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New York Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Ben Greenhalgh won a TV show, joined Mourinho's Inter and lost his Champions League medal on a golf course
'And next he's gonna meet the big boss, Jose Mourinho. I think it will finally sink in that he's an Inter Milan player when he's given that shirt,' Jamie Redknapp, the former England midfielder and Sky presenter, says. Ben Greenhalgh laughs as he remembers what happens next. 'I nearly leave Mourinho hanging in a minute!' Advertisement We are watching a rerun of Football's Next Star, the television show that was broadcast on Sky One in 2010 with the prize of a six-month contract at Inter for the winner. More than 7,000 boys entered before being whittled down to the final 10, who stayed together in a villa overlooking Lake Como. 'Every week, it was a case of, 'We want to be here next week, and that's all we were fighting for',' Greenhalgh says. 'I don't think we were ever fighting for who was going to win.' Essentially, it was football's version of the X Factor with Marco Monti, the technical director at Inter's academy, playing the role of Simon Cowell. Greenhalgh not only ended up winning the show and signing for Inter but, remarkably, also finished the season with a Champions League medal around his neck (he later lost it on a golf course, but that's another story). It was a surreal experience for a 17-year-old A-level student who had never been around professional football before. 'Look, that could have been terrible!' Greenhalgh says, cringing as we watch the moment when Mourinho, who was Inter's manager at the time, congratulates him and waits for the handshake that almost never comes. Greenhalgh was too busy trying to take in the enormity of it all. A TV show that he had entered in the early stages 'as a laugh' was now turning his life upside down, propelling him from the fringe of the first-team at non-League Welling United, who were playing in the sixth tier of English football at the time, to training alongside some of the greatest players in the world at Inter. Those close to Greenhalgh were every bit as excited as him. 'I'm still with Grace!' Greenhalgh says, his face lighting up as the camera pans to his girlfriend. 'I've got three kids with her now!' Greenhalgh's relationship with Inter didn't last anything like as long, which was probably to be expected. By the start of 2011, the left winger was back in England, on trial at Brighton, following a successful loan spell with Como in Serie C, Italy's third tier. He rejoined Welling later the same year. Advertisement The experience at Inter, however, was unforgettable. Greenhalgh brings along to the interview a signed shirt that Patrick Vieira gave him, tells stories about Mario Balotelli and his Lamborghini, marvels at the way the Inter players worked so hard for Mourinho and, more than anything, feels privileged to have had a front-row seat for the most successful season in the club's history. 'My six-month contract began in January (2010), so it went to the end of the season,' Greenhalgh explains. 'Everything was high-flying because they were on for the treble at this time – they've got through the group stage in the Champions League, they're in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia and they're top of the league as well. It was some experience.' Inter created history by winning all three competitions, and although Greenhalgh played for the reserves and the under-18s rather than the first team, he was in the right place at the right time when it came to the Champions League final against Bayern Munich at the Bernabeu. 'Before the final, we played a game at Real Madrid City (the Spanish club's training ground) against Bayern Munich,' he says. 'It was called the 'UEFA Under-18 Challenge', and that's now become the UEFA Youth League. We also won 2-0 (the same scoreline as the first team). 'Some of us then travelled with the match-day squad, staying in the team hotel, and then sitting just behind them at the game. Just being able to experience those types of matches was ridiculous, really.' And what about the medal? 'We managed to get one because… they were just handing them out in the changing room afterwards!' Greenhalgh says, smiling. All of which explains why the supporters at non-League side Margate, who play in the Isthmian League South East Division (the eighth tier of English football), sing what they do on a match day. 'Champions League, he's won that too. Now he's at Margate, playing in blue.' Advertisement Greenhalgh, who is the player-manager at Margate, breaks into laughter. 'That's a good song. I've had some bad songs,' he says. 'At Tonbridge Angels – and I loved it when I was there – I'm about to take a free kick on the edge of the area, and they go, 'We got Super Ben Greenhalgh, he runs around the park…' 'I'm listening to it thinking, 'Oh wow, I've got a song.' 'And then they go, 'He looks like (British TV celebrity) Rylan Clark', and I think, 'Oh no!'' In his younger days, when he was still at school and before he grew a beard, Greenhalgh looked more like Cristiano Ronaldo, so much so that he was a body double for the former Manchester United and Real Madrid player in a television commercial. 'I started coaching for a guy called Mike Delaney, who also ran a company called Select Sports Artists,' he explains. 