So What’s It like Being Married to The World’s Sexiest Woman?

Friends with Prince Charles.  Wed to Susan George.  New Star of The Sound Of Music . . . it’s not easy being Simon MacCorkindale

Simon MacCorkindale will, I suspect, make a rather good Captain von Trapp; not least because he appears to share some of the characteristics of The Sound Of Music’s famously stern Austrian paterfamilias.

There’s the brisk, martial manner for starters, a certain lack of levity and an absolute absence of sentimentality.

Simon, who takes over the captain’s role in the hit West End musical on Monday, is rehearsing the part with his habitual fastidious attention to detail when I arrive at the London Palladium to meet him. (more…)

Simon is to be appearing in the West End Production of The Sound Of Music from the 25th August

Simon is expecting to do all dates between 25th August to 21st February (not to 28th). He will have 15 days off but we don’t know when yet.

http://www.soundofmusiclondon.com/tickets.php

All details are subject to change so please confirm with the theatre when booking (more…)

Dear Michele,

Thank you very much for the really lovely gifts you and Michael’s fans sent to us to the theatre on Saturday. They were a super surprise and a terrific send off to the tour. We had a great week in Newcastle to finish and, as always, it was lovely to see some of the members who have all been so faithful and supportive throughout.

I will keep you posted as to what is next. For now, I have to catch up with my life.

Love and best wishes

Simon

(more…)

Interview - Simon MacCorkindale

Thanks to Sylvia for this article

IT has more twists than a 1960s dance festival and – if done properly – a jaw-dropping surprise. Sleuth, which opens at Theatre Royal in Newcastle tonight, is a cat and mouse thriller which continually wrong-foots audiences – if they haven’t seen it before, of course.

Simon MacCorkindale, who stars in Anthony Schaffer’s award-winning play alongside former Dynasty actor Michael Praed, reckons there are still plenty of Sleuth novices around. (more…)

Suspense and Mystery in Classic Show

(Mainly a Sleuth review)
Thanks to Sylvia for this article

THE stage is set for the ultimate game of chance this week - played out in this version of the Anthony Shaffer classic by two of the most attractive actors in the business. Simon MacCorkindale (best-known for his role of Harry Harper in Casualty) plays Andrew Wyke, who takes on his wife’s lover Milo Tindle (played by Michael Praed of Robin of Sherwood fame) in the biggest game of his life - and there can only be one winner. (more…)

Detect flaw?

Thanks to Kathie - SMCFP’s Northen Correspondant

Detective skills are hardly needed to work out why last year’s new film of Sleuth flopped while this year’s new theatre version is packing them in, but let the play’s star Simon MacCorkindale help work it out.

“They departed from the original material and most of the things that were attractive in the original got left out,” says the Casualty heart-throb. (more…)

Rivals are locked into a deadly game

(Mainly a Sleuth review - Contains spoilers)
Thanks to SMCFP member Kerri

SLEUTH’S first night was at the Theatre Royal Brighton 38 years ago. I was there. A few seats along from me was Laurence Olivier, who, apparently, had some unflattering things to say about it.

Two years later, with the thriller a huge hit, Olivier himself starred with Michael Caine in a film version. Now it’s back on stage with Simon MacCorkindale and Michael Praed in the two key roles. (more…)

TV STAR ACTS ON HELPING CHARITY

A screen and stage star raised the spirits of a group of brain injury survivors with an inspiring talk.

Thanks to maggiesangel at Holby.TV for this article

Ely- born Simon MacCorkindale - best known for his role as Harry Harper in the BBC1 hospital drama Casualty – visited members of Headway Cambridgeshire at Brookfields, in Mill Road, Cambridge.

Headway is a charity which provides support, services and information to brain injury survivors, their families and carers, as well as to professionals in the health and legal fields. (more…)

I Led British Invasion Of Hollywood

The big interview Simon MacCorkindale has rubbed shoulders with tinseltown’s elite but is just as happy on stage in Glasgow

WHEN Simon MacCorkindale watches hit US shows like Lost, Ugly Betty or Pushing Daisies he can say: “Been there, done that.”

The veteran actor might be best known as Casualty heart-throb Harry Harper but his long and successful career saw him cross the Atlantic and crack America 30 years ago. (more…)

Simon says, he’s a Casualty regular!

