Bill Simpson (actor)
Encyclopedia
William Nicholson Simpson (11 September 193121 December 1986) was a Scottish
film
and television
actor
, most famous for his portrayal of the title role in the long-running BBC TV
series, Dr. Finlay's Casebook
.
, Ayrshire
. He began his career as an announcer
for BBC Scotland
. Although his name was missing from the film credits, his only appearance in a movie was playing a groom in the 1959 re-make of John Buchan
's story The 39 Steps
, which starred Kenneth More
as Richard Hannay
. He devoted the rest of his career to television, radio
and stage
.
In 1962, the BBC
filmed an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson
's novel The Master of Ballantrae
, and Simpson played the part of Hastie in six 30 minute episodes. Later that year, he took the role of Mr. Ogilvie in "Appearance in Court", an episode of the popular BBC police drama
, Z Cars
.
medical drama
, Dr. Finlay's Casebook
, with an episode called "It's All in the Mind". Simpson played the title role, Dr. Alan Finlay, and was well supported by Andrew Cruickshank
as Dr. Cameron, his older partner at the Arden House surgery in Tannochbrae
, and Barbara Mullen
as their housekeeper, Janet. Made at Callander
in Stirling, Scotland, the show ran for eight seasons, the final episode, "The Burgess Ticket", being shown on 3 January 1971. Simpson also starred in 104 audio episodes of the A. J. Cronin
story, made by BBC Radio 4
, from 1970 to 1975.
finished its television run, Simpson continued to work for the British Broadcasting Corporation, and in 1973 took a role as MacNair in the Scottish independence
drama
series Scotch on the Rocks, which was broadcast over five 40 minute programmes.
In 1975, he appeared in one instalment of the TV series Quiller, again for the BBC. He played Sir Andrew Kilbrane, alongside Michael Jayston
as Quiller, in an episode called "Target North" which involved the death of a government minister. He also took the part of Rob Dow in the BBC Play of the Month
for 2 November 1975, an adaptation of J. M. Barrie
's play "The Little Minister
", and co-starring Helen Mirren
and Ian Ogilvy
.
He had a feature part in "Happy New Year, Some Say", a 1976 episode of the North East England
drama, When the Boat Comes In
, playing Sandy Lewis.
Simpson then made a complete series of The Mackinnons, taking the starring role of Donald, head of the Mackinnon family, who live in the Western Islands of Scotland
, and feel threatened by the influx of new people with new lifestyles into their community. "Whose Side Are You On?" was the first instalment of 13, though only one series was ever made.
In 1977–78, Simpson appeared on stage at the Bradford Alhambra Theatre
in the pantomime
Cinderella
, alongside Charlie Drake
and Dora Bryan
. And in 1978, Simpson played Professor Edmund Bartlett in "The Imprudent Professor", an episode of Return of the Saint
, which starred Ian Ogilvy as Simon Templar
in a re-make of the original 1960s TV series written by Leslie Charteris
.
He next travelled to France
and West Germany
to shoot the 1979 television mini-series Die Abenteuer des David Balfour (otherwise known as Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped
), a co-production between HTV
in England, Technisonor of France and Tele-München
of Germany. Simpson played James of the Glens.
In 1980, he was one of the stars who took part in the ITV
variety show
performed in front of Princess Margaret
, Night of One Hundred Stars, hosted by Terry Wogan
. Later that year, he appeared as Dr. Hugh McFarlane in the Yorkshire Television
series The Good Companions, a "very unusual musical
comedy drama
" based on the novel by J. B. Priestley
, adapted by Alan Plater
.
Given his history of heart problems, it is perhaps unsurprising that Simpson's career became less busy around this time. He contributed less to drama on television, and more to factual subjects, introducing the TV coverage of the British Open Golf Championship
at Royal Troon
in 1982, with Peter Alliss
, and presenting "Leadership Matters", a middle management
corporate video
on behalf of The Industrial Society in 1984.
His final contributions to the performance side of television were 1983's Tyne Tees Television
production, Andy Robson: Lost and Found
, as Dr. George McKenzie; then in 1984 the Scottish Television
docu-drama
Scotland's Story: Mary and an End to the French Connection, playing John Knox; and one more, made in 1986, which he would never live to watch.
