Fred Feast
Encyclopedia
Frederick Feast was a British
television actor, best remembered for playing the role of Fred Gee in Coronation Street
.
and appeared in summer seasons and pantomimes. Other occupations included driving instructor, butcher, trawlerman, dolphin trainer, nightclub owner, personal shopper and publican.
Coronation Street
, a role he played from 1975 to 1984.
In 1983, Feast took time off sick at a moment's notice, causing the Coronation Street script writers to have to re-draft 12 episodes (then the equivalent of six weeks of programmes.) He claimed to be depressed, had trouble remembering his lines, and suffered from bouts of uncontrollable weeping. Podmore later said that if he had come to him and explained this in the first place, his role could have been temporarily reduced; appearing as a bar person in The Rovers, the focal point of Coronation Street, means that an actor tends to be in more scenes than other characters. Bill Podmore
described Feast as 'earthy', and Fred Gee as being a toned-down screen version of Fred Feast.
The next time he took time off, in 1984 it was permanent. Fred Gee had gone from being an unlikeable loser to an outright buffoon, getting the sack from The Rovers from owner Billy Walker after punching him in the face, unable to see that Walker had goaded him into it so he could fire him without having to pay him any redundancy. Business deals behind the back of London textile magnate Mike Baldwin also backfired. Feast refused to sign a new contract, stating in the British national press that he didn't want to become "...another Coronation Street cabbage", referring to several cast members—namely Peter Dudley
, Jack Howarth and Bernard Youens
, who had all recently died. Fred Gee was not killed off at that point, he was simply never mentioned again. He last appeared in the soap in December 1984. His place at The Rovers was taken by Jack Duckworth
(William Tarmey
).
On 31 October 2011 following the death of the long running Coronation Street actress Betty Driver it was announced that Feast will be making a brief return to Coronation Street for the departure of Driver's character Betty Williams along with former characters Bet Lynch (Julie Goodyear), Hilda Ogden (Jean Alexander) and Raquel Watts (Sarah Lancashire)
in a 1989 drama called Our Fred but the one off never came about. Another role which eluded him was that of Howard Booth in Yorkshire TV's 'The Bounder'. Apparently Feast was offered the role as a result of his strong showing at the audition, but his refusal to grow a rakish moustache counted against him; no such problem for Peter Bowles
who duly secured the role.
As the roles dried up, Feast made a brief foray into local politics. He initially stood as the Labour candidate for Glossop East in the Derbyshire County Council elections, but during a public debate at Glossop Town Hall, Fred fluffed his lines and could only mumble that the local Labour manifesto was "something about wheelie bins, dog dirt and joyriders" and that he'd be a "better councillor than Alf Roberts"—a reference to Bryan Moseley's Coronation Street character who was Mayor of Weatherfield.
Fred was abruptly de-selected the following morning by the local Labour Party committee, but immediately re entered the election as an independent UKIP candidate. He polled less than 40 votes, and lost his deposit—but not before a bravura performance at the count, upstaging the returning officer and other candidates with an off-the-cuff 14 minute speech—much of his ire aimed at the Labour National Executive.
He was dropped for a TV commercial by car manufacturer Rover, who had planned to reprise his Coronation Street character's ubiquitous Rover 2000 -with Feast, no less, at the wheel.
accused Feast of being a high level member of the New World Order
, a supposed group that works under the orders of alienoid shape shifting lizards and secretly rules the world. Icke explained that it's not just politicians involved in such an undertaking, but "entertainers as well". "They help condition people for the moment when the reality of their predicament is exposed" he said, "so people like Fred Feast, I know he's a bit washed up now, but he was big in the 80s thanks to his role in Coronation Street, would be subliminally laying the foundations for the acceptance of the human race's rule by aliens". Speculating on Feast's then recent fall from grace, Icke said that he had perhaps displeased his lizard paymasters. He did add, however, that it is "highly unlikely" that Feast is himself half man, half lizard. "He doesn't have the necessary intelligence" added Icke.
