Hello everyone.

Welcome to ‘Bradley’s Basement’ blog and I’m Tim Bradley.

I’m saddened by the news that two actors, who I’ve enjoyed watching in two of my favourite TV shows, have passed away recently – Ian Lavender and Michael Jayston. Ian Lavender played Private Pike in ‘Dad’s Army’ and Michael Jayston played the Valeyard in ‘Doctor Who’. It’s sad to think they’re no longer with us.

Ian Lavender played Private Pike superbly in the nine seasons of my favourite BBC TV sitcom series. Only recently, I’ve been checking out the ‘Dad’s Army – The Lost Episodes’ DVD, which included the colour version of ‘Room at the Bottom’, and it had an introduction by Ian Lavender at the beginning.

I didn’t think that Ian Lavender would pass away so soon after watching that introduction by him along with ‘Room at the Bottom’. Ian was the last surviving member of the original ‘Dad’s Army’ team. I’ll always have fond memories of Ian playing Private Pike, since he played the role really well.

As well as playing Pike in ‘Dad’s Army’, I’ve also seen him in an episode of ‘Keeping Up Appearances’ and I’ve seen him briefly in an episode of ‘Yes Minister’ once. It’s been a while since I’ve seen that episode, but I do recall how very different his character was in that compared to playing Private Pike. 😀

Ian Lavender also reprised the role of Private Pike in the ‘Dad’s Army’ radio series, which was produced whilst he was making the TV series in the 1970s. He also played Pike in the 1971 ‘Dad’s Army: The Movie’ and he had a small guest star role in the ‘Dad’s Army’ 2016 film, playing Brigadier Pritchard. 🙂

I sadly never got to meet Ian Lavender at a convention, which is a shame, but I still enjoyed seeing and hearing him in both the ‘Dad’s Army’ TV series and the radio series. Despite Pike being called ‘a stupid boy’ by Mainwaring, Ian Lavender was never ‘a stupid boy’ in real life, as he was a very good actor.

Michael Jayston played the Valeyard in the 14-part ‘Doctor Who’ TV story ‘The Trial of a Time Lord’, which was Colin Baker’s second and final season as the Sixth Doctor – Season 23. Since then, Michael reprised the role of the Valeyard in the Big Finish audio stories, which I’ve really enjoyed listening to.

There’s ‘He Jests At Scars…’, ‘Trial of the Valeyard’ and ‘The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure’. He’s also appeared as a non-Valeyard character in the ‘Serpent Crest’ audio story ‘Tsar Wars’ with Tom Baker. I’ve had the great pleasure of meeting Michael Jayston at a few conventions over the years. 🙂

This includes three ‘Regenerations’ conventions held in Swansea in 2013, 2016 and recently in 2023. I’m pleased I saw Michael Jayston last year, as he signed my DVD cover of ‘The Trial of a Time Lord’. He’s also signed my copy of ‘The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure’ and a photo collage of himself. 🙂

Tim Bradley with Michael Jayston and Colin Baker at ‘Regenerations 2016’, Swansea, September 2016

I’ve had a photo with Michael Jayston and Colin Baker at the 2016 ‘Regenerations’ convention in Swansea in September of that year. Last year, I included the Valeyard in my 60th anniversary epic ‘Doctor Who’ story ‘The Thirteen+ Doctors’. It was so easy to visualise Michael Jayston as the Valeyard in my story.

I’ve also seen Michael Jayston in episodes of ‘Emmerdale’ and he’s been in a 1973 TV production of ‘Jane Eyre’ by the BBC. I’ve seen him briefly in an episode of ‘Only Fools and Horses’ and I’ve enjoyed his ‘Myth Makers’ interview conducted by Robert Dick on ‘The Doctors: The Colin Baker Years’ DVD.

The news of Ian Lavender and Michael Jayston having passed away recently has been very saddening indeed. I cherish very fond memories of watching both Ian Lavender and Michael Jayston in the roles they’ve played, and I’m glad I got to meet Michael Jayston at three ‘Regenerations’ conventions in Swansea.

My prayers and thoughts go to the friends and families of Ian Lavender and Michael Jayston during this difficult time.

Check out these tributes to Ian Lavender and Michael Jayston by clicking on the links for them.

Thanks for reading, everyone.

Bye for now.

Tim