In Conversation with... Jeremy Brett - Revision history

TCDE-Team at 14:15, 18 February 2026

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	~~{{Cargo_Research_Articles~~
	~~\|date=1989-09-01~~
	~~\|author=Christopher Roden~~
	~~\|topic=Interview~~
	~~\|summary=Interview with actor Jeremy Brett who performed Sherlock Holmes in the Granada TV series Sherlock Holmes in 1984-1994.~~
	}}
	''In Conversation with... Jeremy Brett'' is an article written by [[Christopher Roden]] published in the [[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (Vol. 1, No. 1) in september 1989.		''In Conversation with... Jeremy Brett'' is an article written by [[Christopher Roden]] published in the [[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (Vol. 1, No. 1) in september 1989.

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TCDE-Team at 21:45, 17 February 2026

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	\|author=Christopher Roden		\|author=Christopher Roden
	\|topic=Interview		\|topic=Interview
			\|summary=Interview with actor Jeremy Brett who performed Sherlock Holmes in the Granada TV series Sherlock Holmes in 1984-1994.
	}}		}}
	''In Conversation with... Jeremy Brett'' is an article written by [[Christopher Roden]] published in the [[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (Vol. 1, No. 1) in september 1989.		''In Conversation with... Jeremy Brett'' is an article written by [[Christopher Roden]] published in the [[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (Vol. 1, No. 1) in september 1989.

TCDE-Team at 00:02, 7 February 2026

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TCDE-Team at 20:11, 4 February 2026

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			{{Cargo_Research_Articles
			\|date=1989-09-01
			\|author=Christopher Roden
			\|topic=Interview
			}}
	''In Conversation with... Jeremy Brett'' is an article written by [[Christopher Roden]] published in the [[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (Vol. 1, No. 1) in september 1989.		''In Conversation with... Jeremy Brett'' is an article written by [[Christopher Roden]] published in the [[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (Vol. 1, No. 1) in september 1989.

TCDE-Team at 00:27, 3 February 2026

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	~~----~~
	* Article courtesy Christopher Roden, founder of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (1989-2003).		{{footer_acd_society_article}}
	{{footer_periodicals}}		{{footer_periodicals}}

TCDE-Team at 00:22, 3 February 2026

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	== In Conversation with... Jeremy Brett ==		== In Conversation with... Jeremy Brett ==
	[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p44-~~the~~-~~land~~-of-~~shadows~~.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 44)]]		[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p44-in-conversation-with-jeremy-brett.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 44)]]
	[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p45-~~the~~-~~land~~-of-~~shadows~~.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 45)]]		[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p45-in-conversation-with-jeremy-brett.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 45)]]
	[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p46-~~the~~-~~land~~-of-~~shadows~~.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 46)]]		[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p46-in-conversation-with-jeremy-brett.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 46)]]
	[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p47-~~the~~-~~land~~-of-~~shadows~~.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 47)]]		[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p47-in-conversation-with-jeremy-brett.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 47)]]

	A visit to London is always an exciting occasion, and on the particular visit in March 1989 the opportunity of seeing the highly successful production of [[The Secret of Sherlock Holmes]] and discussing [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]][[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]] with [[Jeremy Brett]], added a wholly new dimension.		A visit to London is always an exciting occasion, and on the particular visit in March 1989 the opportunity of seeing the highly successful production of [[The Secret of Sherlock Holmes]] and discussing [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]][[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]] with [[Jeremy Brett]], added a wholly new dimension.

TCDE-Team at 00:21, 3 February 2026

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	'Yes, I think he was swamped, to a degree, by his own invention and that's something I'm struggling not to be — not to be swamped by my invention on top of his invention. Because there's no doubt that I have, I know, done something else: I've shown a few cracks; I've succeeded in making something else — I don't know what it is, but I know there's something.'		'Yes, I think he was swamped, to a degree, by his own invention and that's something I'm struggling not to be — not to be swamped by my invention on top of his invention. Because there's no doubt that I have, I know, done something else: I've shown a few cracks; I've succeeded in making something else — I don't know what it is, but I know there's something.'