. The news was given to Jack and Vera Duckworth
by Fred's ex-wife Eunice (Meg Johnson
) that he had died in a manner that was "not befitting a Ram man" (Feast had been a Derby County
season ticket holder).
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television actor, best remembered for playing the role of Fred Gee in Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
.
Early life
He attended the Graham School, Scarborough and served as a physical training instructor for the Parachute Regiment with the rank of sergeant. He worked as a variety artist and stand-up comic at the Windmill TheatreWindmill Theatre
The Windmill Theatre, later The Windmill International, was a variety and revue theatre in Great Windmill Street, London. The theatre was famous for its nude tableaux vivants...
and appeared in summer seasons and pantomimes. Other occupations included driving instructor, butcher, trawlerman, dolphin trainer, nightclub owner, personal shopper and publican.
Coronation Street
Although he acted in numerous television dramas, he was best known for his role as the Rovers Return's "potman", Fred Gee, a crooked man with unscrupulous morals, on the soap operaSoap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
, a role he played from 1975 to 1984.
In 1983, Feast took time off sick at a moment's notice, causing the Coronation Street script writers to have to re-draft 12 episodes (then the equivalent of six weeks of programmes.) He claimed to be depressed, had trouble remembering his lines, and suffered from bouts of uncontrollable weeping. Podmore later said that if he had come to him and explained this in the first place, his role could have been temporarily reduced; appearing as a bar person in The Rovers, the focal point of Coronation Street, means that an actor tends to be in more scenes than other characters. Bill Podmore
Bill Podmore
Edgar William "Bill" Podmore was a British television producer. Born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, he was best known for his long association with the soap opera Coronation Street, a series he produced for twelve years...
described Feast as 'earthy', and Fred Gee as being a toned-down screen version of Fred Feast.
The next time he took time off, in 1984 it was permanent. Fred Gee had gone from being an unlikeable loser to an outright buffoon, getting the sack from The Rovers from owner Billy Walker after punching him in the face, unable to see that Walker had goaded him into it so he could fire him without having to pay him any redundancy. Business deals behind the back of London textile magnate Mike Baldwin also backfired. Feast refused to sign a new contract, stating in the British national press that he didn't want to become "...another Coronation Street cabbage", referring to several cast members—namely Peter Dudley
Peter Dudley
Peter Dudley was an English character actor best known for his role as Bert Tilsley in television's Coronation Street; a role he played continuously from 1979 until 1983.His period in the programme was however dogged by controversy...
, Jack Howarth and Bernard Youens
Bernard Youens
Bernard Arthur Youens was a British character actor, best remembered for his portrayal of the workshy, beer-swilling Stan Ogden in Coronation Street from 1964 until his death in 1984....
, who had all recently died. Fred Gee was not killed off at that point, he was simply never mentioned again. He last appeared in the soap in December 1984. His place at The Rovers was taken by Jack Duckworth
Jack Duckworth
John Harold "Jack" Duckworth is a long-standing fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, a long-running serial drama about working class life in the fictional town of Weatherfield. He is played by actor William Tarmey. The character debuted onscreen during the episode...
(William Tarmey
William Tarmey
Bill Tarmey is an English actor, singer and author, best known for playing Jack Duckworth on the soap opera Coronation Street. First appearing in the role in 1979, he played it continuously from 1983 to 2010.-Life and career:Tarmey was born in Ardwick, Manchester...
).
