Few television duos are as warmly remembered as Bob Ferris and Terry Collier, the north-east pals at the heart of the BBC sitcom The Likely Lads. Off-screen, the actors who breathed life into those characters, Rodney Bewes and James Bolam, had a relationship that proved far more complicated than the scriptwriters ever wrote. This guide digs into what actually happened between them, separating documented records from decades of rumour.

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Born: 27 November 1937 · Died: 21 November 2017 · Known for: Bob Ferris in The Likely Lads · Co-star: James Bolam · Years active: 1960–2013

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • The exact, verifiable details of the private‑jet anecdote that allegedly triggered the feud
  • Whether Bolam or his representatives contacted Bewes’ family privately after his death
  • The specific medical cause of Bewes’ death
3Timeline signal
  • 1964–1966: The Likely Lads airs
  • Circa 1975: Alleged falling out over a press interview
  • 21 November 2017: Bewes dies at age 79
  • 2017: Bolam’s public statement denying any “fall‑out”
4What’s next
  • Continued speculation about the feud remains a sidebar to the show’s legacy
  • No formal reunion or joint project is possible following Bewes’ death
  • Fans continue to seek the full, verified story
Key facts about Rodney Bewes
Attribute Detail
Full Name Rodney Bewes
Birth Date 27 November 1937
Death Date 21 November 2017
Age at Death 79
Cause of Death Not publicly specified; reported peacefully at home
Famous Role Bob Ferris in The Likely Lads
Co‑star James Bolam
Spouse Daphne Black (m. 1961; died 2010)

Why did Rodney Bewes and James Bolam fall out?

The alleged anecdote about a private jet

According to multiple accounts, the rift began after Bewes told a personal story about Bolam and his wife in a 1976 press interview (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia). The anecdote reportedly involved Bolam hiring a private jet to fly himself and his wife out of a holiday destination during a strike – a tale that, once printed, Bolam felt was a betrayal of trust. Comedy.co.uk notes that the infamous phone call that followed came after the 1977 publication of an “indiscreet anecdote” and that the split was not a sudden rupture in an otherwise warm friendship (Comedy.co.uk, British comedy publication).

The paradox

A single off‑hand remark, possibly embellished in print, ended a partnership that had made both men household names. No one has ever published a transcript of the original article, so the precise wording remains unknown.

Did the feud end before Bewes’ death?

Bewes said in 2005 that Bolam had not spoken to him for 30 years (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia). He repeated the claim in 2010, adding that Bolam had refused to allow repeats of The Likely Lads on network television – a charge Bolam denied (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia). There is no public evidence of a reconciliation before Bewes’ death.

Bottom line: The impasse lasted more than three decades. Bewes’ public statements suggest he felt abandoned by his former friend, while Bolam later insisted from his side that there was no “fall‑out” at all.

Did James Bolam go to Rodney Bewes’ funeral?

Funeral attendance reports

James Bolam did not attend Rodney Bewes’ funeral in 2017 (Mirror, UK tabloid newspaper). Bewes’ funeral was a private family affair held in Cornwall, and Bolam has not publicly explained his absence.

The implication: Bolam’s absence, whether deliberate or circumstantial, permanently denied fans any public gesture of closure between the former co-stars.

Bolam’s public statements about Bewes

Shortly after Bewes’ death, Bolam broke his silence. He told BBC Radio Sussex that there was “no fall‑out at all” from his perspective, that the two had worked together “very happily and very well,” and that he remembered Bewes with “great warmth and with great happiness” (Mirror, UK tabloid newspaper). The statement contradicted everything Bewes had said for decades, leaving fans to wonder which version of events matched reality.

“There was no fall-out at all. We worked together very happily and very well. We enjoyed each other’s company and I remember Rodney with great warmth and with great happiness.”

James Bolam, speaking to BBC Radio Sussex via the Mirror

Where is Rodney Bewes buried?

Burial location details

Rodney Bewes is buried in Cornwall, but the specific cemetery or churchyard has not been widely publicised. This matches the family’s preference for privacy, which they maintained throughout his later years living near the Lizard Peninsula (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia).

Who are Rodney Bewes’ triplet sons?

The three sons of Rodney Bewes

Rodney Bewes and his wife Daphne Black, whom he married in 1961, had triplet sons. The boys’ names are not commonly disclosed in public sources, and the family lived privately in Cornwall (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia). Daphne died in 2010, seven years before Bewes.

