Wednesday 25 November 2015

The Death of Robin Stewart


The sad death of Robin Stewart on Sunday came as rather a shock. At just 69, his demise is untimely. Another actor gone too soon. Although he hadn't acted significantly for many years, his link to Sid James and that classic sitcom, Bless This House meant those far off days were still tangible.

As Sidney Abbott's layabout son Mike, Robin starred in the sitcom success for over five years. Although there were suggestions he wasn't as professional on set as some of the senior stars would have liked (indeed he missed out on the 1972 big screen version), there was no doubt a great deal of affection between the regular stars in the series.

Robin had made a return to the limelight in the past few years after having been based in Australia for some time. He appeared alongside old co-star Sally Geeson at several events and met fans at film conventions all over the country. I'm glad he had the chance to reconnect with the past in his final few years.


Sadly, the death of Robin Stewart comes with the dawning realisation that now there is only one surviving member of the Bless This House cast. Sally Geeson is the last Abbott standing. Following Sid's death in 1976, we lost Patsy Rowlands (Betty) in 2005 and both Anthony Jackson (Trevor) and Diana Coupland (Jean) in 2006. They are all greatly missed.

I loved Bless This House. It was my favourite television role for Sid. He was, many say, most at home in this domestic comedy and the role of Sidney Abbott was most like the real Sid - the family man. I used to watch the repeats on the now long defunct Granada Plus every morning before I went to school. Although the teenage problems and marital strife over the housekeeping of the mid 1970s were a long way off by the time I watched in the 1990s, it was still a fun show with lighthearted stories and timeless comic performances from the cast.


As with all successful actors, Robin Stewart leaves behind a legacy of laughter and classic comedy performances. He had the chance to create a niche in Bless This House and work with some of my heroes. Not bad at all. 



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28 comments:

  1. hi there l have just seen re runs bless this house on you tube as it does not look like repeat s are going to be shown on tv gold or such like. I have met sally geeson 3 times and met robin stewart recently at birmingham nec very nice people l didnot know the actor who played trever also died.

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    1. Hi Pamela, thanks for your comment. I wish they would show Bless This House on television again, it's long overdue a repeat showing. Lovely to hear you have met Sally and Robin. Such a shame only Sally is left now...

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    2. Hi, bless this house is being rerun on freeview channel 96 (forces tv)

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    3. Love it so good and funny.. remember this when I was a child in the early 70s a joy To see it all again . Brill☺️☺️☺️

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    4. Its being repeated right now on itv3

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    5. It’s on itv 3 every morning just now

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    6. Bless This House can be found on ITV 3 in the wee small hours. Just watched one episode at 2am on Jan 30 2021.

      It holds up quite well. Sid James' performance is by far the most polished. Robin Stewart's is also quite polished and engaging. Sally Gleason is a little contrived/hammy and Diana Coupland and Anthony Jackson are perfectly fine.

      Robin Stewart had quite stunning looks. 69 is relatively early to bow out nowadays. It seems to be especially tragic to see the decline of aesthetically beautiful young actors. Jan Michael Vincent's decline was even more galling. R.I.P. Robin.

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  2. I also watched Bless This House in repeats here in Australia when I was a child in the 80s. It was a great time to get acquainted with classic British TV comedy. At that same time I also loved Are You Being Served?, Love Thy Neighbour and George And Mildred. It wasn't until the early 90s that I discovered Man About The House and Robin's Nest.

    Robin Stewart will always hold a special place in my heart as one of my childhood TV crushes, along with John Schneider in The Dukes Of Hazzard.

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    1. Thanks for your comments. Yes Robin definitely came from a classic era of British comedy and he's much missed.

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  4. Re-runs are currently being shown on Forces TV (Sept 2019)

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  5. Watching Bless This House on Forces tv, Robin also starred in The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires with Peter Cushing in 1974 Great Movie !!!!!!

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  6. I am so sorry to hear about the loss of all the cast except Sally Geeson. I remember Patsy comforting me on the death of my husband in Brighton in 2000. She was so sweet. At least we have the joy of watching Blessings this House again on the Forces TV.

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  7. Sad to know all but Sally have left us.been watching all the repeats of bless this house on forces TV.they are still as much fun as they were in the 70s when i was a teen-ager.thank you forces TV for showing some of the great old comedies

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    1. You'll never see anything like this again ..it was one of a kind.. family life in the , seventies.when wives stayed.at home and hubby went to work..

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  8. classic comedy sid made me laugh by just laughing no swearing no sex scenes good clean entertainment

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  9. Really enjoying reruns of 70s comedies my favourite one at the moment is robin's nest on talking pictures I was 12years old when it started.

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  10. Hi. Loving the reruns. One of the best classics of my chilhood, sitting with my nan in the 70's. They just dont make prigrammes like this anymore, ones that always put a smile on your face whatever your mood. The warm memories. Thank god for such warm natural actors like the stars of bless this house. Please keep them going. Man about house a great classic too.

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  11. I watched bless this house back when it fist started what a joy to see it return again and again classic British comedy at its best sad only sally is left

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  12. Loved bless this house I'm watching re_runs on for es channel on sky such a shame they have all passed except for Sally Geeson r.i.p greatly missed

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  13. Watching the re runs now. Didn't realise only Sally left. Love the 70s comedy. Such nostalgia

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  14. Watching reruns now and thoroughly enjoying them...

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  15. Snap Annie. Me and the wife are watching them for the first time and many are hilarious.

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  16. Having loved 'Bless this house' when it was originally shown, I'm STILL loving watch it again on 'Forces TV' (CH 96 Freeview) !. Sid's been my comedy-favourite since I can remember - I even managed to shake his hand when I was 7/8 and he was doing the summer-season at Great Yarmouth !. The world right now could do with him !

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  17. Love Bless this House never get bored of watching and there never be another Sid James what a character.

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  18. Bless this House is a Great Classic Comedy, love the humour and comedy timing of this show, Especially the moments between Sid and Mike Abbott, They don't make them like this anymore

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  19. Awesome comedy. Can't you tell there were no phones and laptops about then. Life was so simple

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  20. Lovin watching Bless This House!!! So funny.... Reckon you Jean must hold record for number of new items of nightwear!

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