	'I think that Conan Doyle has done something quite remarkable. He created		'I think that [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] has done something quite remarkable. He created a heroic figure which saw the last Century through. They stepped into the 1900's with [[Sherlock Holmes]] as their hero and now you're going to step through the year 2000 with the same character as a heroic figure. He's got a few others alongside him sow, but he's still number one; and that is the most incredible achievement of any writer. He created a hero figure — and the young are desperately in need of hero figures at the moment. We love all the eccentricities and the brilliance, but the children love the heroics — and they do the deduction without any fuss at all. They're not hung up by the cocaine — they go straight to the deducing.'
	a heroic ~~figere~~ which saw the last Century through. They stepped into the 1900's
	with Sherlock Holmes as their hero and now you're going to step through the
	year 2000 with the same character as a heroic figure. He's got a few others
	alongside him sow, but he's still number one; and that is the most incredible
	achievement of any writer. He created a hero figure - and the young are
	desperately in ~~anced~~ of hero figures at the moment. We love all the eccentricities
	and the ~~brifiiance~~, but the children love the heroics - and they do the deduction
	without any fuss at all. They're not hung up by the cocaine - they go straight
	to the deducing.'

	It's been a very great honour for both Edward and myself, and indeed David		It's been a very great honour for both [[Edward Hardwicke\|Edward]] and [[Jeremy Brett\|myself]], and indeed [[David Burke]] who was the original breakthrough as [[Dr. Watson\|Watson]]. I think that what has happened now is that there is a new look at [[Sherlock Holmes\|Holmes]] and [[Dr. Watson\|Watson]] because of the brilliance of [[David Burke\|David]] and [[Edward Hardwicke\|Edward]]. They've brought [[Dr. Watson\|Watson]] into focus, and you suddenty realise that it's not just 'a streak of genius with someone toddling along behind', it's a great and important friendship. I think this adds another image when you're reading it.'
	Burke who was the original breakthrough as Watson. I think that what has
	happened now is that there is a new look at Holmes and Watson because of the
	brilliance of David and Edward. They've brought Watson into focus, and you
	suddenty realise that it's not just 'a streak of genius with someone toddling along
	behind', it's a great and important friendship. I think this adds another image when
	you're reading it.'

	'What is very extraordinary are the things Watson doesn't say - because he's		'What is very extraordinary are the things [[Dr. Watson\|Watson]] doesn't say — because he's so kind to his friend; always covering up for him. Thanks to Granada , I've been allowed to show that, because they've given me my head.'
	so kind to his friend; always covering up for him. Thanks to Granada , I've been
	allowed to show that, because they've given me my head.'

	'And so, ~~Cosan~~ Doyle ~~remaing~~ intact after all the parodies. And after all the		'And so, [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] remains intact after all the parodies. And after all the horrendous things that [[Lena Annette Jean Conan Doyle\|Dame Jean Conan Doyle]] has had to go through over several years, she knows that it's all going to go forward with people reading her Father's books. Because all the kids who come to see this play are reading The Canon — and that pleases her, and me, immensely.'
	horrendous things that Dame Jean Conan Doyle has had to go through over
	several years, she knows that it's all going to go forward with people reading her
	Father's books. Because all the kids who come to see this play are reading The
	Canon - and that pleases her, and me, immensely.'

	As our meeting drew to 2 close, Brett the Actor had sprung into action and,		As our meeting drew to 2 close, [[Jeremy Brett\|Brett]] the Actor had sprung into action and, seated before his dressing-room mirror. had begun to assume the guise which has become so familiar to all of us in recent years — a nightly ritual which takes about an hour to perfect.
	seated before his dressing-room ~~misror~~. had begun to assume the guise which has
	become so familiar to all of us in recent years - a nightly ritual which takes about
	an hour to perfect.