'Mike was one of the big ones at the time when it came to body-doubling adverts and he managed to get me Ronaldo, which was obviously massive. I was 16 and this was Ronaldo in his prime. And, fair play to Ronaldo, I've been to so many shoots where the players are there for 10 minutes maximum. But he was there for about three to four hours. He was even doing kick-ups with us.' That line of work provides another chapter to a colourful life story that includes a playing CV unlike any other. Greenhalgh's list of clubs, in order, reads: His time at Inter jumps off the page and, naturally, is a constant source of ribbing on the non-League circuit. 'I get banter all the time about it,' says Greenhalgh, who is also the academy director at Dartford Town, whose first team are one league above Margate. 'When it comes down to it, it's always going to be the thing that I'll be known for. It's been 15 years and it's still memorable.' Looking back, the fact that he joined Inter via a reality TV show was always going to pose challenges for him in Italy. There was even a wrangle at the outset between Welling and Inter, Greenhalgh recalls, over whether the non-League club were entitled to a transfer fee for him, delaying his registration. 'Welling started asking Inter for £100,000,' he says. Advertisement Greenhalgh also felt under added pressure to prove himself, not helped by the way the reserve team coach spoke about him in front of the other players. 'I remember him introducing me and it was like, 'He's won a TV show, he's with us now.'' Perhaps that kind of reaction was inevitable, even if it didn't need to be announced in that way. With or without his unusual backstory, Greenhalgh quickly realised that elite professional football is a dog-eat-dog world, especially for those who are still trying to prove themselves. 'When you're in the reserves or the under-21s of a top club, the chances of you breaking through are so slim. So these players are doing absolutely everything to get in, even injuring people,' Greenhalgh says. 'I used to play against a right-back who went on and played for Bayer Leverkusen. Not a very good footballer, in my opinion. But he would smash me every training session.' Not that Greenhalgh is in any way bitter or resentful about any part of his experience at Inter. He had the time of his life at the club, still speaks to several of his former team-mates and cherishes all the memories, including the episode on the television show when he was thrown in at the deep end with the first team. 'That was probably one of the biggest times ever in football where I did freeze a bit,' he says. 'I hadn't warmed up and you're suddenly playing with Lucio, (Ricardo) Quaresma and players like that, who you've seen on TV. I got the ball and I'd just pass because you didn't want anything to go wrong.' Some of the Inter first-team players went out of their way to be friendly towards Greenhalgh, including Vieira, who gave him a shirt that he had worn in the Milan derby. Greenhalgh also warmed to a teenage Mario Balotelli. 'At the time, I was 17 and he was 19 – he did not look 19. He was absolutely huge. He could have still played for the under-21s, that's what we found funny. Advertisement 'To be fair to him, he'd come and watch us. He rocked up in his Lamborghini for one game and he blocked the gateway for the coach to come in. The coach driver gets out and says, 'Can someone move this?' And he just said, 'No.' So they ended up having to park down the road and all their players had to walk.' As for Mourinho, Greenhalgh was fascinated by his approach. 'Interestingly, he wouldn't run training sessions too much. But you respected him because of his aura. Everything he said, you believed. 'I couldn't believe the manner that the players worked so hard for him, but then also how relaxed training was. There was no intensity to training. But then loads of tactical information, and then absolutely 100 miles an hour on a match day.' Realistically, Greenhalgh was never going to make it at first-team level at Inter, although he does sometimes wonder whether he should have stayed for longer at Como, where he spent half a season on loan and enjoyed his football. Instead, he came back to England in search of a professional club but was left with the feeling that he had been out of sight and out of mind in Italy. It was a different story for Connor Smith, the Irishman who finished second to Greenhalgh in Football's Next Star. 'I still speak to Connor, he's Barnet's assistant manager and they've had a brilliant year (winning promotion to the Football League),' Greenhalgh says. 'After we finished the show, me and Connor trained with Watford for four months because my contract (with Inter) didn't begin until January. I was still back and forth to Italy, but more for the camera stuff. Connor managed to get himself a deal at Watford and that probably propelled his career in England. And I think that's the one thing I always struggled with: my career never took off in England.' Greenhalgh ended up in Scotland at one stage, playing for the former England captain Terry Butcher at Inverness Caledonian Thistle, although it was another sport that grabbed his attention there. 'I was always a reasonable golfer,' he says. 