Guests that might of been.

As a James Bond enthusiast and taking in consideration of the programme's broadcast era, was thinking the other day I'd like to have seen Roger Moore involved and then added Sean Connery to it. These were both great men, actors of tremendous calibre and of course they weren't either solely known as the role of 007. They had so much more to offer as a whole list of other films and appearances elsewhere will testify. Some would see them as out of place in the two Catweazle series, but for pure screen presence alone, it would have been something to behold.

Fan of On the Buses too, so suggest Reg Varney, Stephen Lewis or Bob Grant- perhaps Anna Karen would be better than the latter - could have appeared or helped out. Would have been a year or two before On the Buses first aired on TV and maybe they hadn't become as recognised names back then as they were to become, but as a fan of the episodes, and Catweazle too, it's both interesting and fun to imagine if both show and actors had appeared together as one.

Interesting choices. I'm not an On the Buses fan but I can see that all those suggestions could have worked well in Catweazle and I'd add Michael Robbins who I think could have fitted in well too.

Sean Connery? I think we're entering the realms of fantasy there, Jones, to quote another popular series of the era! Roger Moore though... I can kind of see that but he wasn't a character actor - he was a Roger Moore actor! - and Catweazle was cast from character actors in the main. Roger (who I adore, I should point out) was a bit of a Cary Grant actor - you cast Cary or Roger, you knew what you were getting (though there were signs that he could do more - certain episodes of The Persuaders! and also The Man Who Haunted Himself).

Who would I suggest though?

          • Clive Dunn.

          • Jon Pertwee.

          • Donald Hewlett.

          • Beryl Reid.

          • Diana Coupland.

          • Sheila Steafel.

          • William Mervyn.

          • Joan Sanderson.

          • Bob Todd.

          • Eric Morecambe.

          • Bernard Cribbins.


That is hopefully sufficient food for thought!

I must confess that I didn't know the name Sheila Bernette, but yes, looking her up, a very familiar face - and would have been perfect for Catweazle. Nice to see you've bucked the trend and suggested someone who it seems is thankfully still with us! (Sadly the first such instance in this thread.)

I'll add another one, also still around:

Pauline Collins

Deryck Guyler, particularly, is someone I can completely imagine being in Catweazle. I loved him as a kid. Playing the washboard. Seemed like a lovable eccentric. Great in Please Sir, of course.

When suggesting Pauline Collins, I did think also of her husband John Alderton, but thought one suggestion was sufficient. Good choice again.

Next one: not an actor but... Dr Magnus Pyke!

Just one more that popped up and that would be Frances De La Tour. A charactor that I'd like to have seen that would of taken a fascination to Catweazle himself but perhaps found her rather odd and forever trying to escape her clutches. Having a rather theatrical bent, she tries her hardest to get him to appear in a local amateur dramatics event before he tries (unsuccessfully) to put a spell on her and rushing out from the props room never to be seen again by her. Sounds a little slapstick but I'm sure Richard C would of written something there to tone down any over-frenzied 'fizziness'.

Got a bit carried away there, Alan. Just had to spill out what was within. Glad you thought it amusing.