What was the real-life relationship between James Bolam and Rodney Bewes?

On-screen chemistry vs off-screen tension

During the original run of The Likely Lads in the 1960s, Bewes and Bolam were reportedly close friends (Comedy.co.uk, British comedy publication). The on-screen partnership that made them stars felt effortless precisely because of that real‑world rapport. After the anecdote‑triggered split, they never worked together again following the final episode of Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? in 1974.

Comparison table of perspectives

Comparison of Bewes and Bolam perspectives
Aspect Rodney Bewes James Bolam
Public stance on the rift Confirmed a 30‑year silence from Bolam (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia) Denied any fall‑out existed (Mirror, UK tabloid newspaper)
Funeral attendance Buried in Cornwall, family‑only service Did not attend
Post‑show collaboration None after 1974 None
View on repeats of the show Believed Bolam blocked repeats (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia) Denied having that power (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia)

The catch: neither man’s account can be fully reconciled, making the true nature of their relationship an enduring mystery.

Why this matters

The contradictory public accounts create a murky picture. For anyone studying the history of British television comedy, the Bewes‑Bolam case illustrates how a single indiscreet moment can permanently reshape a creative partnership.

Timeline of the Bewes–Bolam relationship

  • 27 November 1937 – Rodney Bewes born in Bingley, Yorkshire.
  • 1964–1966 – Stars as Bob Ferris in The Likely Lads alongside James Bolam (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia).
  • 1973–1974 – Reprises role in sequel Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia).
  • Circa 1975 – The private‑jet anecdote is published, leading to the falling out (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia).
  • 2010 – Wife Daphne dies.
  • 21 November 2017 – Rodney Bewes dies at age 79 (Wikipedia, online encyclopedia).
  • 2017 – James Bolam does not attend the funeral but issues a public statement denying a feud (Mirror, UK tabloid newspaper).

What we know and what we don’t

Confirmed facts

  • Bewes and Bolam starred in The Likely Lads together.
  • They had a long‑standing falling out after a press anecdote.
  • Bewes died on 21 November 2017.
  • Bolam did not attend the funeral.
  • Bewes had triplet sons and lived in Cornwall.

What remains unclear

  • The exact, verified details of the private‑jet anecdote.
  • Whether Bolam or his representatives contacted Bewes’ family privately.
  • The specific medical cause of death for Rodney Bewes.
  • Whether Bewes’ account of Bolam blocking repeats was accurate.

“Bolam hasn’t spoken to me for 30 years. He refused to allow repeats of The Likely Lads on network television.”

Rodney Bewes, 2005 interview (via Wikipedia)

The contrasting versions – Bewes believing he had been frozen out, Bolam denying any rift had existed – may never be fully reconciled. What is certain is that the creative partnership that produced some of the BBC’s best‑loved comedy ended decades before Bewes’ death.

Bottom line: For fans of classic British sitcoms, the real‑life drama between Bewes and Bolam adds a bittersweet layer to The Likely Lads. The lesson for today’s actors is clear: even the closest on‑screen chemistry can fracture off‑camera, and public statements after the fact may do more to obscure than to clarify.
Additional sources

youtube.com, youtube.com, forums.digitalspy.com, serieriket.com

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Frequently asked questions

What was Rodney Bewes best known for?

He was best known for playing Bob Ferris in the BBC sitcoms The Likely Lads (1964–1966) and Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? (1973–1974).

Did Rodney Bewes have any children?

Yes, he had triplet sons with his wife Daphne Black.

Did James Bolam ever speak publicly about the feud?

Yes, after Bewes’ death Bolam told BBC Radio Sussex that there was “no fall‑out at all” and that he remembered Bewes with warmth (Mirror, UK tabloid newspaper).

What was the name of the sequel to The Likely Lads?

The sequel was titled Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?

Is Rodney Bewes buried next to his wife?

His burial location in Cornwall has not been publicly specified, so it is unclear if he is buried alongside his wife Daphne.

Did Rodney Bewes do any voice acting?

Yes, he did voice work and appeared in stage roles, but his most famous work remains television.

Was there a reunion of the Likely Lads cast?

No formal reunion occurred after the 1970s sequel. The two leads never worked together again.

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