'I was something like a 12 handicapper. But Scotland completely changed me.' Advertisement In fact, he spent so much time on the golf course in Scotland that he turned professional in 2015. Two years later, Greenhalgh posted a picture on Twitter showing him finishing first at a pro-am tournament. 'I ended up winning a little bit of money, but I was still a footballer playing golf,' he says. Over the moon to win my first PGA professional golf competition & to break the course record! Still hasn't sunk in Thanks to @TheAddingtonGC — Ben Greenhalgh (@BenGreenhalgh) July 14, 2017 That much was clear to anyone who played golf against him – and not because of his swing. Greenhalgh – and he shakes his head when he tells this story – used his Champions League winners' medal as a golf marker for a while. 'I took it off the ribbon mainly because I think, when I was young… it was brilliant, but I felt like I hadn't played in it (the final). So we were doing it as a laugh with my friends, just as a story to try and get in other golfers' heads. Like, 'Oh, what's that?' Because everyone uses medallions anyway. 'But it went missing at Aldenham Golf Club and, luckily, I knew the pro, who'd had it handed in. When I look back now, I think I was an absolute idiot doing those sorts of things. From there, I got it back on the ribbon, put it in a glass box and it's at my mum and dad's house now.' Greenhalgh hopes that Inter get their hands on the famous trophy again on Saturday, when they face Paris Saint-Germain in Munich in the Champions League final. There are similarities, he says, between the current side and Mourinho's team. 'They're hardworking and they've got that tenacity where when things are going badly for other teams, they really jump on it. They're almost bullies – and that's what the Inter team were under Mourinho. 'I look back at it now and that was an unbelievable Inter team. But I do think they overachieved – they beat 2010 Barcelona in the semi-final! But that was when Mourinho was at his finest.' It was also when Greenhalgh was living the dream. (Credit: Ben Greenhalgh)
Fashion Value Chain
7 days ago
- Business
- Fashion Value Chain
'Our MRO Sector's New Strategies and Cost-effective Practices will Augment Operational Efficiency,' says Jaideep Mirchandani Group Chairman Sky One
In 2024, India crossed 350 million annual air passengers, establishing itself as the third-largest aviation market in the world, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Over the past decade, domestic air passenger traffic has grown steadily at 10-12% each year. To keep pace with this rising demand, major Indian carriers, including Air India, IndiGo, and Akasa Air, have collectively placed orders for more than 1,700 new aircraft. However, due to global supply chain disruptions, deliveries will take time, pushing airlines to extend the operational life of their current fleets. An analysis by McKinsey & Company suggests that aircraft retirement rates between 2024 and 2026 will be about 24% lower than in the pre-pandemic years of 2010 to 2019. This extension in aircraft use will likely require more maintenance work, especially on engines and airframes than would have been necessary in a balanced supply-demand environment. As airlines strive for efficiency by relying more on existing aircraft, the demand for the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) sector will increase. Jaideep Mirchandani, Group Chairman Sky One 'Delayed retirements will pressure the system, pushing the MRO sector to adopt new strategies. Older aircraft will need more attention, which could drive the adoption of predictive maintenance and cost-effective practices to maintain operational efficiency,' says Jaideep Mirchandani, Group Chairman of global aviation company Sky One. Explaining predictive maintenance, he says, 'It relies on sensors, data analytics, and machine learning to anticipate maintenance needs before equipment fails. These systems collect data from aircraft systems, components, and structures and analyse them to detect early signs of wear or malfunction. Maintenance schedules can then be adjusted in real-time based on how the aircraft is used, reducing downtime and cost.' He says predictive maintenance prevents unexpected failures and improves safety, reliability, and fleet availability. He adds that augmented Reality (AR) further enhances this process by giving technicians real-time data, guided instructions, and remote expert support. This leads to faster, more accurate maintenance and improves safety checks and repair quality. AR also helps streamline complex procedures by connecting technicians with experts instantly. MRO providers are also turning to drones, robotics, and vision systems to speed up inspections and make them more precise. At the same time, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is being used to handle repetitive backend tasks, reducing manual workload and improving efficiency. In addition, more providers are investing in intelligent enterprise software that helps manage contract planning, maintenance execution, reporting, and invoicing. These systems offer greater accuracy, consistency, and scalability. The industry expects that by 2028, aircraft retirements will return to normal, supply chains will stabilise, and new aircraft deliveries will accelerate. 'By then, the MRO sector is also likely to have transitioned to smarter, more efficient solutions,' concludes Mr Mirchandani.
