George Baker

He was not just an unforgettable actor, but the most wonderfully warm and vibrant person.

—Ruth Rendell

2012

West Lavington Club honours George Baker: The youth club set up by the late actor George Baker is to be named in his honour.
A Concert for George: Stars of stage, screen and television come to Lavington School on June 10 to perform a concert in memory of local celebrity George Baker.

2011

George Baker dies aged 80: "He absolutely loved Wexford and he loved being Wexford. It was a joy to him."
George's charisma made Wexford: "George made Wexford. If some other actor had played the part and hadn't had George's charisma, Wexford would never have become as well known as he did."
Wexford makes final journey: "George Baker had a heart the size of an ox and brought the troubles of others on his own shoulders."—Neil Zeiger

2010

The People's Detective: Twelve celebrated fictional television detectives profiled in a six-part ITV3 series.

2009

Cash in the Celebrity Attic: Angela Rippon and the Cash in the Celebrity Attic team visit much-loved Inspector Wexford star George Baker in his beautiful country cottage.

2008

Drama Trails: A ten part ITV3 documentary series exploring connections between the UK's favourite TV dramas. In episode ten, Baroness Ruth Rendell takes George Baker on a guided tour of the House of Lords.
Profiling Ruth Rendell: A documentary series from Cactus TV featuring profiles of Britain's finest contemporary crime writers.
Wexford and Me: George Baker reveals his favourite Wexford titles in ten short films produced by Daisybeck Productions.

2007

Heartbeat: George guest stars as Peggy Armstrong's old flame.
My Wiltshire Life: "I used to love riding on Salisbury Plain. Now I walk the dog every day on the plains. I have a black Labrador called Jessel …"
George Baker receives MBE: "It was an extraordinary occasion. Peter Sallis was there, getting his OBE for Wallace and Gromit, and Zara Phillips was meeting her Gran …"

2006

Where Wexford Unwinds: A father of five daughters, Baker is married for the third time, to Louie Ramsay who plays on screen wife Dora Wexford.
Super Sleuths: A Documentary series produced by Free@LastTV. Features interviews with George Baker, Christopher Ravenscroft, Louie Ramsay, Mary McMurray, and Neil Zeiger.

2005

Wexford Wives: George Baker was once described by film director Tony Richardson as the worst actor in England.
The House in the Woods: "George is a real pro. He plays identical twins. One has been in jail for a murder that his brother committed, and he wants revenge. But we didn't pay George twice!"

2003

Coronation Street: Inspector Wexford star George Baker is joining Coronation Street temporarily.

2002

The Way to Wexford: "I've written every word myself which isn't bad for a dyslexic. It's truthful, hopefully amusing and I've been able to cast myself as both psychiatrist and patient. Parts of the book were very difficult to write, there were often moments of pain but also a great deal of joy …"
Tiled Cottage: "My favourite home is the Thirties cottage that I rented while filming the Rendells."
By George, an affair to remember: The book is in the shops, the cat is out of the bag, and George has no regrets - or at least no more regrets.
Unpaid Royalties: In 1992, TVS lost its ITV franchise and sadly, the rights to its programme library did not remain within the ITV Network.

2000

I owe my life to Louie: For a man who has had harrowing surgery for cancer, TV star George Baker is looking remarkably well.
Wexford to hang up his trilby?: A Hampshire detective with a world-wide reputation for solving the grisliest of crimes could be on the brink of putting his ticket in.

1998

Evil Under the Sun: John Moffat is Hercule Poirot in this BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation with an all-star cast which includes Iain Glen, Fiona Fullerton, Robin Ellis, Wendy Craig, George Baker and Joan Littlewood.

1996

Ace tec is back: The return of Reg Wexford after a three-year gap was always going to be special for George Baker.
Wexford returns in Simisola: George Baker returns to ITV in the role he made so popular with the dramatisation of Ruth Rendell's latest novel.
I Need a Wife to Look After: "An enormous number of women seem to love me as Inspector Wexford …"

1995

This Is Your Life: George Baker, actor, was surprised by Michael Aspel during at photo shoot on board a boat at Port Solent marina on the Hampshire coast.
Johnny and the Dead: "It's such a fun piece. It's got something for children of all ages. It tells a lovely story."
Little Lord Fauntleroy: Actor George Baker had to change his personality for his part in the BBC's new adaptation of Little Lord Fauntleroy.

