Robert East

Robert East:

A trim and businesslike character actor, probably still familiar to many as Edmund's elder brother, the smug Prince of Wales in the first incarnation of 'The Black Adder'. By that time (1983), Robert East had been seen in a fair number of television roles. He was in the BBC's 1972 adaptation of 'Emma' as the rakish Frank Churchill, and in 'Warship', 'Churchill's People', and 'Napoleon and Love'. A smattering of comedy parts includes; 'Dave Allen at Large', 'Moody & Pegg', 'Happy Ever After' and the long-lost Stephen Potter-inspired comedy 'One-Upmanship' with Richard Briers and Peter Jones.  

In the 'did you fart?' sketch from 'Dave Allen at Large'

As he matured in looks, casting directors found him a popular choice for more patrician characters, and he can be seen in 'Rumpole of the Bailey', 'Miss Marple' and 'London's Burning', while still handling a wide range of comedy from the sophisticated: 'Yes, Minister', 'Yes, Prime Minister' and the aforementioned 'The Black Adder', to the more infantile: 'The Kenny Everett Television Show', 'Rentaghost', and 'Allo Allo'.     

The steely face of the establishment, as Dolby in 'Spooks'

In recent years, the dull potage of potboiler cop and doctor drama series ('Heartbeat', 'Peak Practice', Holby City')has been peppered with tastier morsels such as the 2003 modernised version of 'Canterbury Tales' and the silly but entertaining secret service series 'Spooks', or 'MI-5' as it now calls itself.    


Robert East-imdb

Jeffrey Segal

Jeffrey Segal:

† Aug 1 1920 – Feb 5 2015

A true veteran actor, born in 1920, who made his film debut in the sympathetic British version of 'Jew Suss' (1934) with Conrad Veidt. Now generally sullied and overshadowed by the antisemitic version made by the Nazis in 1940, it was London-born Jeffrey Segal's only appearance until the late '50s when he began to act for television.  

Not convinced by Commander Straker's accounts in 'UFO'

By the mid-'60s he'd been seen in such popular shows as 'Emergency-Ward 10', 'No Hiding Place', the BBC adaptation of 'Barnaby Rudge', 'The Forsyte Saga', 'Softly Softly' and a single episode of 'Coronation Street'.

As the '60s turned into the '70s, more favoured names of British television were added to his CV; 'Callan', 'UFO', The Power Game', 'Dad's Army', 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum', Are You Being Served?, 'The Sweeney', 'Fawlty Towers' (in 'Gourmet Night' with the horrible kid who wants proper salad cream) and my old favourite 'The Flaxborough Chronicles: Murder Most English'. 

Another dissatisfied customer in 'Are You Being Served?' 

With the '80s came a stint as the Meaker's unfortunate neighbour, Mr Perkins, in the kids' series 'Rentaghost', plus a smattering of period dramas and a roll-call of primetime favourites, including 'Bergerac', 'Minder', Terry & June', and 'Yes Minister', which sounds like a typical '80s evening avoiding homework to those of my generation.  

'A collar stud? I thought they went out with Clement Attlee…'
With George Cole in an episode of 'Minder'.

His most recent outing was in 'Jonathan Creek' in 2003, but I trust he is enjoying a well-deserved retirement after a very long and interesting career. 

As a boy in the British film of 'Jew Süss' (1934)

In 'Dad's Army', as the man from the Ministry, come to
see a demonstration of the Big Wheel secret weapon.

Jeffrey Segal - imdb