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Fat Families host Steve Miller reveals why he doesn't regret his brutal jibes at obese stars one bit - and the REAL reason the show was axed
'I'm about to meet two right massive fatty siblings,' Steve Miller said in an episode of Fat Families, a 2010 show he became renowned for. The TV icon, who has more recently signed up to be a member of right-wing political party Reform UK, made countless cheeky quips during the Sky One programme, despite it only airing for two seasons. 'Too much time sat on their fat bums, that's their problem plain and simple,' and 'I'm going to be meeting some right beach blubber bellies,' are just a couple of one-liners that still stun some viewers to this day. Fat Families saw straight-talking Steve guide overweight families who hoped to turn their lives around by improving their diet and lifestyle. Despite any backlash the programme has received over the years, Steve insists the confrontational nature of the show was key to helping people shed the pounds. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Fat Families saw straight-talking Steve guide overweight families who hoped to turn their lives around by improving their diet and lifestyle The star tells MailOnline: 'The one thing with the show is that every single person on that show lost weight, and quite a lot of them lost a lot of weight, and I think the reason for that was because of the tonality of it and the fun element.' He blames the growing obesity epidemic on society being 'too soft on fat'. Though Steve stresses, 'That's not about being horrible to people and being cruel'. Instead, he insists, 'It's just about being honest with people, and honesty delivered with fun, with a sense of humour, I find actually works better than making it all overly serious.' The former host appreciates losing weight can be a challenge for some, but says that with the help of comedy, it becomes a 'fun process' that 'works effectively'. Steve thinks since the show, 'the culture of the country changed' and argues, 'Political correctness has actually made us fatter, because it's actually what it's done is actually encouraged us to make excuses and to become victims.' He feels people are becoming more 'straight-talking' now, however. 'If you'd have kept me on the telly, I'm like the human fat jab. Put me on it and human fat jab driving the messages, you wouldn't need your Ozempics if they were showing me a lot,' he quips. Fat Families aired on Sky One from 6 January to 30 December 2010 but only lasted 11 months - running from January 6 to December 30, 2010 - and Steve delved into why it was cut short. 'Because two reasons. Number one, it was rating so high that Sky, Sky's business model is that they repeat and repeat and repeat. So it would have been a saturated series having said that,' he explains. Steve adds, 'The second reason is that I actually went over to the Netherlands to present TV over there and I didn't want to lose that.' The TV star dispelled any rumours that it was axed because of people taking issue with the show. 'People say, 'Oh, it was cancelled because of, you know, wokery and whatever,' but that's just not true,' he says. As for his humorous lines in the show, Steve doesn't want to take all of the credit for them. 'Do you know what the one thing of that doing that show?' he says. 'It was a team effort. It was completely a team effort.' 'We worked really well together. So a lot of it came from me, a lot of it came from the book, my book as well. 'So something like, 'melt that lard', 'time to get off your wobbly buns and melt that lard', that was kind of from that stuff from the book that I'd written.' Steve revealed outcome of the show that has surprised him - the age demographic of the fan base he has attracted. 'What surprised me is the amount of younger people that love it, the kind of 18 to 30s people I get loads and loads of, 'you're a legend', 'you're an icon', all of this, which is all very nice, as well as some of the haters,' he explains. Steve admits, 'But I get, I have to say, in all truth, I get much more loads of support from that age group than than I ever thought I would, because of the way society went.' Some 15 years on from the iconic show, the former host is now up to something very different. The broadcaster has become a member of the Reform UK party and previously took to social media to share the news. Steve uploaded a photograph of a Reform UK card on X, formerly Twitter, alongside the caption: 'PROUD - to receive membership to @reformparty_uk. If you want to save Britain, it's what you do.' And on another social media post, he penned: 'Dear ordinary decent people, Be proud to tell others you support Reform U.K. 'Do not worry about people claiming you are racist for doing so. You aren't. 'You simply care about your country. It's time to be proud of supporting Reform UK. Steve Miller.' Some remembered Steve from his former Fat Families days and posted 'Thought I recognised him,' alongside a video of him on the show. Another commented: 'Explains why he was always so rude.'
