Dennis gone. I can't believe it. Me, Richard O'Sullivan (birthday yesterday) dear Robin Askwith, what great times we had! Dennis & I would meet up in Spain every year. This was the last time before the wretched pandemic, 2019. We had plans to meet up again this August - so sad
With dear Richard O'Sullivan today, celebrating his 80th birthday today. Pals for the best part of 60 years. First worked together in an epiode of Emergency Ward 10.
We never stopped laughing - esp. when the cameras were rolling!! Happy Birthday dear Ricardo...
Happy Birthday Richard (Ricardo) O'Sullivan!!
Here we are celebrating today & talking about old times. First worked with Richard in 'Emergency Ward 10' a zillion years ago. We never stopped laughing even when the cameras were rolling. And we've never stopped laughing since...
With my dear friend, actor David Graham. You might know him better as 'Parker' from 'Thunderbirds'
'Grandpa Pig' & was one of the original Dalek voices. He had a stroke 6 months ago & can't get out. But this young 96-year old is making a great recovery doing voice work from home!
Here I am with my dear friend Richard O'Sullivan enjoying a New Year cuppa, chatting over old times, talking about our kids & mostly our grandchildren! What a delight. A truly enjoyable hour & a half. Looking forward to many more cuppas in 2020 & the odd pizza together!!
Off to take my dear friend Richard O'Sullivan for his annual Birthday lunch. Extra special this year. One of our most talented actors is 80 today!! So gifted & funny.
I love him!! We all love him!!!
46 years ago today, dear Christopher Biggins picked up my wife-to-be in his 2CV, festooned with ribbons, blasting out "I'm Getting Married In The Morning" & drove her to Hampstead Registry Office. 46 years flies by when your having fun! Boy, am I the luckiest man!!
A lovely lunch to celebrate my dear friend Richard O'Sullivan's birthday A hugely talented & funny actor We first worked together in Emergency Ward 10! We never stopped laughing even when the camera was rolling! Very unprofessional! And we've been laughing ever since. Happy times
Hi Robert - and talking of Thunderbirds, here I am with my dear friend David Graham aka "Yus, M'Lady Parker". David will be 98 on July 11th. Wonderful. Currently he is the voice of "Grandpa Pig" - he recorded several episodes yesterday. Amazing!!
Here I am with my doggie, Woody, visiting my dear friend David Graham aka 'Yus Milady' Parker. One of the original Dalek voices & currently the voice of 'Grandpa Pig (and other characters) in Peppa Pig. David, looking well, suffered a stroke 3 years ago - and look at him now!
"Yus M'Lady" Parker, Grandpa Pig & one of the first Dalek voices, great stage & film actor, my friend David Graham looking terrific. This was after, at over 98 years of age, reciting 3 Shakespeare monologues without missing a beat!! Amazing...
Yesterday was our 45th wedding anniversary. Here we were in 1970 who knows when? And here is my darling wife looking even more beautiful today.
A bit of trivia: we met in 1974 at my dear friend Richard O'Sullivan's "This Is Your Life"!! Talk about fate. I am one lucky man...
Birthday celebration for David Graham aka 'Yus, M'Lady' Parker, Grandpa Pig & one of the original Dalek voices. 98 years young & still recording. Thank you Sue & Larry Viner for hosting an unforgettable birthday tea. David - you're amazing!!
Hi
@robinaskwith
- Robin, I was so pleased to get through to you in Malta yesterday, Ricardo was absolutely thrilled!! He had the biggest smile on his face & you really made his day. We had a fun time celebrating his birthday. When you're next in London, we'll go together...
Raising a Happy Birthday glass of bubbly to my dear pal, Richard O'Sullivan, one of the funniest actors one could ever work with. Here we are in 'Robin's Nest' An ep. wot I wrote & neatly created a part for me!) Ricardo, hope you had a great day. See you on Tues my dear friendx
George Layton & Robin Askwith down their 70's memory lane at Loftus Road. We had many happy times at QPR in the Stan Bowles/Gerry Francis era. Great afternoon, thank you Robin for inviting me. Mind you we spent most of the match chatting. So much to talk about! Bloomin' great!
Very sad day. I created Toby Latimer for Tony Britton. With his urbane charm & brilliant comedy timing & skill to deliver the serious side of the subject - this was a comedy about the tragedy of divorce remember - there was no other actor considered. Tony & Nigel led a great cast
Thanks to all who wished me happy birthday for yesterday, much appreciated. But one thing was sadly absent - my birthday call from the great & so missed Barry Cryer. Feel sad just writing this...
