex!

It was set in where it was made, the North-Western suburbs of London, and into Berkshire and Hertforshire for some episodes, the Precinct Bodie looks at despairingly in the 'Zero tollerance' episode is at Shepherds Bush

[christoph404]

Lets not forget that at the time "The Professionals" was seen as a direct response to Starsky and Hutch. Martin Shaw and Lewis Collins probably tossed a coin to see who was going to have the Starsky perm, poor Martin lost out and the rest is history Interesting that shows like "The Saint" and other ITC gems made ten years earlier had a much glossier and crisp look to them with nice saturated colours. The budget for "The Professionals"was very small, not only was it shot on 16mm which was considered by many to be a small step up from super 8 as a home movie format but it looks like the budget for lighting was non existent as well, it all looks very drab and grainy and I think the D.O.P must have waited for flat overcast weather before shooting, to eliminate any lighting issues, just how I remember the 70s!

[batman]

Originally Posted by christoph404 ... it all looks very drab and grainy and I think the D.O.P must have waited for flat overcast weather before shooting, to eliminate any lighting issues, just how I remember the 70s!

It was until I started watching all these old programmes on dvd etc that I realised just how 'brown' the seventies were.

[Mark O]

I vaguely remember (probably circa 1990?) that 'The Proffessionals' had been withdrawn from any repeat showings because Martin Shaw 'hated' the programme, and was effecting his acting career?

Whatever the matter was has now been obviously resolved, but can anyone shed any specific light as to what the 'problem' was with Martin?

Was it 'legal' to bar repeat showings?

[batman]

Originally Posted by Mark O I vaguely remember (probably circa 1990?) that 'The Proffessionals' had been withdrawn from any repeat showings because Martin Shaw 'hated' the programme, and was effecting his acting career? Whatever the matter was has now been obviously resolved, but can anyone shed any specific light as to what the 'problem' was with Martin? Was it 'legal' to bar repeat showings?

Your first assumption was correct .... Shaw prevented repeats and VHS/DVD releases because he had become a 'serious AK-TOR' and didn't want to be reminded of his 'tawdry' past. Lewis Collins was keen for them to be shown and it was only an appeal from Gordon Jackson's widow (she allegedly needed the cash) to Shaw that forced him to re-think.

[Azanti]

I loved it

[Mark O]

Oh dear.........I've just looked at Lewis Collins resume at IMDB for the first time, and he seems to have barely any TV appearances for 14 years bar one..........does anyone know what Lewis is up to now?

[batman]

He lives and works in the US with his wife. He performs in the theatre and together they run an acting school.

[christoph404]

Martin Shaw is always portrayed as a bit of a spoil sport regarding his obstruction to repeats of "The Professionals" but he has always maintained that it has been about the money rather than a wish to "bury his past" as it were. Martin Shaw was asked at the time why he accepted a role in a programme he grew to despise, his answer being "there was nothing else on offer at the time". Shaw signed up for the series not really expecting it to last for more than two seasons, it was in fact a smash hit and he was locked into a four year contract (with Mark 1 and LWT) to continue with series, a mixed blessing for any actor afraid of being typecast. Shaw was not at all happy with the way the series continued with more emphasis on the "hardware" and not much development of the "hard case" Doyle character, he just didn't want to be there and there are accounts of him being a bad tempered so and so on set! His original contract allowed for unlimited repeats up to 5 years after the end of the last series and it was repeated frequently by LWT in that time. After 5 years repeat fees were up for re negotiation and this had always been the sticking point for Shaw. He claims the fees on offer were rubbish and he has also stated that Lewis Collins and Gordon Jackson were also not happy with the offer but were not prepared to say so publically. Interestingly Shaw was okay about a video release which would point to the fact the it wasn't an issue about trying to bury the programme, his issue seemed to be with the TV company that enforced his contract and obliged him to work for two years in a series he didn't really want to continue with and he wanted what he felt was proper re- muniration if the programme was to be aired again on terrestrial TV. I get the impression that he was pissed off with those who sought to re- issue the series without giving him what he though he was due and perhaps because he didn't enjoy making the series and was only obliged to for contractual reasons, then his idea of what he was due may have been unrealsitic. Certainly he could afford to hold out as he was doing very well in his career and if his motive really was to bury the series then I would say that is very selfish. Unfortunately Lewis Collins didn't seem to have the luxury of a blossoming career and for him the money and exposure would have been useful not to mention the residuals for Jackson's widow.

