Bowles the bounder takes you up the garden path

Press, 27 October 1982, Page 12

Bowles the bounder takes you up the garden path

Peter Bowles creates the character of Howard in the first episode of "The Bounder," screening on One at 9.30 tonight. “The essential thing about the Bounder," said Bowles, “is that whoever you are, whatever you are. whatever the he will always show you where the garden path is to be found.

"And then, having done so, he will try to lead you up it." “The Bounder" has been tailor-made for Bowles —

and so has his elegant wardrobe for the series. "The ' clothes Howard wears are extremely important to the character," explained Bowles, who is fastidious about his own wardrobe. “I have fairly simple tastes, but I do like good clothes — and so does Howard. He has to have a

front and. although he is short of money now he has. in the past, spent a lot of cash on clothes because he realises how vital they are to give people a good impression."

Bowles loves colour, but admits he is colour blind — although that has not, proved any, great handicap in choosing his dress — “Maybe years ago I might have raised a few eyebrows by mis-matching handkerchiefs, socks and ties occasionally, but I don't think it matters nowadays.”

Bowles is now one of the most sought-after actors in the country. But although he has had an extensive career in films, television and on the stage since the mid-19505, it was not until a couple of

years ago that his career was particularly successful.

Two starring roles, as a neurotic patient, Archie Glover, in YTV’s “Only When I Laugh," and Richard de Vere in “To the Manor Born," put him on the path to stardom — especially when both series hit British TV screens at about the same time and vied for number one in the programme ratings.

“Life has become very exciting since then,” said Bowles, who drives himself very hard in his career. When he was recording “Only When I Laugh" he was combining it with a starring role in “Born in the Gardens," at the Globe Theatre. Bowles has always loved acting, and can remember once when he was about seven, walking into* a hall and entering a talent contest. He sang a song he had learned at school, came third, and won half a crown.

“I was absolutely terrified — and even today I still suffer from terrible nerves before a performance,” he said. “But once I’m out there on stage everything’s fine."

Educated at Nottingham High ' Pavement School; Bowles won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1954, in a year that included Alan Bates, Brian Bedford, Peter O'Toole and Albert Finney. He won the Kendal Prize for the most outstanding performance of the year in 1956.

His major films for TV include “The Quarry” for John Boorman and “Isadora Duncan" for Ken Russell. He also played Byron in a film on Shelley for Alan Bridges and the lead in Don Taylor’s film. “The Runaway,” in 1973. He starred in “The Letter,” which won the Italia prize in 1973, and in the highly-acclaimed “Wittgenstein" in 1974..

Bowles has also starred in many TV series, including “Napoleon and Love,” "The Crezz," and "The Avengers."

He met his wife, the actress, Susan Bennett, at a drama school, but did not get to know her properly until they were at the Bristol Old Vic together in 1959. They now have three teen-aged children, Guy, Adam and Sasha, and live at Barnes.