25 Roger Clemons from Portchester: Sad to hear of the death of George Baker. I knew George when he was filming in Romsey, I lived there at the time of filming all the episodes. He was a charitable man and we were both interested in raising money for Romsey Hospital, for which he had a particular interest. He was a great actor in a great series.
24 Angela Weatherley from Croxley Green, UK: Hi
They are occasionally shown on ITV 3 Does anyone know where to buy old videos or dvds i went on the tabardroad website yesterday and found out louie ramsey died in march
angela
23 Rob Robilliard from Bardwell Valley Australia: We here in the colonies haven't seen Inspector Wexford since the 1980's. I have been searching for VHS/DVDs of the earlier episodes and have only found them on AMAZON UK. The postage is quite crippling to have them posted to Australia.
Does anyone know where they may be available for purchase.
I have used EPGUIDES.COM
http://epguides.com/RuthRendellMysteries/ as my guide. The only ones available on DVD are SImisola and Road Rage which I have.
Can anyone assist as to where I can obtain the earlier episodes?
22 Philip from Bristol: Wexford programmes are consistently of the highest standard, and wonderful entertainment. Please, please let me know the name of the music sung by the choir from the walls of the castle in the episode, "An Unwanted Woman".
21 William Stuart Brand from Alkborough North Lincs: Wonderful casting, but I would love to buy the Music sung by the double choir from the castle walls. dont remember the episode name but included the Cyclist knocked down.
20 Alison Menage from Teddington, Middlesex: Well Wexford without George Baker - Oh Noooo! But given everyone even good looking guys have to get older, give George and Louie (Mrs W.) a cameo role in any new production!! They are too good to leave out!
19 Ian from Southampton: I have watched, loved and collected the Wexfords since they were first shown in the late eighties. I live near to Romsey and know a lot of the locations well. My brother-in-law used to be an electrician for TVS and kept me informed about the latest
filming. I went along to see bits and pieces, mainly in Romsey but also in Porchester, Hants where the castle was used for one excellent series.
I think my favourite has to be the 'Christmas Mystery', entitled 'No Crying He Makes' which starred Jane Horrocks and Clive Wood. Originally titled 'Ginger and the Kingsmarkham Chalk Circle' it's excellent Christmas fayre. The closing credits where the choir of Romsey Abbey sing a carol unaccompanied as the helicopter spirals up and away above Kingsmarkham, finally fading into the sound of a winter wind is the most evocative and atmospheric ending to any television programme ever. Marvellous!!
18 Rob Fredericks from Perth Australia: I have enjoyed all the series shown in Australia on ABC TV, but was caught completely offguard recently on a visit to the UK to have the privilege of meeting George Baker in a local town Deli.
17 Amanda from wigan, Lancs.: My husband, son and friends think I'm obsessed. They're right! I missed a lot of the earlier Wexfords, but loved the later ones. I now own all except 4 on VHS (courtesy of ebay). I am determined to get hold of them all, somehow.
I was shocked to learn (from a different wexford website), that the original TV rights have been sold off overseas and Wexford will never again appear on UK terrestrial TV. I was devastated, and from that point on I started my search for videos.
All the books have been dramatised, except for the last one, Babes in the wood (published, I think, in 2003).I had hoped George Baker would have been making another appearance.
I get the impression from some of these other fans'comments that there has been talk of making more wexfords with someone else in the Wexford role. I can't imagine it at all, but would rather that (with a carefully chosen actor, or just Chris Ravenscroft) than not see Wexford again. But having said that,it might be preferable just to stick to reading any new novels and keep the immortalised image of George Baker in mind. It can sometimes be possible to successfully substitute actors; I'm also an Adam Dalgliesh (PD James) fan and was pleasantly surprised at how well Martin Shaw has stepped into Roy Marsden's shoes. But in Wexford's case, I'm not so sure!
I've read all the novels and thought they were fantastic. Most televisations don't live up to the novel, but the Wexfords definitely do! there is no other actor that would be more suited to play Wexford than George Baker. I agree with eveyone else who has said that he and Chris Ravenscroft have superb chemistry. Watch this space!
16 Jack from London: Wexford without George Baker??? Never!!!
15 Elizabeth from Oxford: I agree Christopher Ravenscroft has to be the most under-rated actor in the world. I've had the great pleasure of seeing him onstage several times and he is just as brilliant there as he is on the telly.