Scotsman
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Long Way Chat Ticket Presale and Prices: Here's how to see Ewan McGregor live on stage talking epic motorbike journeys
One of Scotland's biggest ever movie stars will be appearing at a one-off live event talking about his travels with his best friend. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Best known for a string of roles in blockbuster films, Scottish actor Ewan McGregor has a sideline in organising epic motorcycle adventures. David Alexanian, Charley Boorman, Ewan McGregor and Russ Malkin are putting on a special one-off live show. | Contributed It was back in 2004 when he filmed Long Way Round for Sky One, setting off on a journey from London to New York with pal Charley Boorman - travelling through Europe, Asia, and Alaska. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Long Way Down followed in 2007 on BBC Two, which saw the duo ride from John o' Groats in Scotland, through 18 countries, to Cape Town in South Africa. It took another 13 years for the next adventure to be organised and filmed for AppleTV - Long Way Up documented a journey from Ushuaia in Argentina, through South and Central America, to Los Angeles in the United States. And this year the fourth in the series arrived, with Long Way Home a circular journey through 17 European countries, starting from Ewan McGregor's home in Scotland and Charley Boorman's house in England. To mark the most recent series - and 20 years of motorcycle adventures - the pair will be appearing at a special live event, entitled Long Way Chat. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tickets are likely to be fairly popular - so here's everything you need to know to bag a couple. When is Long Way Chat taking place? The one-off event will be taking place on Saturday, August 30. Where is Long Way Chat taking place? The Long Way Chat will take place at Nottingham's Motopoint Arena. It's a five hour drive from the Central Belt of Scotland - or around six hours by train - so it's a fair trek from Scottish fans. At least it's on a Saturday though, so you can make a weekend of it. When do tickets for Long Way Chat go on sale? Tickets go on public sale at 10am on Friday, May 23, here. Is there a presale for Long Way Chat? Sign up here to be sent a presale code to access ticket for Long Way Chat early, from 10am on Thursday, May 22. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad How much are tickets for Long Way Chat? The cheapeast tickets are priced at £47.59, with other price bandings at £58.89, £76.40, and £110.30. What will happen at Long Way Chat? Here's what the advance publicity for the show promises: 'Experience the thrill of adventure with Long Way Chat, an exclusive live event inspired by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman's iconic motorcycle journeys: Long Way Round, Long Way Down, Long Way Up and their most recent series Long Way Home (all streaming on Apple TV+). This immersive show brings fans face-to-face with the stories behind the cameras, offering a dynamic blend of storytelling, film footage, and behind-the-scenes insights from the road. 'Hosted in an intimate setting, Ewan and Charley, along with their long-time collaborators, David Alexanian and Russ Malkin, take the stage to relive the highs and lows of their global expeditions—battling harsh climates, embracing local cultures, and forging unforgettable bonds. The event includes some unseen footage and personal anecdotes that highlight the duo's friendship and resilience. 'Long Way Chat captures the spirit of adventure and the emotional depth of their journeys. Audience members will also have the opportunity to engage with the stars of the series. Audience members will be asked to send in questions before the event and, if chosen, will get a chance to participate in a Q&A, making it a chance to connect with two of the most iconic travel companions in modern documentary history. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Long Way Chat is more than a show—it's a celebration of discovery, endurance, and the open road.'
