Cast

The Auf Wiedersehen, Pet Cast might be household names now, but back in 1983 when the show first aired, many viewers were watching these fresh faced builders for the first time! The Cast have gone on to many things in the past 30 years, starring in Hollywood Blockbusters with Johnny Depp, Tom Cruise and most recently one of them winning the Palme d’Or in Cannes.

Jimmy Nail - Oz

Name - James Michael Aloysius Bradford Born - March 16th 1954, Benton, Newcastle Upon Tyne. Character - Leonard “Oz” Osborne Since starring in Auf Wiedersehen Pet in 1983, Jimmy has gone on to become one of England's greatest TV actors, singers and TV producers. First starring in Get Carter in 1971 as an uncredited extra, Jimmy went on to sing in the band, The King Crabs in the 1970’s. His wife Miriam, persuaded him to go for a part in a new show, and turning up, telling everyone he didn’t want to be there, is how he got the part of Oz. Classic quote - “Aww Bollocks Man”. Trivia - Jimmy is one of only 4 characters to appear in all 40 episodes.

Tim Healy - Dennis

Name - Timothy Malcolm Healy Born - January 29th 1952, Benwell, Newcastle Upon Tyne. Character - Dennis Patterson Tim Healy appeared in Coronation Street in 1976 as a Bingo Caller, and since then, being Dennis in Auf Wiedersehen pet has made Tim one of the UK’s most well known actors. Currently starring as Les/Lesley in the hit ITV comedy Benidorm, Tim has continued to be on our screens for the past 30 years. Tim was heavily involved with the 30th Anniversary Convention in 2013, and narrates and walks fans through the ‘Back With The Boys’ DVD. Classic quote - “I’m still the gaffer, so get gan!!” Trivia - Tim originally went for the part of Oz, but as we now know this went to Jimmy Nail, and Tim got the part of reluctant leader Dennis Patterson.

Tim Spall - Barry

Name - Timothy Leonard Spall Born - February 27th 1957, Battersea, South London Character - Barry Spencer Taylor Timothy Spall is one of the UK’s leading character actors, appearing in some of the biggest TV shows and Movies ever made. First appearing on screen in “Quadrophenia” in 1979, and then in 1982 “Home Sweet Home”, which was his first working with Mike Leigh. In 1983, Tim hit the big time, and gave UK viewers one of the most lovable, but slightly boring and annoying characters in Barry Taylor. Since then, Tim has appeared in some of the highest grossing films ever made. Classic Quote - “Would you like to come back to our hut?” Trivia - Tim bought his motorbike as featured in Series 1, it was eventually stolen.

Kevin Whately - Neville

Name - Kevin Whately Born - February 6th 1951, Hexham, Northumberland. Character - Neville Hope Kevin Whately, has been on UK TV screens for the past 30 years. He first appeared on screen in Shoestring in 1979, and then a few years later got the part of Neville Hope in Auf Wiedersehen Pet. Kevin then went on to play a big part of the hit show, Inspector Morse, playing the “sidekick” to John Thaws Morse. Kevin has starred in hit shows such as Peak Practice, and can now be seen on ITV1 in Lewis, the spin off to Inspector Morse. Classic Quote - “I’ve got Brenda in case you forgot!” Trivia - Kevin’s daughter Catherine Whately appeared as Neville’s daughter Debbie in Series 2.

Pat Roach - Bomber

Name - Francis Patrick Roach Born - May 19th 1937, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. Died July 17th 2004 Character - Brian “Bomber” Busbridge Pat Roach appeared in many TV shows and Movies, including Indiana Jones, Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves and Superman 3, to name just a few. Pat was a wrestler, and you can see a Grandstand appearance in the opening titles of Series 2. Pat sadly died in 2004, and did not appear in the final 2 episodes of The Special. Classic Quote - “Bombers ready, Bombers away!” Trivia - Pat did actually break his foot in Last Rites, and this had to be written into the script, where Oz, accidentally tells the German Crane operative to lower the bricks onto Bombers foot.