On 21 December 1986, at the age of 55, Bill Simpson died from a bronchopneumonia in Mauchline
, East Ayrshire
. His role as a driver's boss in the TV drama, Shoot for the Sun, was not shown on television until 16 March 1987.
in Callander
, near Menteith
, Scotland
, and they bought a house there, called Tamavoid. They divorced just four years later, having had no children. In the year leading up to his second marriage, to Tracy Reed on 17 April 1974, she gave birth to their first daughter, Kelly. They went on to have a second girl called Katy, born in 1975. Reed's real name was Clare Pelissier.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, most famous for his portrayal of the title role in the long-running BBC TV
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
series, Dr. Finlay's Casebook
Dr. Finlay's Casebook (TV & radio)
Dr. Finlay's Casebook is a television series that was broadcast on the BBC from 1962 until 1971. Based on A. J. Cronin's novella entitled Country Doctor, the storylines centred on a general medical practice in the fictional Scottish town of Tannochbrae during the late 1920s...
.
Beginnings
Bill Simpson was born in DunureDunure
Dunure is a small village in the South Ayrshire area of Scotland. Located on the coast of the Firth of Clyde, Dunure is near to Maybole.-The villages:...
, Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
. He began his career as an announcer
Announcer
An announcer is a presenter who makes "announcements" in an audio medium or a physical location.-Television and other media:Some announcers work in television production , radio or filmmaking, usually providing narrations, news updates, station identification, or an introduction of a product in...
for BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland is a constituent part of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the publicly-funded broadcaster of the United Kingdom. It is, in effect, the national broadcaster for Scotland, having a considerable amount of autonomy from the BBC's London headquarters, and is run by the BBC Trust, who...
. Although his name was missing from the film credits, his only appearance in a movie was playing a groom in the 1959 re-make of John Buchan
John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir
John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir was a Scottish novelist, historian and Unionist politician who served as Governor General of Canada, the 15th since Canadian Confederation....
's story The 39 Steps
The 39 Steps (1959 film)
The 39 Steps is a 1959 British thriller film directed by Ralph Thomas, starring Kenneth More and Taina Elg. It is a remake of the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock film, based on the novel The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan....
, which starred Kenneth More
Kenneth More
Kenneth Gilbert More CBE was a highly successful English film actor during the post-World War II era and starred in many feature films, often in the role of an archetypal carefree and happy-go-lucky middle-class gentleman.-Early life:Kenneth More was born in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, the...
as Richard Hannay
Richard Hannay
Major-General Sir Richard Hannay, KCB, OBE, DSO, Legion of Honour, is a fictional secret agent created by Scottish novelist John Buchan. In his autobiography, Memory Hold-the-Door, Buchan suggests that the character is based, in part, on Edmund Ironside, from Edinburgh, a spy during the Second Boer...
. He devoted the rest of his career to television, radio
Radio programming
Radio programming is the Broadcast programming of a Radio format or content that is organized for Commercial broadcasting and Public broadcasting radio stations....
and stage
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
.
In 1962, the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
filmed an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist and travel writer. His best-known books include Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde....
's novel The Master of Ballantrae
The Master of Ballantrae
The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale is a book by the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, focusing upon the conflict between two brothers, Scottish noblemen whose family is torn apart by the Jacobite rising of 1745...
, and Simpson played the part of Hastie in six 30 minute episodes. Later that year, he took the role of Mr. Ogilvie in "Appearance in Court", an episode of the popular BBC police drama
Police procedural
The police procedural is a subgenre of detective fiction which attempts to convincingly depict the activities of a police force as they investigate crimes. While traditional detective novels usually concentrate on a single crime, police procedurals frequently depict investigations into several...
, Z Cars
Z-Cars
Z-Cars is a British television drama series centred on the work of mobile uniformed police in the fictional town of Newtown, based on Kirkby in the outskirts of Liverpool in Merseyside. Produced by the BBC, it debuted in January 1962 and ran until September 1978.-Origins:The series was developed by...
.
Dr. Finlay's Casebook
On 16 August 1962, the BBC began broadcasting its long-running ScottishScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
medical drama
Medical drama
A medical drama is a television program, in which events center upon a hospital, an ambulance staff, or any medical environment.In the United States, most medical episodes are one hour long and, more often than not, are set in a hospital. Most current medical Dramatic programming go beyond the...
, Dr. Finlay's Casebook
Dr. Finlay's Casebook (TV & radio)
Dr. Finlay's Casebook is a television series that was broadcast on the BBC from 1962 until 1971. Based on A. J. Cronin's novella entitled Country Doctor, the storylines centred on a general medical practice in the fictional Scottish town of Tannochbrae during the late 1920s...