But not just on TV— in real life, accident-prone actor often finds himself in hospital

THERE’S a reason why Simon MacCorkindale carries off the role of consultant Harry Harper in BBC’s Casualty so well — he’s never out of his local hospital’s casualty department as a patient!

He and his wife, actress Susan George, run a very successful horse farm when not appearing on stage or screen, and Simon is very much hands-on down on the farm. (more…)

Harry’s Sacked!

The doctor is given his marching orders by hospital bosses…

There are tears all round this week when A&E stalwart Harry Harper bids farewell to his colleagues. After deciding to leak Ruth’s diary to the press, the senior consultant is forced to leave the ward.

‘Harry believes that Ruth’s diary highlights the pressure doctors are under,’ says Simon MacCorkindale, who’s played the doc for six years. ‘But he put his career on the line and he knows he has to go.’ After an emotional goodbye, he visits his old pal Charlie at a private clinic and asks him to return to Holby. (more…)

Doctor On The Move

After six years as consultant Harry Harper, Simon MacCorkindale tells us why he’s after a new challenge

Simon MacCorkindale is very happy with the storyline that sees him leave his role Casualty this week.

There are all kinds of unpleasant ways I could have left,’ he says. ‘I could have been murdered by an ungrateful patient, for instance! So I’m delighted to be leaving with Harry’s dignity intact, via the moral high ground! And I’m glad to be leaving on a story that might make people think.’ (more…)

Harry Harper works his last Casualty shift this week when he leaves after exposing troubled colleague Ruth’s diary to the press, Simon MacCorkindale, who plays him, is delighted Harry isn’t departing on a stretcher! “Often in these shows, characters get blown up, shot or stabbed to death,” smiles Simon, 56. “Doctors do take great risks, but few get shot or stabbed!”

Harry’s Last Hurrah

The consultant hangs up his stethoscope…

Holby A&E manager Harry Harper bids farewell to the hospital this week - but the top doctor doesn’t leave his post willingly! Harry put his job on the line recently by choosing to leak the emotional diary of suicidal trainee medic Ruth Winters to the press, and now he must face the consequences…

“Harry feels very strongly that junior doctors are being put under too much pressure,” explains Simon MacCorkindale, who plays the department head. “He thinks Ruth should be used as an example of what can happen when they’re pushed too far, and wants to make everyone aware of the issue. His superiors aren’t happy with his actions, though, and force him to resign.” (more…)

Farewell Harry

Having handed Ruth’s diary to the press, Harry prepares to hang up his stethoscope

This week, as Ruth lies in a coma, the truth behind the juniors doctor’s suicide attempt is all over the papers. By leaking her diary, Harry has plunged Holby City into the media spotlight, forfeiting his future as a senior consultant.

‘Harry feels it’s in the best interest of all young doctors for Ruth’s diary to be printed,’ says actor Simon MacCorkindale. ‘It’ll make the public and the NHS fully aware of all the pressure.’ (more…)

Murderous Intent

Casualty favourite Simon MacCorkindale is returning to the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, appearing alongside ex-Robin Hood star Michael Praed in a new production of Sleuth. We take a look at the ever-popular touring show…

Simon MacCorkindale is back at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre for the second time in just over a year.

The popular actor, who’s nowadays best recognised for his portrayal of Harry Harper in the BBC TV drama series Casualty, is returning to the Midlands to star as Andrew Wyke in a new touring production of Anthony Shaffer’s Sleuth. He will be joined by another familiar televi­sion face - Michael Praed, a one­time Robin Hood and Dynasty star. Sleuth tells the story of Andrew Wyke’s devious attempt to gain revenge on his wife’s lover, Milo Tindle. Wyke cajoles Tindle into burgling his property, promising him the money, but in reality plans to kill the younger man and claim to police that he thought he was a prowler. (more…)

This interview was carried out with Simon on the 13th February 2008 at the Beck Theater in Hayes. Audio can be found on the forum as well as a video message from Simon filmed at the same time. This is Simon in his own words (i.e. typed word for word what he said)

We also got Simon to answer the forum’s ‘Meet a Member’ questions which can be found here

001 - From Clare: How have you family (Susan included) influenced your career?
Well I think mostly through their absolute continued unquestioning support for whatever I embark upon. Susan particularly is a very good springboard for various choices that I have made so I do share all the choices that I make. I think that my mum and dad particularly, it was about the honesty of what one was trying to do, and the respect for the audience. Very early on my father taught me about respect for the audience. I’m not sure I was ever really gonna go down in a daft way with it but certainly that I think has been a very important part in how I deal with the public. I’m always giving the time for other people even within a busy schedule. (more…)

