A Likely Story [Paperback]

I should start by saying that I think that the previous review of this book was a little harsh. Anybody's life story could be summed up in a sentence if you want to view it negatively and Rodney Bewes' life has been more interesting than most.

This book can essentially be split into 3 parts and the first section, about Rodney's childhood, is the weakest in my opinion. This chunk of the book could have been cut down quite a bit as I was left hurrying to get onto Rodney's career.

The second section of the book essentially starts with his big break appearing in Billy Liar and ends with The Likely Lads film in the mid-1970s. This is the most successful part of the story as Rodney talks extensively about his friendships with Tom Courteney, James Bolam and a string of Hollywood stars. He is also honest about the fact that he and James Bolam haven't spoken to each other since 1976 and that Bolam was responsible for The Likely Lads not being repeated for decades.

The final few chapters of the book cover Rodney's career from the mid-1970s to the present day and these were the biggest disappointment to me. In my opinion, the tale of an actor who is struggling for work and money, having to take jobs which they don't really want and possibly losing their fair weather friends could have been a fascinating one. This period is glossed over quickly however and several jobs, including working with Basil Brush, are not mentioned at all. It's a real shame and leaves the book feeling rushed towards the end.

All in all this is an interesting read and for a fan of Billy Liar and the Likely Lads is a worthwhile purchase. It's certainly imperfect however and a quicker opening and more studied end would have improved it immeasurably.

Autobiographies are curious beasts, by their very nature they must be about an individual that is of interest to the person reading it.

Rodney Bewes is such a person with me, The Likely Lads/Whatever Happened to...? are my favorite comedies ever and so anything that is to do with it is immensely appealing.

I sometimes find autobiographies a little dry and self indulgent, with the subject being overly praiseful of his or her career and my attention at times wanders. This biography seems as if it is a no-holds barred account that tells it all, warts and all. An audio CD version of a biography is not something that I would normally buy, but as I collect material on The Likely Lads it was a must-have. I had already enjoyed the printed version of this, but to actually have the voice of Rodney Bewes narrating the story itself is a joy. He is able to use his voice to produce emotional responses to match the mood of the events to which he is describing, if he talks about a sad event, the listener feels sad, if it's funny the listener laughs out aloud etc and the whole thing is given a personal touch that is completely absent from the printed book, I have had the pleasure of meeting both actors from The Likely Lads and Rodney Bewes was a delightfully friendly person and I had a good 20 minute chat with him but hearing his narration of his life on CD has made me feel as if I got to know him better, and that is the intended effect of an autobiography.

The story of his life is split into three sections, and the first of these dealing with his childhood and first steps into his acting career is perhaps the more interesting as he relates tales of years long illnesses and his call up to national sevice and a hilarious tale about climbing Big Ben to plant a pair of women's underware on one of the clock's hand and being arrested, fascinating stuff.

The second part deals with his troubled friendship with James Bolam, it seems as though the two men got on but were not the best mates that they portrayed in the series and it's really interesting to listen to the story unfold as they begin to slide into difficulties and the revelation that Bolam stopped repeats of the show for decades, much to Bewes' annoyance. This is followed by the events leading up to the big fallout between the two that as resulted in their not speaking for 30 years. This is told in a tone by Bewes that suggests as if he is trying to make some light out of the situation, as if it does not bother him, but I sensed the sadness and anger behind his flippant remarks which is even more apparent when the reasons for the fallout are revealed, lets put it like this, the big fallout was caused by something that you would expect two toddlers to fight over but not two grown men, it really is that purille.

One major plus point is that Bewes does not lay into Bolam and refuses to place the blame fully at his door which is very honest and refreshing.

The third part of the story deals with the events after the Likely Lads to the present day and is mainly about his massive theatre commitments and rounds the biography off nicely.

The whole reading is over 3 hours long but such is the skill of Bewes to keep the listener entertained that I completed the entire story in one sitting and I would really like to meet him again to get this fascinating life story autographed, now that would make it personal. Great stuff.

This book gave me a fuller insight into Rodney Bewes; by that I mean I have seen THE LIKELY LADS on TV but I didn't know anything about Rodney himself.

I thought the book was very good and I particularly liked the scenes in the book from the Likely Lads.

I didn't know for example that Rodney acted alongside Moira Lister or Tom Courtenay so by reading the book I gained information.

I cannopt recall but I haven't seen Rodney Bewes on TV for a long time so presumably he's doing theatre work.

An enjoyable read.