Daily Mirror
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Where The Vicar of Dibley cast is now - death, divorce, and tragic health woes
The Vicar of Dibley brought an unlikely group of parishioners together on screen, but while some of the cast have sparkling careers, they've been shaken by six heartbreaking deaths The Vicar of Dibley must be one of the nation's favourite shows over the past few decades. Originally running from 1994 to 2000, the BBC show was beloved by families all over, with plenty of slapstick moments for the kids and raunchy jokes for the adults. While it made a huge impact and bagged plenty of awards, it surprisingly only had 20 episodes in its main run, before returning for lots of special episodes due to fan demand. Unlike many sitcoms of the time which focused on younger groups and urban life, The Vicar of Dibley offered a slice of village life, following Dawn French as Reverend Geraldine as she arrived to shake up a village dominated by characterful old men. It was also created by Richard Curtis, who's better known for his huge films such as Love Actually and Notting Hill rather than his small screen works. The Vicar of Dibley was last on screen for a lockdown special, and sadly, if it returned again it wouldn't feature much of the original cast; most of them have died since the original series ended. Aside from tragic deaths, however, a lot of the main parish team have enjoyed incredible successes in their careers, and it's guaranteed that none of them will be forgotten. Dawn French - Reverend Geraldine Granger Reverend Geraldine Granger is the down-to-earth vicar who ruffled a few feathers when she arrived in the village. Despite some initial hesitations, Geraldine quickly became a popular member of the community, although her outrageous behaviour and the odd bit of rude language did turn heads. The star of the show, Dawn French is best known for writing and starring in French and Saunders with best friend Jennifer Saunders. Dawn has done it all, appearing in the theatre, TV series and big budget films, as well as presenting shows such as ITV's Little Big Shots. She also appeared in Little Britain, Lark Rise to Candleford and in Sky One's Delicious. Not limited to the small screen, Dawn played the Fat Lady portrait in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, starred in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, and also did voice work on The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Coraline. She was married to comedian Lenny Henry when The Vicar of Dibley first aired, but they separated after 25 years of marriage in April 2010. Dawn then married charity executive Mark Bignell in 2013 after two years together. In recent years, Dawn has also been very open about her weight loss journey over the years after making the decision to overhaul her lifestyle in 2011. A cancer scare prompted the star to lose 7.5 stone for surgery, and she has since said it was a completely 'practical' choice and not one based on her appearance. Emma Chambers - Alice Horton Alice was the ditzy yet adorable church verger, who Geraldine once claimed had the "intellectual capacity and charisma of a cactus". Despite a backlash, Alice married her second cousin once removed Hugo Horton and went on to have 10 children. Actress Emma Chambers had us in fits of giggles throughout all 20 episodes of the show, and even won the British Comedy Award for Best Actress in 1998. Emma also appeared as Hugh Grant's on-screen sister in Notting Hill before going into voice work. Tragically, Emma died at home from a suspected heart attack in February 2018 at the age of just 53. Emma and Dawn were very close, with Dawn sharing at the time: "Emma was a very bright spark and the most loyal and loving friend anyone could wish for. I will miss her very much. Far too young and I think we're all still reeling a little bit from it. My memories of working with Emma are some of my most favourite memories of my whole career. "She's a massively diligent person, much unlike Alice. She was incredibly bright. Very funny, very knowing and yet she was able to play someone who was in a different world. She didn't play a simpleton, she played someone who had a different reality. She was incredibly authentic at that and I will miss that." Gary Waldhorn - David Horton David Horton was the bullish chairman of the Parish council and District Councillor - and Hugo's cold father. He frequently clashed with Geraldine due to his old-fashioned nature, but the pair came to respect each other as the series went on. Actor Gary Waldhorn appeared in every episode of the show, including all of the specials. Away from the parish, Gary has appeared in many classic British TV shows such as The Sweeney, Heartbeat and The Bill, as well as Hotel Babylon in 2008. He has also turned to adverts, with his voice being heard on commercials for Green Flag, Kwik Fit and Marmite. Sadly, Gary died in January 2022, aged 78. In a statement, his grieving son Josh shared: "Classically trained, it was the theatre where he truly flourished and he leaves a legacy of entertainment that saw him frequent the boards of Broadway, the West End and our living rooms on the telly! He leaves behind his two grandsons, Cooper and Bayley and his son