[batman]

That's really interesting Chris. I remember an interview he gave on one of the old cable channels during a programme about The Professionals. In that interview he said he wasn't too keen on there being repeats etc because he thought it was rubbish and may harm his chances of getting theatre work. He didn't mention the money but did say that he and Lewis didn't really get on together although he acknowledged how well they worked together. I have never seen any reports of him causing trouble during the programme but he did say he wished he hadn't signed on for more than one series. Lewis Collins was interviewed for the programme as well and he actually said very little of interest at all, he spoke mainly about how much he enjoyed the action stuff etc. Perhaps that's why they didn't get on. Shaw was interested in the characters while Collins wanted to be the action hero. Maybe that's why their careers went in two different directions, Shaw (although I don't rate him at all) was a dedicated actor, while Collins (whom I really like to watch) didn't have that sort of commitment.

[christoph404]

Thats a shame that they didn't get on, David Soul and Paul Michael Glazer are still great friends! Shaw was the more serious actor who was interested in character development and so on but I always found Bodie to be more "real" and more likable,possibly because he more or less played himself, its a shame he didn't go to do more film and TV, I think the "Bond" thing must have got to him but thats another story! I think the issue of repeats ended up in court but not sure what the outcome was, you would think Shaw would perhaps be more reflective about it all now, it was about 30 years ago after all! Perhaps he did try and bury the series, he just never admits to it and always insists the problem was financial! Im not sure what to believe, the only way to find out is probably over a pint with Shaw, perhaps he would be more candid off the record but he certainly gets a bit off stick for being a precious luvvie wanting to erase his unsophisticated TV past, I guess I want to think that there is more to it than that....It seems so unusual for an actor to be so concerned about his past TV work being seen, especially when it is something so successful and it it would seem extremely churlish to deprive your fellow actors of the oppurtunity of some residuals because you are worried about your own image and career but maybe it is just as straightforward as that.

[byebyebadman]

a couple of years ago i heard an interview on radio with someone linked to lewis collins, i cant remember who exactly, but i can remember they werent being too kind to lewis, they were making him out to be a saddo especially regarding his film 'who dares wins'. anyway, the person being interviewed said that lewis collins actually applied to be in the SAS after making this film, and after being rejected he dissapeared into obscurity except to appear in 'the grimly's'. it sounds pretty unbelievable, does anyone know if its true?

[dremble wedge]

Originally Posted by Mark O Oh dear.........I've just looked at Lewis Collins resume at IMDB for the first time, and he seems to have barely any TV appearances for 14 years bar one..........does anyone know what Lewis is up to now?

Didn't he shave off all his hair and relaunch himself under the new name of Ross Kemp?

[batman]

Originally Posted by byebyebadman a couple of years ago i heard an interview on radio with someone linked to lewis collins, i cant remember who exactly, but i can remember they werent being too kind to lewis, they were making him out to be a saddo especially regarding his film 'who dares wins'. anyway, the person being interviewed said that lewis collins actually applied to be in the SAS after making this film, and after being rejected he dissapeared into obscurity except to appear in 'the grimly's'. it sounds pretty unbelievable, does anyone know if its true?

Apparently Lewis did all the training to joined the SAS and passed the exams etc. However they didn't accept him because he was too well known and SAS is supposed to be a bit hush hush. IIRC he was in the TA for a while.