Derek Fowlds

Derek James Fowlds (2 September 1937 – 17 January 2020) was an English actor. He played "Mr Derek" in The Basil Brush Show (1969–1973), Bernard Woolley in the sitcom Yes Minister (1980–1984) and its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister (1986–1988), and Sgt Oscar Blaketon in Heartbeat (1992–2010).

Early life Derek James Fowlds was born on 2 September 1937 in Wandsworth, London, the son of Ketha Muriel (née Treacher) and James Witney Fowlds, a salesman. In early life he and his mother and sister went to live in Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire, at his maternal grandmother's home. There Fowlds attended Ashlyns School, a secondary modern school. After leaving school aged 15, Fowlds worked at a printer's firm as an apprentice and, as his National Service, spent two years in the RAF as a wireless operator.

Fowlds made his debut on the West End stage in The Miracle Worker. He appeared in various film roles, including Tamahine (1963), East of Sudan (1964), Hotel Paradiso (1966), Frankenstein Created Woman (1967), The Smashing Bird I Used to Know (1969), Tower of Evil (1972) and Mistress Pamela (1974), before becoming familiar to British television child viewers as "Mr. Derek" in the popular British children's series The Basil Brush Show for four series, replacing Rodney Bewes as presenter.

Fowlds died at Royal United Hospital in Bath on 17 January 2020 aged 82 from complications of heart failure and sepsis, which had followed pneumonia. His funeral was held at St Katharine's Church in Holt, Wiltshire, on 17 February 2020.

Filmography Film

Television Year Title Role Notes1960 BBC Sunday-Night Play The Family Series 2; episode 7: "The Assassins"1963 Love Story Brookesey Series 1; episode 5: "The Wedding of Smith Seven-Nine" ITV Play of the Week Ian Series 8; episode 38: "Breakthrough" Chips with Everything 252 Wingate (Chas) Television film. Scenes from the Royal Court Theatre production1964 The Protectors Hughie Episode 14: "The Reluctant Thief" The Villains Johnny Series 2; episode 3: "Victim" Armchair Theatre Richard Racey Series 5; episode 4: "Old Soldiers"1965 Tom Rogers Series 5; episode 12: "The Gaming Book" Gideon's Way Tim Coles Episode 26: "The Nightlifers" Cluff Jake Winter Series 2; episode 10: "The Husband" Love Story Laurie Series 3; episode 19: "The Sad Smile of the Mona Lisa"1966 Marriage Lines Neville Series 5; episode 4: "Big Business" Take a Pair of Private Eyes Ambrose Frayne Episodes 1–6 The Man in Room 17 Bruce Series 2; episode 8: "Goddess of Love" Conflict Captain Hawtrey Episode: "Caste"1967 The Solarnauts Tempo Short television film. Pilot for cancelled series: Cloud of Death Comedy Playhouse Peter Clancy Series 6; episode 8: "The Old Campaigner"1968 Jimmy Series 7; episode 2: "View by Appointment". Pilot for series: Wink to Me Only Z Cars Ricky Harper Series 6; episodes 119 & 120: "Some Girls Pick 'Em: Parts 1 & 2" Theatre 625 Custard Pie Expert Series 5; episode 25: "The Year of the Sex Olympics"1969 Fraud Squad Derek Hollister Series 1; episode 1: "Turbot on Ice" Dr. Finlay's Casebook Malcolm Cannock Series 7; episode 25: "The Cheap Departed" Who-Dun-It Septimus Fry Episode 11: "Murder Goes to School"1969, 1971 The Liver Birds Peter Crawford Series 1; episode 5, & series 2; episode 21969–1973 The Basil Brush Show Mr. Derek Series 2–7; 64 episodes1973 Armchair 30 Brian Episode 9: "Captain Video's Story"1974 ITV Sunday Night Theatre Neil Series 6; episode 8: "Only the Other Day" Thriller Dicky Series 3; episode 3: "Death to Sister Mary"1975 After That, This Various characters Episodes 1–6 Edward the Seventh Lord Randolph Churchill Mini-series; episode 7: "Dearest Prince" The Last of the Best Men Henry Television film Comedy Playhouse Leonard Series 15; episode 4: "Captive Audience" The Doll Max Lerner Episodes 1–31976 Clayhanger Jimmy Orgreave Episode 22: "Dartmoor"1977 BBC2 Play of the Week Hans von Dohnanyi Series 1; episode 5: "True Patriot" Crown Court Nicholas Higgins Series 6; episodes 29 & 30: "Such a Charming Man: Parts 2 & 3" David Moston Series 6; episodes 43–45: "Kiss and Tell: Parts 1–3" Beryl Reid Himself Series 1; episode 11978 Miss Jones and Son Sam Series 2; episode 3: "Will You Be My Wife?" Send in the Girls Miles Filmer Episode 3: "A Hardy Breed of Girl" Robin's Nest Ricky Hart Series 3; episode 2: "The Candidate" Rings on Their Fingers Paul Series 1; episode 5: "Wholly Deadlock"1979 Strangers Mike Winter Series 2; episode 4: "Friends in High Places" My Son, My Son Newbiggen Mini-series; episode 81980–1984 Yes Minister Bernard Woolley Series 1–3; 22 episodes1981 Cribb Albert Moscrop Series 2; episode 1: "Mad Hatter's Holiday"1982 Minder Meadhurst Series 3; episode 1: "Dead Men Do Tell Tales" Triangle 'Mozz' Barker Series 2; episodes 15, 16 & 19 Strangers Det. Insp. Ken Driver Series 5; episode 5: "A Free Weekend in the Country" Play for Today Hartley Series 13; episode 4: "Intensive Care" The Funny Side of Christmas Bernard Woolley Christmas Special. Yes Minister sketch1983, 1985 Affairs of the Heart Peter Bonamy Pilot & episodes 1–61983, 1987 Call My Bluff Himself - Panellist Series 18; episodes 19 & 20, & series 23; episodes 1 & 21986–1988 Yes, Prime Minister Bernard Woolley Series 1 & 2; 16 episodes1988 Inspector Morse Kurt Friedman Series 2; episode 3: "The Settling of the Sun"1989 Rules of Engagement Oliver Davidson Mini-series; episodes 1–61990 Boon Jack Fentiman Series 5; episode 11: "Best Left Buried" Die Kinder Crombie Episodes 1–61990–1991 Chancer Michael Coley Recurring role. Series 1 & 2; 6 episodes1991 Van der Valk Johan Kieft Series 4; episode 4: "The Little Rascals" Screen Two Cumbridge Series 7; episode 11: "They Never Slept" Perfect Scoundrels Watkinson Series 2; episode 3: "The Carpetbaggers"1992 The Darling Buds of May Esmond Series 2; episode 5: "The Season of Heavenly Gifts: Part 1"1992–1994 Firm Friends John Gutteridge Series 1 & 2; 8 episodes1992–2009 Heartbeat Sergeant Oscar Blaketon Series 1–18; 342 episodes1994 Casualty Mr. Croft Series 8; episode 19: "Value for Money" Big Day Out Himself - Guest Episode: "Whitby" (available on YouTube) 1996 The Detectives Derek Alsopp Series 4; episode 2: "Fur Coat, No Knickers"2001 Lily Savage's Blankety Blank Himself - Panellist Series 16; episode 17 2003 The Royal Oscar Blaketon Series 2; episode 1: "All at Sea"2013 Casualty Stan Cothern Series 28; episode 2: "Once There Was a Way Home: Part One"2017 Doctors Frank Patterson Series 19; episode 49: "Butterflies"2017 Celebrity Antiques Road Trip As himself Series 7, Episode 14