Toby Atkin-Wright

Ian Carmichael has died, aged 89. I suppose it is one of the great benefits of acting that one can continue working long past normal retirement age; I was surprised to learn that he was still appearing in television drama in the last year.

Although he is known for his film work, and for playing Bertie Wooster on television in the 1960s, I know him best for playing Peter Wimsey in several 1970s BBC adaptions of novels by Dorothy L Sayers. I grew up knowing Edward Petherbridge as Lord Peter Wimsey in the 1980s productions, and Petherbridge perhaps captures the Wimsey of the books, but looking back at the earlier productions, Carmichael’s Wimsey is full of charm and character.

We’ll be watching “The Nine Tailors” this evening.

Ian Carmichael has died, aged 89. I suppose it is one of the great benefits of acting that one can continue working long past normal retirement age; I was surprised to learn that he was still appearing in television drama in the last year.

Although he is known for his film work, and for playing Bertie Wooster on television in the 1960s, I know him best for playing Peter Wimsey in several 1970s BBC adaptions of novels by Dorothy L Sayers. I grew up knowing Edward Petherbridge as Lord Peter Wimsey in the 1980s productions, and Petherbridge perhaps captures the Wimsey of the books, but looking back at the earlier productions, Carmichael’s Wimsey is full of charm and character.

We’ll be watching “The Nine Tailors” this evening.