I have only now heard the sad news about the GREAT Barry Cryer. He called me only a couple of weeks ago to tell me his latest joke. I just can't believe it. He was the funniest of funny men. He would always call me on my birthday. I am so upset. He was a one-off. Miss him already
Hey
@Robin_Askwith
@RobertWRossEsq
Happy birthday to Richard 'Ricardo' O'Sullivan.
Sadly no traditional birthday lunch this year, the annual pizza/spagbol will have to wait.
But hopefully next year...Love you Richard - George x
The HAPPIEST of HAPPY BIRTHDAYS to my dear pal, the unique, extraordinary & hilariously funny Robin Askwith. He always makes me laugh. Birthday lunch on me Rob when get together for the next "CULTS' show. Nov 13th at the Phoenix Club!! (Subtle plug!)
Happy Birthday Robin x
Robin, love this photo of the 3 Amigos. Can't call Richard but got this message back from R's son James:
Hi George. Dad is fine thanks. Brinsworth is in lockdown, but he’s doing ok. Regular phone calls etc. trying to explain FaceTime to him is not so easy!! Hope are all well. X
Morning!
Wishing our dear friend Richard O'Sullivan and all the residents of
#BrinsworthHouse
peace and good health through these challenging times
@Thegeorgelayton
hopefully will bring us some news later today
Thinking about what we'd be doing but for this wretched Covid.. Driven across Spain with all the things the grandchildren's things in the car. They'd fly out. And I'd be having my annual get- together with my old Minder mate Dennis. This was us last year. Hopefully next year??
Still can't believe Lord Cryer of Hatch End, my dear pal Barry, has gone. Been wheeling my youngest grandson round Highgate Woods just thinking about him. Brilliant piece on R4 1pm news, Barry paying tribute to Barry. Recorded 10 years ago. Catch it on BBC Sounds - BRILLIANT!!
Great stuff - happy days. Just spoken to Richard (affectionately known those who love him as Ricardo) & he is in terrific form! If it wasn't for this pandemic we'd be having our customary birthday lunch. Sadly not today but only postponed. Look out for the photos...
And here's another lovely picture. Dear Richard & your's truly having tea together last Christmas. As soon as I've had this vaccine, we'll get together for another cuppa. Can't wait!!
So upset to hear the sad news about Geoffrey Davies. A consummate, stylish actor & a delight to work with. And what a pleasure it was to write for his character 'Dick Stuart-Clark'. (or as 'Paul Collier' once said "Dick Stuart bloody hyphen Clark!!") A truly lovely Gentle Man...
There are National Treasures and National Treasures and dear Barry was the most treasured of them all.
The personification of a National Treasure. He was amazing...
Hello
@Robin_Askwith
"Happy Birthday To You.
Happy Birthday To You.
Happy Birthday, Dear Robin.
Happy Birthday To You!"
70 years young today!!
Have a good one, Rob. The champers is on ice!!!
Had a great 30 minute + chat with my dear pal Robin Askwith. He lives on the island of Gozo - where many decades ago I got stranded 'cos I missed the last ferry back to Malta. He cheered me up when he told me the weather wasn't great. I didn't tell him it's like Armageddon here!!
Stanley Baxter 97!! Birthday congratulations to the genius Stanley Baxter. Was lucky enough to have worked with him at LWT. Not only the funniest of people, a lovely, kind man...
So upset to hear the sad news about Geoffrey Davies. A consummate, stylish actor & a delight to work with. And what a pleasure it was to write for his character 'Dick Stuart-Clark'. (or as 'Paul Collier' once said "Dick-bloody-Stuart-hyphen-Clark!!") A truly lovely Gentle Man...
#TomBaker
Tom - my pleasure to raise a glass on your 86th birthday! A long time since we first worked together: 1966 Great Expectations at Colchester.
"What larks Pip, what larks"!
Great to work with you a couple of years back on the Big Finish Dr Who audio
Happy Birthday Tom!!
Hello
@Robin_Askwith
@RobertWRossEsq
@Markgatiss
I have today had the greatest (very long) 'phone chat with my dear old friend (tho' not as old as me!) Robin Askwith He was on the sunny isle of Gozo, He is one of the funniest & unique people I know. A one-off. Lifted my spirits!
Happy 80th Birthday to legendary actor, author and total cult
@Thegeorgelayton
… here he is as Des with Arthur Daley in special Children In Need Minder scene
Hello
@Robin_Askwith
. Good luck from NY for your final 'Farewell Show' this evening. Have a great night.
Mind you, I'm sure those lucky ones who managed to get tickets for this final show are hoping it is a Frank Sinatra-Style Farewell...xxx
Somewhat uncharitable to mention Richard O'S. struggling with his lines in the latter days he able to work. Why not focus on the great pleasure my talented friend gave you & many others with his comedy genius? I loved acting with him, writing for him & just being with him...