The series was exceptional and I understand R. Rendell is continuing to write Wexford books. Word is Morse is going to be made again elevating Lewis rather than replace John Thaw...which would never fly. I have every hope the powers that be will take note of the reintroduction of Morse and begin filming the Wexford mysteries again...with Mr. Ravenscroft continuing as Mike Burden. Nothing would please me more. In the meantime, you can catch Mr. Ravenscroft in a recently introduced program, Courtroom Drama.
14 Nicholas from Redhill: I agree with these tributes. the Times, at the start called George Baker 'Inspired Casting.' His skill at different accents, as shown in his many Films is impressive. The twist in Shake Hands Forever, was clever.
13 John Cross from Shrewsbury, Shropshire: In "Murder Being Once Done", Wexford has a dream, parts of which seem to come true in the subsequent investigation. But why does he not tell anyone about it and why is it not referred to again ? Can anyone help?
12 Linda from Wigan: I think that Insp.Wexford is the best TV detective series. I like the link between each episode following the lives of Mike and Reg. I think George Baker is excellent and Christopher Ravenscroft must be one of the most under-rated actors in this country. I've never seen him in anything else yet he is brilliant as Mike. I guess we have to wait now for Ruth Rendall to write another Wexford novel before we get a fresh episode!
11 Judy Schwartz from New York-USA: I recently saw Road Rage and I loved it. This is the first Inspector Wexford movie we've seen here, and hopefully more will become available. George Baker is just how I pictured Inspector Wexford--smart, unassuming, and gets the job done. I think my favorite part in the movie was when Dora walked through the door, and Wexford looked at her, realizing what he could have lost forever.
Does anyone know when the entire series will be available and where it can be purchased?
Here's to murder and mayhem and more Wexford!
Happy New Year!!
10 Ruth from The Netherlands: George Baker's one of many great British actors! I love the role he played as Insp Wexford. One of my fave episodes was the one in which his tv-wife was kidnapped along with a couple of other people. It was heartbreaking to see he was totally lost without her and yet had to stay focused and professional while try solving the crime in his function as Chief Inspector. Great acting: very natural and as if he really IS the character.
It's been ages since I've seen one of the series 'cause it's not on in The Netherlands anymore. But I have fond memories of it and maybe one day it'll be on the tv again...!
9 Ed Capp from Portland, Dorset Uk: Love Wexford and the series. Have meet George Baker twice once in the 'Owl' then again at Longleat where he was raising money for the Mac Millan charity... a very nice man and a wonderful series
8 Kathleen Pritchett from OFallon, Illinois USA: I love Inspector Wexford novels. I wish we had the series in the States. They sound wonderful.
7 Andy from Southampton: Obviously, as I live near Romsey where the series was filmed, they used lots of locations in the Southampton area. I remember working in the Portswood area of Southampton and seeing all the film crew drive by to and from locations and also walking past houses which were used in the series. George Baker also became very well known in the area due to the fact his then wife (who sadly died) was in Southampton General Hospital whilst they were actually filming scenes in there. He became very involved in raising money for the Body Scanner which they now have.
Southampton doesn't have many claims to fame (apart from the Titanic) so the Ruth Rendell Mysteries put us "on the map" so to speak and the series was probably TVS's most successful export. Come on Meridian . . . make some more please
6 clare wilson from aberystwyth wales: I'm currently studying inpector wexford as part of my english degree and would love any feedback ergarding the realtrionship presented between detective and reader or society. feel free to email me your opinions. cvw1@aber.ac.uk
5 Trevor Adams from Auckland,NZ: Ruth Rendalls characters are utterly three dimensional. I've watched Reg and Mike through their good and baaad times,("Chris'sake get a hold of yourself Mike!). Wexford is far and away my favourite sleuth-with deductive skills well beyond those of Holmes, Morse, Frost, Barnaby and Wycliffe. It is ages since we have seen a "Wexford" mystery on TVNZ.
4 susan joy from brighton uk: I think George Baker is wonderful as Wexford.
Love to find photos of him.
My friends think I am cranky as I am in my mid 40s.
3 Liz Ward from Australia: Ruth Rendell's Inspector Wexford tales are never dull or dated! one enjoys watching the tales more than once! Wexford and Burden have a fine chemistry and one would wish they were real detectives.
2 Sally Black from Canada: Ruth Rendells books are always a cut above, but the Inspector Wexford is exceptional!! The way he and his partner, Mike Burdens` private lives, are woven throughout the story, is nothing short of genius!! We need more of Wexford, here in Canada!! We are due for more great British stories!!
1 janet from addlestone, surrey: The best tv detective stories, I wish more of Ruth Rendells brilliant books were televised. The characters are beliveable and the stories gripping, I never guess the ending!