	'You know,' he said, ~~turing~~ from his desk for a moment, 'although it feels		'You know,' he said, turning from his desk for a moment, 'although it feels nice to receive acclaim from the critics, it bas meant far more to me to receive so much acclaim from Sherlockians and Doyleans. This to me has been the ultimate accolade.'
	~~aice~~ to receive acclaim from the critics, it bas meant far more to me to receive
	so much acclaim from Sherlockians and Doyleans. This to me has been the
	~~ulimete~~ accolade.'

TCDE-Team: Created page with "''In Conversation with... Jeremy Brett'' is an article written by Christopher Roden published in the A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (Vol. 1, No. 1) in september 1989. == In Conversation with... Jeremy Brett == [[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (september 1989, p. 44)]] File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p45-the-land-of-shadows.jpg|th..."

2026-02-03T00:15:31Z

Created page with "''In Conversation with... Jeremy Brett'' is an article written by Christopher Roden published in the A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (Vol. 1, No. 1) in september 1989. == In Conversation with... Jeremy Brett == thumb|250px|right|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (september 1989, p. 44)]] File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p45-the-land-of-shadows.jpg|th..."

New page

''In Conversation with... Jeremy Brett'' is an article written by [[Christopher Roden]] published in the [[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (Vol. 1, No. 1) in september 1989.

== In Conversation with... Jeremy Brett ==
[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p44-the-land-of-shadows.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 44)]]
[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p45-the-land-of-shadows.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 45)]]
[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p46-the-land-of-shadows.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 46)]]
[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p47-the-land-of-shadows.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 47)]]

A visit to London is always an exciting occasion, and on the particular visit in March 1989 the opportunity of seeing the highly successful production of [[The Secret of Sherlock Holmes]] and discussing [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]][[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]] with [[Jeremy Brett]], added a wholly new dimension.

A chill wind howled through the alleyways which criss-cross London's Theatreland as I made my way to the Stage Door of Wyndham's Theatre. It had been a day of almost incessant rain and it seemed that a swirling London fog, and the grinding of Hansom Cab wheels upon the cobbles, were all that would be needed to complete the atmosphere of [[Sherlock Holmes]]'s London.

I had chatted briefly with Brett following the previous evening's performance, and realised very quickly how difficult it must be to drop the mantle of [[Sherlock Holmes]] which he has carried, very successfully. for over five years. Prior to this evening's performance, I met a very different [[Jeremy Brett]]: one labouring under a heavy cold and concerned how this would affect his voice and his forthcoming performance, yet relaxed on a comfortable dressing room sofa surrounded by tributes from his many admirers around the world.

There can be little doubt that [[Jeremy Brett]] has introduced a sew element into the [[Sherlock Holmes|Holmes]] of the screen. I don't think that anyone has yet adequately defined that element but, in part, it s the 'humanisation' of [[Sherlock Holmes|Holmes]] coupled with the development of a genuine and apparent friendship with [[Dr. Watson|Doctor Watson]], portrayed more intelligently by [[David Burke]] and, more recently, by [[Edward Hardwicke]].

The theme of the intimate bond between [[Sherlock Holmes|Holmes]] and [[Dr. Watson|Watson]] is more deeply explored in [[The Secret of Sherlock Holmes]], which has been skillfully written by [[Jeremy Paul]] drawing very heavily on the original writings of [[Arthur Conan Doyle]].

The study of [[Arthur Conan Doyle|Conan Doyle]] as a hobby is a very different thing to earning a living from acting the part of one of the characters he created. 'What,' I asked Brett, 'are your personal feelings about [[Sherlock Holmes]] and [[Arthur Conan Doyle]]?'

'I find talking about [[Sherlock Holmes|Holmes]] somewhat difficult while I'm still playing him; but as far as [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] is concerned, [[Sherlock Holmes|Holmes]] is one of the greatest inventions that has ever happened in literature. This man lives; as indeed does [[Dr. Watson|John Watson]] — and this is amazing.'

'I think that what I now want very much is for [[Arthur Conan Doyle|Conan Doyle]] to be recognised as the Literary Giant that he is. He's been rather dismissed as a thriller writer and, of course, he's not yet on the list of people to read when one goes to University in this country — although he should be.'

