Bowles ‘fated’ to play major role

Press, 5 September 1983, Page 14

Bowles ‘fated’ to play major role

Peter Bowles, who stars in “The Irish R.M.,” a comedy series starting on One tonight, says he was clearly fated to play the role of Major Sinclair Yeates. In 1976 Bowles tried to buy the rights to “The Irish R.M.” stories, but failed. Then, to his surprise, he was sent a pilot television script and offered the part which had caught his fancy in the first place. He accepted.

Various deals wheeled, but eventually ITV and an American company agreed on terms. Unfortunately, one of the British producers died — on his way to America to clinch the contract — and the scheme died with him.

Then the rights came on the market again, but Bowles was pipped at the post. Amazingly he was once again asked to play the part. Of course he said yes, but as the months and years went by Bowles almost gave up hope.

Then in 1981 in a London restaurant, he met a man he had not seen for years — James Mitchell, a London lawyer who had once been David Hemmings’s partner in a film enterprise. Mitchell, it turned out, had just acquired the rights to “The Irish R.M.,” and asked Bowles if he would play the part. “It’s perfectly clear,” says Bowles, “that I was fated to play Major Sinclair Yeates. I only hope I’ve managed to do him justice. I feel extremely apprehensive about my own performance."

The series is set in Ireland in 1897 when an English Resident Magistrate (Peter Bowles) arrives to administer justice to the locals.

Bowles says the series is more than just about the Englishman encountering quaint Irishmen. “There is depth and warmth in it. Yeates is a quintessential Englishman whose best qualities have been suppressed by his upbringing. “He discovers to his delight that the Irish have a great deal to teach him about enjoying life.”