On 31 October 2011 following the death of the long running Coronation Street actress Betty Driver it was announced that Feast will be making a brief return to Coronation Street for the departure of Driver's character Betty Williams along with former characters Bet Lynch (Julie Goodyear), Hilda Ogden (Jean Alexander) and Raquel Watts (Sarah Lancashire)
Later roles
After leaving Coronation Street, he went on to a three-year stint on the BBC1 series All Creatures Great and Small in a minor role. Feast also went for the role of Fred DibnahFred Dibnah
Frederick "Fred" Dibnah MBE , born in Bolton, was an English steeplejack and eccentric with a keen interest in mechanical engineering who became a cult television personality....
in a 1989 drama called Our Fred but the one off never came about. Another role which eluded him was that of Howard Booth in Yorkshire TV's 'The Bounder'. Apparently Feast was offered the role as a result of his strong showing at the audition, but his refusal to grow a rakish moustache counted against him; no such problem for Peter Bowles
Peter Bowles
-Early life:Bowles was born in London, England, the son of Sarah Jane and Herbert Reginald Bowles. His father was a chauffeur and butler at a stately home in Warwickshire; but, upon the outbreak of World War II, he was seconded to work as an engineer at Rolls-Royce and moved the family to Nottingham...
who duly secured the role.
As the roles dried up, Feast made a brief foray into local politics. He initially stood as the Labour candidate for Glossop East in the Derbyshire County Council elections, but during a public debate at Glossop Town Hall, Fred fluffed his lines and could only mumble that the local Labour manifesto was "something about wheelie bins, dog dirt and joyriders" and that he'd be a "better councillor than Alf Roberts"—a reference to Bryan Moseley's Coronation Street character who was Mayor of Weatherfield.
Fred was abruptly de-selected the following morning by the local Labour Party committee, but immediately re entered the election as an independent UKIP candidate. He polled less than 40 votes, and lost his deposit—but not before a bravura performance at the count, upstaging the returning officer and other candidates with an off-the-cuff 14 minute speech—much of his ire aimed at the Labour National Executive.
He was dropped for a TV commercial by car manufacturer Rover, who had planned to reprise his Coronation Street character's ubiquitous Rover 2000 -with Feast, no less, at the wheel.
Controversy
In August 1991 in a bizarre interview with the Daily Mirror, conspiracy theorist David IckeDavid Icke
David Vaughan Icke is an English writer and public speaker, best known for his views on what he calls "who and what is really controlling the world." Describing himself as the most controversial speaker in the world, he has written 18 books explaining his position, and has attracted a substantial...
accused Feast of being a high level member of the New World Order
New World Order
New World Order, New world order or The New World Order may refer to:*New world order , any period of history evidencing a dramatic change in world political thought and the balance of power...
, a supposed group that works under the orders of alienoid shape shifting lizards and secretly rules the world. Icke explained that it's not just politicians involved in such an undertaking, but "entertainers as well". "They help condition people for the moment when the reality of their predicament is exposed" he said, "so people like Fred Feast, I know he's a bit washed up now, but he was big in the 80s thanks to his role in Coronation Street, would be subliminally laying the foundations for the acceptance of the human race's rule by aliens". Speculating on Feast's then recent fall from grace, Icke said that he had perhaps displeased his lizard paymasters. He did add, however, that it is "highly unlikely" that Feast is himself half man, half lizard. "He doesn't have the necessary intelligence" added Icke.
Death of character
Feast later admitted that he regretted leaving Coronation Street, his bravado after having resigned long since gone. His character was killed off with a heart attack in January 1999, a few months before Feast's own real-life death from abdominal cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. The news was given to Jack and Vera Duckworth
Vera Duckworth
Veronica "Vera" Duckworth , played by Elizabeth Dawn, is a fictional character on the British soap opera Coronation Street, first appearing in August 1974 and last appearing in episode 6,734 on 18 January 2008, where the character peacefully died in her sleep at the age of 70 from heart failure...
by Fred's ex-wife Eunice (Meg Johnson
Meg Johnson
Meg Johnson is an English actress who currently plays the role of Pearl Ladderbanks in ITV's popular soap opera Emmerdale. Prior to joining Emmedale, Johnson was a part of the now-axed UK soap Brookside, playing Brigid McKenna for three years...
) that he had died in a manner that was "not befitting a Ram man" (Feast had been a Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
season ticket holder).