Arthur of the Britons

Tim Peverall, who played ‘Young Kai’ in the flashback scenes which featured in two episodes of ‘Arthur of the Britons’: ‘The Prisoner’ and ‘The Pupil’, was kind enough to offer some memories to this archive.

Tim’s father, John Peverall, worked on ‘Arthur of the Britons.’ Tim says, “Dad was Associate Producer, so off set a lot, but directed scenes I was in.”

Tim later appeared in crowd scenes in some of John’s films, including ‘The Deerhunter’, but his scenes in ‘Arthur of the Britons’ were his very first on-screen appearances.

“Dad used to take me and my sis onto Hammer Horror sets from a young age - Peter Cushing and Co – so I guess I was used to it all.”

Tim says he had, “no formal training (can't you tell!)” and did not have to audition. He was paid £10 per scene.

The flashback in ‘The Prisoner’ is seen from Kai’s point of view. After the death of his childhood friend, Roland (played by Michael Gambon), at the sword of Mark of Cornwall (Brian Blessed), Kai (Michael Gothard) burns the body on a pyre.



As the flames take hold, we see Kai and Roland as children, playing at axe-fighting on a bridge.



Part of the bridge gives way, and Kai falls into the water.



Roland jumps in, and saves him from drowning.



When they scramble out onto the bank, Kai presents Roland with the medallion by which he recognised him at the start of the episode.





Tim recalls that the other young boy in the scene, Young Roland, was played by his neighbour and childhood friend, Steve Barret.

While the scene from ‘The Pupil’ was done in one take, Tim says, “the scene on the bridge was different! With dad directing, we did around seven or eight rehearsals, and every time, I looked behind me, even though the wooden pole was tied in place, so we didn't get dunked, and have to go back to wardrobe, makeup etc.

The last time, Dad shouted at me, "this time it's a take, one time shot" and untied the pole. Never forgot those words! I had to get it right! Steve and I were both strong swimmers, but there were two frogmen in the river. The water was cold, and the current was very strong. ”

Tim confirmed that the scene for ‘The Prisoner’ was filmed during the summer holidays, but he “did have time off school for scene with Jack Watson”, which came later.

The flashback in ‘The Pupil’ is seen from either Llud (Jack Watson) or Kai’s point of view. They remember how Llud, on finding his village in flames, and his wife dead, resists the urge to take revenge, by killing the Saxon child who approaches him, and instead, adopts him.







I asked Tim whether it was scary having Jack Watson yelling at him. He replied, “Very much so - and he was a family friend! The scene with Jack Watson was one take, I'm sure! He was very convincing, I'll never forget that.”

Of the other principal actors, he said, “I guess I must have met Michael; certainly spent time with Oliver Tobias. Brian Blessed was a family friend in those days; he really is a nice man.”

Asked how his school friends reacted to seeing him in the series, Tim says, “I think they were jealous, and took the Mickey!”

Tim says that when viewing the series now, on DVD, “it's weird watching, but fun!”

The only memento of his appearance – apart from the DVD – is a framed still of him on set, kept by his mother.

These photos of Valerie Van Ost were taken while she was filming "Arthur of the Britons" episode, "People of the Plough", in which she played "Freya."



The back of this first black and white photo shows her home address, and that of her agent.



The next two prints were obtained from the slide film below.







These two Polaroids show Valerie as Freya, alone, and with Mark Edwards as her husband Rulf, with their homestead in the background.



The date on the back of both of these Polaroids, August 25, accords with the week in which the creators of this archive had determined that the episode was filmed.

Stephan Chase, who played Horgren in “The Gift of Life” was kind enough to share some thoughts, and pictures.

Kenneth Benda [who played Ulrich] and I stayed in The Moat House Hotel, by Bristol Docks I think. Great scampi, steak Diane and decent red; and it was new at that time. Yes. A jolly time out there. We were driven out in the morning and back last thing – I have no idea where we filmed. No idea.

The Director, Pat Jackson was a very nice, mild, sweet man; you can read about his distinguished career on IMDb, but lots about me is inaccurate: some jobs are left out and others included with incorrect name spellings, eg. 'Steven Chase.' Hate that!! The photographer took some good publicity shots. Yes I think they’re good.





I don’t remember much about it; if I was in a fight, I probably looked pathetic! But I do know I came away thinking it was a bit of fun. Fun it was, over possibly 2 weeks. Certainly I remember driving to Bristol at least twice.

Michael Gothard was different – he had something that made him fit well into that period in history; a kind of primitive physicality. Perhaps pagan would be better. His countenance was somehow how we imagine ancient Britons to look. Its aspects were rarely seen together. Brutal yet tender. It was a great film face. He was in the Royal Shakespeare Company. Come 1988, I founded a voice-over agency, called Rhubarb, and had Michael on my books. I don’t think we got him much work … perhaps not a “commercial” voice for selling nice crap, but I liked having him on there, and he had a good voice for it. Perhaps not in the eyes of ad man though. Limited by clients and so on."

Stephan Chase’s website

A still from "Enemies and Lovers" featuring Michael Gothard as Kai and Hilary Dwyer as Goda.

A still from "Arthur is Dead" featuring Donald Burton as Dirk the Crafty.