Happy Birthday to my oldest friend(79)
George Layton!!!
@Thegeorgelayton
We have followed each other out of curiosity our entire careers
Unconditional friendship…so long as I pay..
I love him….
And here are Ricardo (as he is affectionately known to his mates) & myself at Brinsworth House Christmas 2019. This annual visit has been curtailed because of this wretched pandemic. Sadly just telephone visits. Unfortunately WhatsApp/Facetime calls don't work on his old Nokia!!
Richard has been in Brinsworth House (check it out) for going on 20 years. Who knows when his memory loss problems started? 1983?? A nightmare especially for an actor in a fast-moving Ray Cooney farce 8 times a week!! Enjoy below (1980) sorry about the ads
I was charged with distracting Richard all afternoon, can't remember what we did. I do remember the date tho: 27th Nov 1974. How? 'Cos at the party afterwards I chatted up a gorgeous lady with beautiful blue eyes. Never forgotten her. Name? She changed it to Mrs Layton in 1977...
When does a Fib become a Lie? When the useless at football narrator shuts up the brilliant at football bully with "Listen, you don’t know who my uncle is. My uncle is Bobby Charlton!"
The great man gave me his blessing to write it in 1975 Not just a great man A great gentle man
I like the billing! Not even alphabetical. Thank you. But that hair! The only good thing I can say is that I have still got it albeit, in a somewhat different shade which I prefer.
Good hair is something that Robin Askwith & I have in common. Though his is blonded by the Gozo sun
If you can't read this, it says: "To George, my Pal. My best wishes. Bobby Charlton"
I was the late, great Sir Bobby Charlton's pal!!
Suggestions better than 'Bloomin' Chuffed' please.
So proud...
Lovely Windsor. I was asked by Windsor's daughter, Jane, to speak at Windsor's funeral. I was very honoured. When I saw what a private family gathering it was, I was doubly honoured. He is very much missed.
In memory of the magnificent Windsor Davies, who passed away on this day in 2019.
Windsor appeared as rival driving school boss, Henry Truscott, in Confessions of a Driving Instructor.
28th August 1930 - 17th January 2019
How lovely to see my dear friend Ballard 'Bill' Berkley.
Met him in 1964, 2 years out of drama school. I loved his company & his stories about Rex Harrison, Wilfred Hyde-White to name but 2. I walk my dog past his old house every day & think about him & his lovely wife, Connie.
Well done Robin. Always entertaining - your followers have good taste. Just a mite disappointed that this isn't your favourite picture. I'm much prettier than Sid!!
Such sad news about Jill Gascoigne. Lovely lady. Years ago she was starring as Aladdin at the Shaftesbury. She fell ill. Full house, matinee & evening. Roy Kinnear persuaded muggins Layton to play Aladdin for both perfs! Loved it - esp. the malt whiskey Jill sent me afterwards
"Guest-starring an enviably spry-looking George Layton" All those hours in the gym!
Madame Blanc was a joy. Lovely company, lovely crew, fab director. Created & crafted by the hugely talented Sally Lindsay with the greatSue Vincent. Oh, & my fellow Cult & pal Robin Askwith! FAB
Hello
@rickygervais
I have been watching Afterlife 2 this evening. Again! Utterly brilliant. Moving, funny, sad, funny again. Sad again. Brilliantly cast. I just love it.
Ricky Gervais - you are a genius!!!
Good luck to my dear friend Robin Askwith for another of his iconic shows at The Phoenix Club tonight: "Robin Askwith - Still Hanging On" Another sell-out!! It's says something when one of his best mates can't get a ticket!! Have a great night Robin...
If I remember, it may have gone out as No 5 but I think it was the first episode to be filmed. No doubt the Minder experts will tell me if I'm wrong. Directed by Peter Sasdy. Loved being part of that series. That's how my hair looks now after weeks of lockdown - but white!
I called my dear friend Barry Cryer to wish him happy birthday. Here is his birthday parrot joke:
Barry (to parrot): Hello Polly, now are you self-isolating?
Parrot: I'm in a fuckin' cage, Barry - what do you think?
Hi dear
@Robin_Askwith
- the happiest of happy birthdays & all the best for your birthday show tonight at The Cinema Museum. Sorry I can't be there. But will see you on Nov 8th! I will leave it to you to elaborate for your legion of fans!! Have a great day Rob...
He was bloomin' good in 'Stand Up Virgin Soldiers'. He had enthusiasm for everything. Never heard him badmouth anybody and he was great fun to work with. Always brought an energy to 'Dr in the House'. We lost him too early sadly. But whilst he was with us, boy did he enjoy life!