Josh. We will all miss him terribly." Roger Lloyd-Pack - Owen Newitt Farmer and parish council member Owen had awful hygiene and was labelled 'Britain's B.O. King'. He was the first person to support Geraldine's appointment as vicar, but was famously always late for council meetings. Owen was one of many people to propose to the vicar, but she did join him for Christmas dinner in 1996, meaning he finally didn't spend it alone. The man behind the character, Roger Lloyd-Pack, is best known for playing Trigger in Only Fools and Horses. He also became known to a new generation of fans through his Doctor Who appearances and for his role of Barty Crouch Sr. in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Roger also had roles in The Catherine Tate Show, The Bill and Doc Martin - with his final role in an episode of Law & Order: UK in 2014. The popular actor tragically died from pancreatic cancer in January 2014 at the age of 69, with Only Fools co-stars David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst attending his funeral. Dawn hosted a special 10-minute tribute to her co-star on the BBC, telling viewers he was 'a really lovely, interesting, complicated man', before adding that there could be no better tribute than the repeat of the first ever episode of Only Fools and Horses. Trevor Peacock - Jim Trott Known for his catchphrase of "no-no-no-no-no", council member Jim once lost on Deal or No Deal because of his stuttering. Jim did have a wife but he was always flirting with the vicar, then proposed to her in the final episode. Actor Trevor Peacock, who appeared in all 20 episodes, has also appeared in My Family, Hotel Babylon and Jonathan Creek. He also played Alfie Moon's war veteran pal Sid in an episode of EastEnders. Trevor has two famous acting sons; Daniel Peacock who played 'Mental Mickey' in Only Fools and Horses, and Harry who was in Toast of London. Sadly, Trevor was diagnosed with dementia in 2009, but he stayed strong and appeared in the 2015 Vicar of Dibley Comic Relief Special. By 2017 the illness was advanced, so he retired from acting and was living in a nursing home in Yeovil. He later died on 8 March 2021, aged 89. John Bluthal - Frank Pickle Boring Frank was the parish council secretary - and was dubbed 'The Most Boring Man in Britain' in a newspaper headline. His tales about the milkman being 47 minutes late and the pub running out of crisps sent people to sleep. After keeping his sexuality secret for 40 years, Frank bravely announced he was homosexual on the radio, but only Geraldine was listening. Actor John Bluthall had an incredible career with an extensive work in the British theatre as well as TV classics such as Last of the Summer Wine and Casualty. He was also a major film star, having appeared in multiple Carry On films and as various characters in the 1967 version of Bond movie Casino Royale. In 2016 he starred in the Coen brothers hit film Hail, Caesar!, and his final role was in the Daniel Radcliffe movie Jungle. Tragically, John was one of two cast members to die in the same year, and passed away in November 2018 at the age of 89. In an emotional tribute, Dawn penned: "Tons of happy laughs remembered today. Cheeky, naughty, hilarious. Bye darlin' Bluey." James Fleet - Hugo Horton Hugo Horton was the sweet but dim son of the council leader, who was bullied by his cruel father. He finally stood up to his dad by marrying Alice against his father's wishes after Geraldine played Cupid for the couple. Aside from The Vicar of Dibley, James is well-known for playing bumbling Tom in Four Weddings and a Funeral. A star of stage, radio and TV, James has also appeared in Grange Hill, The Bill and starred in the Kevin & Perry Go Large move in 2000 and 2018 film The Spy Who Loved Me. He also appeared in the BBC Three comedy Bad Education, and his Coronation Street character Robbie Sloane was shot dead after kidnapping Carla Connor in 2010. James reprised his role as Hugo for the Christmas special The Vicar Of Dibley in Lockdown and his still bagging big roles, recently starring in Netflix's Bridgerton prequel, Queen Charlotte, as King George III in his elder years. Liz Smith - Letitia Cropley Dibley church organist and Parish council member Letitia Cropley was a popular character during the first series of the show. Known for her strange recipes, including a Marmite cake and Branston Pickle icing, she was dubbed 'The Queen of Cordon Bleurgh' and 'The Dibley Poisoner'. The character died in the 1996 Easter special, in which forgetful Letitia asked almost everyone to take over her role as the Easter bunny as her dying request. The wonderful Liz Smith was part of two iconic British comedy series - The Vicar of Dibley and The Royle Family. She became a household name playing Letitia until the character was killed off, then had us in stitches again in the role of Nana in The Royle Family. In a similar ending to her time on The Vicar of Dibley, Liz's character died during a special episode in 2006. Liz also starred in the first series of Lark Rise to Candleford and was made an MBE in the 2009 New Year's Honours. Heartbreakingly, the veteran TV star died on Christmas Eve 2016 at the age of 95, just days after a repeat of her emotional final The Royle Family episode had aired.