Thriller tour

Busy Simon MacCorkindale chats to Viv Hardwick about leaving BBC1 ’s Casualty, taking on a stage tour and finding time to breed expensive Arabian horses

YES sighs Simon MacCorkindale with mock irony, “I have gone down in history as the man who sacked Charlie Fairhead in Casualty.” The plot of the Christmas episode of the BBC1 drama made the right kind of headlines for the programme as actor Derek Thompson became the last member of the original cast to leave after 21 years. (more…)

SUSAN GEORGE

PHOTOS SHOWCASE HER UNBRIDLED PASSION

(Mainly a Susan George article)

Formerly known for her work on the big screen, these days Susan George can be forgiven for horsing around behind the camera. The actress turned equestrian photographer has been celebrating her first major exhibition in Mayfair. The Straw Dogs star and film icon of the 1970s has latterly turned her attention to Arabian horses, which she breeds at the farm in Somerset that she owns with her husband of 23 years, Casualty star Simon MacCorkindale (more…)

Simon MacCorkindale

The Casualty star on his TV times in pictures

1977 - Simon in his ITV drama Romance. ‘In a way it was my breakthrough performance,’he recalls. ‘ltwas shown to the director of Death on the Nile [1978] and I got the role of Simon Doyle in it.’

1984 - With the late, Oscar-winning actress JayneWyman in hit US soap opera Falcon Crest. ‘She was a fantastic woman. We stayed in touch for many years.’

1982 - Simon starred in the bizarre Manimal as a professor with the ability to change into any mammal. ‘I still get stopped in the streets by people who remember it, ‘he laughs. (more…)

Sad news for all those female fans who tune in to BBC1 on Saturday nights to gaze adoringly at Simon MacCorkindale. After five years playing consultant Harry Harper in Casualty the smoothy actor is hanging up his stethoscope. (more…)

To the rescue

Harry is back to help - to Nathan’s horror!

Harry Harper makes a triumphant return to the A&E department -but not everyone is pleased. His new job as consultant manager means he’s now arch-rival Nathan’s boss!

The medic finally returns following Guppy’s pleas for him to come back to the troubled hospital. (more…)

Pictured At Home With Her Magnificent Arabian Horses

Actress Susan George Reveals Why She Gave Up Hollywood For The Good Life

(Mainly a Susan George article)

While Susan George remains firmly embedded in the nation’s psyche for her illustrious film career, these days the actress is more likely to to be found delivering foals than lines from a script

In a move that has taken her far from the bright lights of Hollywood, the Straw Dogs star now spends her time breeding Arabian horses at the farm she shares with her husband of 22 years, Casualty star Simon MacCorkindale. In turn, the magnificent animals have led to Susan’s inspired venture into photography. (more…)

Simon will be appearing in a touring production of Sleuth, starting on 22nd January 2008 in Windsor for two weeks, then to various locations around the UK on a 16 week tour (starting 4th February and ending 25th May? - if my maths is right - so any dates after this will be without Simon, if the play continues)(Edit - see dates below)

At present the only other location I can confirm is The Grand in Wolverhampton in April. More details as soon as I’m aware of them but it’s still a long time away for details to come too quickly.

This probably means he will be leaving Casualty at the end of the year as most of us suspected, but no confirmation of that yet.(Edit - has now been confirmed)

Still no new locations confirmed, yet. But tickets are already on sale for both Wolves and Windsor.

All details are subject to change so please confirm with the theatre when booking

Simon has confirmed that he’ll start rehearsals for Sleuth on January 14th (this might be earlier now too)

Simon’s co star will be Micheal Praed and we will be sharing details with his official site so we can keep as upto date as possible. (Micheal will be playing Milo, so Simon will be playing Andrew(?)) Micheal Praed Official Site (added 01/11/07) (more…)

Murder most Foul

Casualty Star Simon MacCorkindale talks about his latest play, Agatha Christie’s The Unexpected Guest, and explains how close he came to playing James Bond. . .

What’s The Unexpected Guest about, Simon?

It’s the story of a man who arrives at a property in South Wales after having trouble with his car. When he enters the property he finds a dead body, and a woman who claims she’s responsible for the murder. The man, for a variety of reasons, decides to set about trying to give her an alibi… (more…)