'As far as [[The Secret of Sherlock Holmes]] is concerned — this play which [[Jeremy Paul]] has done so brilliantly is so largely [[Arthur Conan Doyle|Conan Doyle]], and has done so much for his reputation. By removing the case, you suddenly 'hear' somebody's writing. Your ear turns into a different shape if you listen to a Dorothy Sayers, or a [[Arthur Conan Doyle|Conan Doyle]] adaptation ''per se'' — you go into 'The Thriller Stream'. But the actual writing is something which goes slightly above — and, until now, it's never been taken quite so seriously.'

'I'm only sad that [[Arthur Conan Doyle|Conan Doyle]] didn't have a chance to 'break away' from [[Sherlock Holmes|Holmes]]. I should love to know what else he would have written if he'd left [[Sherlock Holmes|Holmes]] at [[FINA|The Final Problem]]. But popular demand is popular demand and, whilst I think that there are some wonderful stories in [[The Return of Sherlock Holmes|The Return]], from his point of view it must have been quite wearing. He's a very complicated creature to be around — S.H. — whether you're writing him, or trying to act him.

I know that [[Arthur Conan Doyle|Conan Doyle]] scored a hundred at Lord's and then dashed back to write [[SPEC|The Speckled Band]] but, at the same time, he then became somewhat dwarfed by his own creation and that must have been very difficult for him: [[Arthur Conan Doyle|Conan Doyle]] was a gentle man — he didn't look like his invention. There are debates about identity — whether it was [[Joseph Bell]] — but, of course, [[Sherlock Holmes|Holmes]] was all him — all [[Arthur Conan Doyle|Conan Doyle]].'

'Yes, I think he was swamped, to a degree, by his own invention and that's something I'm struggling not to be — not to be swamped by my invention on top of his invention. Because there's no doubt that I have, I know, done something else: I've shown a few cracks; I've succeeded in making something else — I don't know what it is, but I know there's something.'

'I think that Conan Doyle has done something quite remarkable. He created
a heroic figere which saw the last Century through. They stepped into the 1900's
with Sherlock Holmes as their hero and now you're going to step through the
year 2000 with the same character as a heroic figure. He's got a few others
alongside him sow, but he's still number one; and that is the most incredible
achievement of any writer. He created a hero figure - and the young are
desperately in anced of hero figures at the moment. We love all the eccentricities
and the brifiiance, but the children love the heroics - and they do the deduction
without any fuss at all. They're not hung up by the cocaine - they go straight
to the deducing.'

It's been a very great honour for both Edward and myself, and indeed David
Burke who was the original breakthrough as Watson. I think that what has
happened now is that there is a new look at Holmes and Watson because of the
brilliance of David and Edward. They've brought Watson into focus, and you
suddenty realise that it's not just 'a streak of genius with someone toddling along
behind', it's a great and important friendship. I think this adds another image when
you're reading it.'

'What is very extraordinary are the things Watson doesn't say - because he's
so kind to his friend; always covering up for him. Thanks to Granada , I've been
allowed to show that, because they've given me my head.'

'And so, Cosan Doyle remaing intact after all the parodies. And after all the
horrendous things that Dame Jean Conan Doyle has had to go through over
several years, she knows that it's all going to go forward with people reading her
Father's books. Because all the kids who come to see this play are reading The
Canon - and that pleases her, and me, immensely.'

As our meeting drew to 2 close, Brett the Actor had sprung into action and,
seated before his dressing-room misror. had begun to assume the guise which has
become so familiar to all of us in recent years - a nightly ritual which takes about
an hour to perfect.

'You know,' he said, turing from his desk for a moment, 'although it feels
aice to receive acclaim from the critics, it bas meant far more to me to receive
so much acclaim from Sherlockians and Doyleans. This to me has been the
ulimete accolade.'

----
* Article courtesy Christopher Roden, founder of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (1989-2003).
{{footer_periodicals}}