In a world where celebrity stories often shine brightly, the tale of Rodney Bewes casts a shadow that’s impossible to ignore. Fans of The Likely Lads remember him as the charming Bob Ferris, yet the reality of his life post-stardom was quite different than the laughter he brought to audiences. Tragically, despite his iconic status, Rodney grappled with financial struggles until his passing in 2017.
This beloved English actor’s career spanned decades, featuring unforgettable moments in shows like Doctor Who. However, Bewes revealed in his autobiography, A Likely Story, that he turned down pivotal roles that could have catapulted him to stardom. One fateful choice was the 1974 comedy film Confessions of a Window Cleaner. He later shared, “That would have made me a great deal of money, too, but I think it would have changed my life in the wrong way. It was a great time of decision-making.â€Â
But the choices didn’t end there. Rodney also declined a role in a play that ultimately turned its lead into a household nameâ€â€none other than Michael Crawford. The production became a sensation, while Bewes reflected on how it devastated his financial prospects.
Compounding his woes was a bitter fallout with co-star James Bolam. Their relationship soured after Rodney inadvertently revealed to the press that Bolam’s wife was expecting a child. The fallout was explosive; their communication collapsed entirely, leading Bolam to block the airing of The Likely Lads repeats.
Rodney expressed his distress in 2010, lamenting, “Jimmy Bolam’s killed it, which is such a pity. I’m very poor, so I have to tour one-man shows because Jimmy has buried The Likely Lads. You have to sign a waiver for them to repeat it, and he stopped it while he did New Tricks.†The irony? Bolam had found considerable wealth from a more extended run of a different show, leaving Rodney drowning in bills.