File on Martin Shaw... Closed

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Title:	File on Martin Shaw... Closed
Creator:	Graham Peacock
Date(s):	April 1999
Medium:	print
Fandom:	The Professionals
Topic:
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File on Martin Shaw... Closed is a 1999 essay by Graham Peacock.

It was printed in In the Public Interest #11.

The topic was Peacock's frustration and bitterness regarding, Martin Shaw the actor who portrayed Ray Doyle, and by extension, Lewis Collins who portrayed William Bodie, in The Professionals, and what Peacock perceived to be lack of support and respect for the work Peacock and his fellow editor had done on their newsletter.

A related essay is A personal account of the laughter, tears, and fears of producing a fanzine.

Excerpts

As always, we here at 'In The Public Interest" like to keep all our operative informed of any special operations recently carried out.

One such case has now officially been closed. We had attempted, once again, just before Christmas to try to get Martin Shaw to do an interview. After speaking to his agent in November, I reminded her that I had sent them a letter, some questions and a tape for Mr Shaw as I had discussed with her previously, and had no reply. Not even a reply thanking for the inquiry. The agent send at the time Mr Shaw was on holiday and if I contacted them again in the new year she would see what she could do.

A couple of weeks ago I contacted the agent again and was told that Mr Shaw was busy until April filming in Manchester. So it looks like Mr Shaw wants to avoid The Professionals like the plague, which is truly disappointing, but a fact we have to live with. I would like to point out that had we ever been given the chance to speak to Martin that The Professionals would have taken up very little of the conversation as I believe we have heard as much as we are going to get from the actors on the subject of the show.

So as I have said before, we can only try, but, if they, the "stars" snub the fans, we can do nothing however our wish to talk is open, his agent knows where to find us, and we would be delighted to discuss Martin's WHOLE career.

[...]

I would print the address and phone number, but they will only accuse us of stirring you members up to harass them. If you do it, you do it yourselves then we can't be accused of this.

The fanzine now officially gives up on trying to "get blood from a stone". #37 did say before I attempted to contact his agent "not to hold my breath". But I was determined to give it a damned good try as we think you deserve it. The trouble is that Collins and Shaw don't deserve fans like yourselves.

Ok so Martin doesn't want to talk about the series, fine. A kind reply saying thanks, but no thanks or just a simple message to the fans would have been nice and courteous He isn't snowed under with fan mail, so one scrabby letter wouldn't be too much trouble, would it?

I have only had trouble writing to the "stars", but writers of such t.v. series such as Brian Clemens, Galton & Simpson, Eric Sykes and Ian Kennedy Martin have all replied with manners and respect.

It is sad, but other appreciation societies such as 'Cat's Eyes', 'Dr Who', 'Star Trek' and many more get some response or even involvement from some ex-stars.

Some so-called stars seem to forget where they came from and what made them and put them where they are today. If they think it is all down to them and their talent, then maybe it's time they took their head out of their back side and smell the air. Rather dungy innit.?