, with an episode called "It's All in the Mind". Simpson played the title role, Dr. Alan Finlay, and was well supported by Andrew Cruickshank
Andrew Cruickshank
Andrew John Maxton Cruickshank was a Scottish supporting actor, most famous for his portrayal of Dr Cameron in the long-running UK BBC television series, Dr Finlay's Casebook, which ran for 191 episodes from 1962 until 1971.-Life and career:Andrew Cruickshank was born to Andrew and Mary...
as Dr. Cameron, his older partner at the Arden House surgery in Tannochbrae
Tannochbrae
Tannochbrae is a fictional town in Scotland which serves as the setting for A. J. Cronin's Dr. Finlay stories, as well as for the television and radio series based on these short stories....
, and Barbara Mullen
Barbara Mullen
Barbara Mullen was an American actress well known in the UK for playing the part of Janet the housekeeper in Dr Finlay's Casebook...
as their housekeeper, Janet. Made at Callander
Callander
Callander is a burgh in the region of Stirling, Scotland, situated on the River Teith. The town is located in the former county of Perthshire and is a popular tourist stop to and from the Highlands....
in Stirling, Scotland, the show ran for eight seasons, the final episode, "The Burgess Ticket", being shown on 3 January 1971. Simpson also starred in 104 audio episodes of the A. J. Cronin
A. J. Cronin
Archibald Joseph Cronin was a Scottish physician and novelist. His best-known works are Hatter's Castle, The Stars Look Down, The Citadel, The Keys of the Kingdom and The Green Years, all of which were adapted to film. He also created the Dr...
story, made by BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
, from 1970 to 1975.
Later work
After Dr. FinlayDr. Finlay
Dr. Finlay is a fictional character, the hero of a series of stories by Scottish author A. J. Cronin.-History:The stories were used as the basis for the long-running BBC television programme, Dr. Finlay's Casebook, screened from 1962 to 1971, and radio series . Based on Cronin's novella entitled...
finished its television run, Simpson continued to work for the British Broadcasting Corporation, and in 1973 took a role as MacNair in the Scottish independence
Scottish independence
Scottish independence is a political ambition of political parties, advocacy groups and individuals for Scotland to secede from the United Kingdom and become an independent sovereign state, separate from England, Wales and Northern Ireland....
drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
series Scotch on the Rocks, which was broadcast over five 40 minute programmes.
In 1975, he appeared in one instalment of the TV series Quiller, again for the BBC. He played Sir Andrew Kilbrane, alongside Michael Jayston
Michael Jayston
Michael Jayston is a Nottingham-born English actor.- Early life :He attended the Becket Grammar School in West Bridgford, then worked briefly as a trainee accountant at the offices of the National Coal Board before obtaining a scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama to train as an...
as Quiller, in an episode called "Target North" which involved the death of a government minister. He also took the part of Rob Dow in the BBC Play of the Month
Play of the Month
Play of the Month is a BBC television anthology series featuring productions of classic and contemporary stage plays which were usually broadcast on BBC1. Each production featured a different work, often using prominent British stage actors in the leading roles...
for 2 November 1975, an adaptation of J. M. Barrie
J. M. Barrie
Sir James Matthew Barrie, 1st Baronet, OM was a Scottish author and dramatist, best remembered today as the creator of Peter Pan. The child of a family of small-town weavers, he was educated in Scotland. He moved to London, where he developed a career as a novelist and playwright...
's play "The Little Minister
The Little Minister
The Little Minister is a 1934 American drama film directed by Richard Wallace. The screenplay by Jane Murfin, Sarah Y. Mason, and Victor Heerman is based on the 1891 novel and subsequent 1897 play of the same title by J. M. Barrie. It was the fifth feature film adaptation of the works, following...
", and co-starring Helen Mirren
Helen Mirren
Dame Helen Mirren, DBE is an English actor. She has won an Academy Award for Best Actress, four SAG Awards, four BAFTAs, three Golden Globes, four Emmy Awards, and two Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Awards.-Early life and family:...
and Ian Ogilvy
Ian Ogilvy
Ian Raymond Ogilvy is an English film and television actor.-Early life:He was born in Woking, Surrey, England, the son of advertising executive Francis Ogilvy and actress Aileen Raymond .He was educated at Sunningdale School, Eton College and at the Royal Academy of...
.
He had a feature part in "Happy New Year, Some Say", a 1976 episode of the North East England
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
drama, When the Boat Comes In
When the Boat Comes In
When the Boat Comes In is a British television period-drama produced by the BBC between 1976 and 1981.The series stars James Bolam as Jack Ford, a First World War veteran who returns to his poverty-stricken town of Gallowshield in the North East of England in the 1920s.The memorable traditional...
