The lads care, says villain Ally

Press, 15 October 1986, Page 19

The lads care, says villain Ally

Ally Fraser, the sinister Glaswegian villain new to “Auf Wiedersehen, Pet,” is played by an old friend of a Birmingham brickie and one of the “Boys From The Blackstuff.” Scotland’s Bill Paterson plays the rich, powerful and sharp-suited Ally, the man who made his fortune on the wrong side of the law but has now turned “legit.” But originally, Paterson was not going to be an actor. He started his working life as a trainee quantity surveyor along with Bernard Hill, the man who played Yosser Hughes in “Boys From The Blackstuff.” Like Hill, Paterson was drawn to performing, becoming a teacher with the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, then training at the National Theatre. Paterson’s recent film credits include character

roles in “The Killing Fields,” and “A Private Function.” Paterson appeared on television with Timothy Spall (Boring Barry) three times before making “Auf Wiedersehen, Pet,” including a role in “Dutch Girls,” the movie that screened in New Zealand a couple of months ago. Paterson says: “Having worked with the ‘Auf Wiedersehen, Pet’ lads for

some months, I now realise why the series is so good — they really care about the production and are continuously working and thinking about their roles even when they are off duty. “I must admit I have been conscious of joining a success story. It’s a bit of a responsibility,” he says. “Auf Wiedersehen, Pet” screens on One at 9 p.m.