Gary Holton - Wayne

Name - Gary Frederick Holton Born - September 22, 1952, London, England. Died 25th October 1985 Character - Wayne Winston Norris Before starring in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet Gary starred in “The Knowledge” in 1979, before going on to star with Tim Spall in “Quadrophenia”. A spell in The Damned, The Heavy Metal Kids & Casino Steel were all parts of Gary’s career at being a rock star, and was even offered lead singer in AC/DC, but he turned it down. Gary died before filming of Auf Wiedersehen Pet Series 2 finished, the last episode of Series 2 being dedicated to Gary. Classic Quote - “What’s the word then?...” Trivia - Gary Holton was offered the part of Nasty Nick Cotton in EastEnders

Chris Fairbank - Moxey

Name - Christopher Fairbank Born - October 4th 1953, Hertfordshire, England. Character - Albert Arthur Moxey/Brendan Mulcahy/Francis Foggarty Christopher Fairbank has been on UK TV screens since 1978, first starring in Z-Cars. Parts in The Professionals, Sapphire and Steel, Bergerac and then finally in Auf Wiedersehen Pet in 1983. Christopher has starred in many Hollywood blockbusters, and also voiced some of the biggest video games of recent times. Christopher has starred alongside Jimmy Nail in many TV shows, such as Spender and Crocodile Shoes. Classic Quote - “Am gonna get a Donut...” Trivia - Christopher graduated from RADA in 1974.

Noel Clarke - Wyman

Name - Noel Anthony Clarke Born - December 6th 1975, London, England. Character - Wyman Ian Norris Noel Clarke’s first starring role was in Metrosexualtiy in 1999, with roles in The Bill and Casualty and the Auf Wiedersehen Pet in 2002. Playing Wyman Norris is one of the roles Noel is famous for, that and Mickey Smith in Doctor Who. Noel Clarke is now a producer, writer and director of such films as 4.3.2.1, Kidulthood and Adulthood. Classic Quote - “Tina’s got nicer knockers.....” Trivia - Noel Clarke is among the 22 actors to have acted in both the Star Trek franchise and The Doctor Who franchise.

Cast

Name - James Michael Aloysius Bradford Born - March 16th 1954, Benton, Newcastle Upon Tyne. Character - Leonard “Oz” Osborne Since starring in Auf Wiedersehen Pet in 1983, Jimmy has gone on to become one of England's greatest TV actors, singers and TV producers. First starring in Get Carter in 1971 as an uncredited extra, Jimmy went on to sing in the band, The King Crabs in the 1970’s. His wife Miriam, persuaded him to go for a part in a new show, and turning up, telling everyone he didn’t want to be there, is how he got the part of Oz. Trivia - Jimmy Nail is one of only 4 cast members to appear in all 40 episodes.

Name - Timothy Leonard Spall Born - February 27th 1957, Battersea, South London Character - Barry Spencer Taylor Timothy Spall is one of the UK’s leading character actors, appearing in some of the biggest TV shows and Movies ever made. First appearing on screen in “Quadrophenia” in 1979, and then in 1982 “Home Sweet Home”, which was his first working with Mike Leigh. In 1983, Tim hit the big time, and gave UK viewers one of the most lovable, but slightly boring and annoying characters in Barry Taylor. Trivia - Tim for a time owned his motorbike as seen in Series 1, before it was sold and stolen.

Name - Kevin Whately Born - February 6th 1951, Hexham, Northumberland. Character - Neville Hope Kevin Whately, has been on UK TV screens for the past 30 years. He first appeared on screen in Shoestring in 1979, and then a few years later got the part of Neville Hope in Auf Wiedersehen Pet. Kevin has starred in hit shows such as Peak Practice, and can now be seen on ITV1 in Lewis, the spin off to Inspector Morse. Trivia - Kevin’s daughter Catherine Whately appeared as Neville’s daughter Debbie in Series 2.

Name - Francis Patrick Roach Born - May 19th 1937, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. Died July 17th 2004 Character - Brian “Bomber” Busbridge