, playing Sandy Lewis.
Simpson then made a complete series of The Mackinnons, taking the starring role of Donald, head of the Mackinnon family, who live in the Western Islands of Scotland
Outer Hebrides
The Outer Hebrides also known as the Western Isles and the Long Island, is an island chain off the west coast of Scotland. The islands are geographically contiguous with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, one of the 32 unitary council areas of Scotland...
, and feel threatened by the influx of new people with new lifestyles into their community. "Whose Side Are You On?" was the first instalment of 13, though only one series was ever made.
In 1977–78, Simpson appeared on stage at the Bradford Alhambra Theatre
Bradford Alhambra
The Bradford Alhambra is a theatre in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. It was built in 1913 at a cost of £20,000 for theatre impresario Francis Laidler, and opened on Wednesday 18 March 1914. In 1964 Bradford City Council bought the Alhambra for £78,900. In 1974 it was designated a Grade II...
in the pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
Cinderella
Cinderella
"Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune...
, alongside Charlie Drake
Charlie Drake
Charlie Drake was an English comedian, actor, writer and singer.With his small stature , curly red hair and liking for slapstick he was a popular comedian with children in his early years, becoming nationally-known for his "Hello, my darlings" catchphrase...
and Dora Bryan
Dora Bryan
Dora May Bryan OBE is an English actress of stage, film and television.-Early life:Bryan was born as Dora May Broadbent in Southport, Lancashire, England. Her father was a salesman and she attended Hathershaw County Primary School in Oldham, Lancashire...
. And in 1978, Simpson played Professor Edmund Bartlett in "The Imprudent Professor", an episode of Return of the Saint
Return of the Saint
Return of the Saint was a British action-adventure television series that aired for one season in 1978 and 1979 in Britain on ITV, and was also broadcast on CBS in the United States...
, which starred Ian Ogilvy as Simon Templar
Simon Templar
Simon Templar is a British fictional character known as The Saint featured in a long-running series of books by Leslie Charteris published between 1928 and 1963. After that date, other authors collaborated with Charteris on books until 1983; two additional works produced without Charteris’s...
in a re-make of the original 1960s TV series written by Leslie Charteris
Leslie Charteris
Leslie Charteris , born Leslie Charles Bowyer-Yin, was a half-Chinese, half English author of primarily mystery fiction, as well as a screenwriter. He was best known for his many books chronicling the adventures of Simon Templar, alias "The Saint."-Early life:Charteris was born to a Chinese father...
.
He next travelled to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
to shoot the 1979 television mini-series Die Abenteuer des David Balfour (otherwise known as Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped
Kidnapped (novel)
Kidnapped is a historical fiction adventure novel by the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson. Written as a "boys' novel" and first published in the magazine Young Folks from May to July 1886, the novel has attracted the praise and admiration of writers as diverse as Henry James, Jorge Luis...
), a co-production between HTV
HTV
HTV, now legally known as ITV Wales & West, is the ITV contractor for Wales and the West of England, which operated from studios in Cardiff and Bristol. The company provided commercial television for the dual-region 'Wales and West' franchise, which it won from TWW in 1968...
in England, Technisonor of France and Tele-München
Tele 5
Tele 5 is a commercial television channel in Germany. The channel is largely known for showing classic American films and series, Japanese Anime and Shows.Tele 5 broadcasts from the Astra 1H, 1M, and 3A satellites and is uplinked by ASTRA Platform Services....
of Germany. Simpson played James of the Glens.
In 1980, he was one of the stars who took part in the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
performed in front of Princess Margaret
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon was the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II and the younger daughter of King George VI....
, Night of One Hundred Stars, hosted by Terry Wogan
Terry Wogan
Sir Michael Terence Wogan, KBE, DL , or also known as Terry Wogan, is a veteran Irish radio and television broadcaster who holds dual Irish and British citizenship. Wogan has worked for the BBC in the United Kingdom for most of his career...
. Later that year, he appeared as Dr. Hugh McFarlane in the Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television, now officially known as ITV Yorkshire and sometimes unofficially abbreviated to YTV, is a British television broadcaster and the contractor for the Yorkshire franchise area on the ITV network...
series The Good Companions, a "very unusual musical
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
comedy drama
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
" based on the novel by J. B. Priestley
J. B. Priestley
John Boynton Priestley, OM , known as J. B. Priestley, was an English novelist, playwright and broadcaster. He published 26 novels, notably The Good Companions , as well as numerous dramas such as An Inspector Calls...