Layton In Lock Down. A weekly column in the Daily Telegraph Online starting tomorrow. Lock Down from the point of view of the vulnerable over-70's. (I lied about my age!) Please retweet and tell your friends, loved ones, sweethearts - or even your wives & husbands.
My dear friend Windsor. Such a lovely, genuine man and a lovely family. We had great times together. Robin, terrific seeing you on Monday! Safe trip home. Brrr...
@Thegeorgelayton
I adored working with him on the very first episode ever of the Minder. He was such a gentleman. We were night filming for a week and he was soo kind and allowed me takes turns having a nap in his Winnebago. One of the nicest men in showbusiness
SUCCESS!! See message from 3G:
"Hello Mr Layton,
Thank you for your time today.
I have closed your account with Three.
I cleared the balance of £48.71 and refunded a total of £150 directly to your bank account."
Phew!!
Moral: Keep persevering. Don't let them grind you down.
📷
I don’t normally post stuff like this but a friend told me off for not joining in the fun of posting a photo of yourself at age 20 and also a work photo. Well this is both. 20 years old and ad pic from Sweet Charity. There I’ve done it so now I can go back to being Bah Humbug!
Hello
@Robin_Askwith
- the Birthday Boy! Not only have a great day - have a great "Naughty but Niche" night at The Phoenix Club. If you were unlucky & haven't got a ticket for Robin's sell-out show - just mention my name. Won't help but it's nice to be talked about...
I am looking forward reading my stories about a self-confessed coward growing up in the 50's. No social media maybe, but the unnamed narrator has the same childhood fears & anxieties that kids have today - bullying, peer pressure. Hope to see you at the wonderful Cinema Museum.
Join us on March 21st with
@thegeorgelayton
at the
@CinemaMuseum
when George will read from his best-selling books based on a 50’s childhood. Nostalgic, funny & poignant.
'George Layton Tells Fibs & Stories' at The Cinema Museum- but sadly not on 21st March as planned.
Only postponed! Promise My show will be re-scheduled. Definitely! It will be a night of celebration when we come thru this horrible nightmare that we are all in together. Keep safe
I do love this photo. Love it so much you'll note no Peter Noone/Brian Jones flip comments. That's because I have eyes only for the beautiful (inside & out) Lynda B. What a great person & a joy to work with. Lynda played my wife more times than my wife...
And here we are at the premiere of Driving Instructor at The Columbia Cinema,Shaftesbury ave
Slaughtered by the critics but guess what ?....YOU loved it!
I met David Lodge in 1965 as a young actor when he played Gerry Barford, Manager of BBC's fictional Brentwich United. He & his gorgeous wife (French, if I remember correctly) were frequent dinner guests. Great raconteur, wonderful (Peter Sellers) stories! Could listen for hours!
I certainly remember with great affection doing several Kenny Everett shows. I can't recall this sketch but I think my lady companion was April Walker. A lovely person, we were in the same class at RADA. Kenny was a genius. Some of the scripts were by the great Barry Cryer.
Hey Robin - what a lovely photo of you and much missed Lynda. What a great lady. On stage, tv & film, she played my wife more than my wife!! We miss her so much.
You might be a good actor but you're a lousy photographer!! I'm not coming to see George Layton if he looks like that!!
Ps I've recorded Driving Instructor but my bloody Sky doesn't work. The Sky guy came to install Sky Q but asked me to get my ariel man in to help him Grrr...
Happy birthday to my oldest friend
George Layton
By that,of course,I mean my friend who is the oldest!
I love him and he is my hero
He has gone where no man has gone before....
Miriam Margolyse...
Very sad to hear of the passing of Sydney (Syd) Lotterby.
A lovely man. Worked with him first when he was a studio floor manager. Then as director & producer. He had a wonderful temperament, essential when directing divas of both genders! Not me I add - but then, maybe...Bye Syd.
Final memory of 'my pal' Sir Bobby Charlton.
In 2011 he & his wonderful wife Norma travelled all the way from M/c to be Guest of Honour at a charity concert where I read The Fib to music esp. composed by eminent Maestra, Debbie Wiseman, played by the RPO. What an evening it was!
Remembering Lynda Bellingham,would have been 72 today-she played my girlfriend in an episode of The Misfit(her first job)-friends from that day and forever on-
I have to put this photo up again because so much is going on ..and you can't beat Windsor Davies coming out of a cake!
@redgierob
I love
@Thegeorgelayton
's 'The Fib and Other Stories''. 🙌🏾
Here's a book blanket of some of my favourite short stories to share in school. 🧡
Sheila Fearn was a lovely lady. I played her boyfriend in the first series of 'The Likely Lads' (Mario the hairdresser - real name Ernie from Hull). Must be over 50 years ago...