1994

How Wexford found the clues to true love again: This is for real, and it's a love story that took the show business world by complete surprise.

1993

Wexford's wedded bliss: TV detective George Baker made an arresting sight when he wed his Inspector Wexford wife in real life yesterday.

1992

A Cook for All Seasons: George Baker presents a collection of more than 100 of his favourite recipes from all over the world, interspersed with the stories that lie behind them.
If only Grandma could be with us now: Wexford star George Baker travels to Australia to meet the grandson born days before his wife died.
Last chapter for Rendell's hero?: The end of the road is in sight for ruddy-faced detective Reg Wexford as he returns with four new Ruth Rendell Mysteries.
The Final Series: At Baker's side is Sarah, youngest of his five daughters and an assistant with the production team, who stands ready with a cup of tea.
Little things that remind me of you: Big George Baker will be smiling as he strides around his kitchen, wine glass to hand, putting the finishing touches to his Christmas lunch.

1991

Why George plans to say goodbye to Wexford: Since actor George Baker stepped into the sensible lace-up shoes of old-fashioned Det Ch Insp Wexford, he has won the hearts of many.

1988

Journey's End: R C Sherriff's classic story of life in the trenches in the First World War.

1987

Wolf in sheep's clothing: Murder, they cry but where is the body? It is a case to baffle Det Chief Insp Reg Wexford, hero of 13 novels by top woman crime writer Ruth Rendell.
A Man of many Talents: "I knew I had to play Wexford the minute I set eyes on the scripts."

1986

Dead Head: Never repeated, but never forgotten, this much loved series from the BBC has now been released in the UK for the first time on DVD.

1984

Robin of Sherwood: The classic series for the first time on Blu-ray featuring new interviews with actors George Baker and Philip Jackson.

1980

Hopscotch: Walter Matthau and Glenda Jackson star in this nimble tale of international intrigue from master British filmmaker Ronald Neame.
The Fatal Spring: Screenplay by George Baker. Winner of the United Nations Media Peace Prize Award for Merit.

1976

I, Claudius: How a dramatisation of Robert Graves's classic tale of power play in ancient Rome met with colossal obstacles including legal difficulties, critical reaction and an ancient curse, before becoming a huge television hit in 1976.

1973

Bowler: George Baker stars as the East End villain with social aspirations.

1969

Candida Plays: A new national touring company has been formed by the actor George Baker.

1958

Tread Softly Stranger: In a grim industrial town, the local men fall under the spell of blonde temptress Calico (Diana Dors). After fleeing from his gambling debts in London, Johnny Mansell (George Baker) returns to his home town and moves in with brother Dave (Terence Morgan) and becomes tortured with his desire for Calico, an obsession which has tragic results.
The Moonraker: George Baker stars as the swashbuckling Moonraker. Full movie in HD via YouTube.

1957

No Time for Tears: Anna Neagle, George Baker and Anthony Quayle take leading roles in this star-studded medical drama, with an early film role for Sylvia Syms as a beautiful young nurse at the very beginning of her career.
These Dangerous Years: Legendary crooner Frankie Vaughan stars with George Baker, Kenneth Cope, John Le Mesurier and Thora Hird in this 1957 drama directed by Herbert Wilcox.

1956

A Hill in Korea: Based on real events, this vintage war movie charts the fortunes of a small group of British soldiers serving in the Korean war. Cast includes George Baker, Stanley Baker, Harry Andrews and Michael Caine in his first credited film role.

1955

The Dam Busters: A much-loved British classic, Michael Anderson's 1955 drama captures the tension and bravery of an audacious raid on the centre of Nazi Germany's industrial complex and the quintessentially English combination of inventiveness and dogged determination.
The Ship That Died of Shame: Sailing against the tide of nostalgic 1950s war dramas, The Ship That Died of Shame tells a darker story about Britain in the postwar years. Curator Dylan Cave champions one of Ealing's best final films.