, adapted by Alan Plater
Alan Plater
Alan Frederick Plater, CBE, FRSL was an English playwright and screenwriter, who worked extensively in British television from the 1960s to the 2000s.-Career:...
.
Given his history of heart problems, it is perhaps unsurprising that Simpson's career became less busy around this time. He contributed less to drama on television, and more to factual subjects, introducing the TV coverage of the British Open Golf Championship
The Open Championship
The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
at Royal Troon
Royal Troon Golf Club
Royal Troon Golf Club is a links golf course located in Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland. The club was founded in 1878, initially with five holes. Its Old Course is now one of the host courses for The Open Championship, one of the major championships on the PGA Tour and European Tour...
in 1982, with Peter Alliss
Peter Alliss
Peter Alliss is an English professional golfer, BBC television presenter and commentator, author and golf course designer. Alliss is known for his charismatic and unique style of commentary, often displaying a witty demeanour...
, and presenting "Leadership Matters", a middle management
Middle management
Middle management is a layer of management in an organization whose primary job responsibility is to monitor activities of subordinates while reporting to upper management....
corporate video
Corporate video
Corporate video production refers to audio-visual corporate communications material commissioned primarily for a use by a company, corporation or organisation. A corporate video is often intended for a specific purpose in a corporate or B2B environment and viewed only by a limited or targeted...
on behalf of The Industrial Society in 1984.
His final contributions to the performance side of television were 1983's Tyne Tees Television
Tyne Tees Television
Tyne Tees Television is the ITV television franchise for North East England and parts of North Yorkshire. As of 2009, it forms part of a non-franchise ITV Tyne Tees & Border region, shared with the ITV Border region...
production, Andy Robson: Lost and Found
Andy Robson
Andy Robson is a 1982 British children's television series produced by Tyne Tees Television and which was aired on the ITV network for two series in 1982 and 1983. It was based on Frederick Grice's novel The Courage of Andy Robson, published in 1969...
, as Dr. George McKenzie; then in 1984 the Scottish Television
Scottish Television
Scottish Television is Scotland's largest ITV franchisee, and has held the ITV franchise for Central Scotland since 31 August 1957. It is the second oldest ITV franchisee still active...
docu-drama
Docudrama
In film, television programming and staged theatre, docudrama is a documentary-style genre that features dramatized re-enactments of actual historical events. As a neologism, the term is often confused with docufiction....
Scotland's Story: Mary and an End to the French Connection, playing John Knox; and one more, made in 1986, which he would never live to watch.
On 21 December 1986, at the age of 55, Bill Simpson died from a bronchopneumonia in Mauchline
Mauchline
Mauchline is a town in East Ayrshire, Scotland. In the 2001 census it had a recorded population of 4105. It lies by the Glasgow and South Western Railway line, 8 miles east-southeast of Kilmarnock and 11 miles northeast of Ayr. It is situated on a gentle slope about 1 mile from the River Ayr,...
, East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. It borders on to North Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway...
. His role as a driver's boss in the TV drama, Shoot for the Sun, was not shown on television until 16 March 1987.
Personal life
On 24 July 1965, Simpson married the actress Mary MillerMary Miller (actress)
Mary Elizabeth Miller is an English television and theatrical actress, known for being a founding member of the National Theatre in 1963, and for her portrayal of Angela Dunwoody QC in ten episodes of the 1970s UK TV series Crown Court.-Early years:Mary Miller first appeared on television in 1959...
in Callander
Callander
Callander is a burgh in the region of Stirling, Scotland, situated on the River Teith. The town is located in the former county of Perthshire and is a popular tourist stop to and from the Highlands....
, near Menteith
Menteith
Menteith or Monteith , a district of south Perthshire, Scotland, roughly comprises the territory between the Teith and the Forth. The region is named for the river Teith, but the exact sense is unclear, early forms including Meneted, Maneteth and Meneteth.First recorded as the Mormaerdom of...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and they bought a house there, called Tamavoid. They divorced just four years later, having had no children. In the year leading up to his second marriage, to Tracy Reed on 17 April 1974, she gave birth to their first daughter, Kelly. They went on to have a second girl called Katy, born in 1975. Reed's real name was Clare Pelissier.
External links
- Memories of Bill Simpson by Haldane DuncanHaldane DuncanHaldane Duncan is a television producer and director, best known for his contributions to soap operas.-Early years:...
, former EmmerdaleEmmerdaleEmmerdale, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale , a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972...
director