John Hewer

Mar 31 2008 by David Charters, Liverpool Daily Post

John Hewer

SOME people achieved much in their lives, winning awards for this and that and sitting on all sorts of committees, pontificating on everything important to the world.

But in the end, nobody can quite remember what they did.

Such was not the case with John Hewer. He was Captain Birdseye and everyone will remember him for that.

Of course, the man himself might have wished people to recall his other noble accomplishments, and this is understandable as he was a man of great distinction.

But far more than that he was the face of fish fingers, the beaming figure in an old salt’s suit with snowy beard (which we have to confess did not sprout from his own chin), surrounded by happy children to whom he would say, “Only the best for the captain’s table”.

In this way, Hewer represented both the triumph of marketing and the power of television.

Hewer was born in Leyton, east London, the son of an engine driver. From school, he joined the social services department, serving as a navigator with the Fleet Air Arm during the war.

Although he returned to local government, his true calling was the stage and he joined the Unity and Players’ Theatre. Possessing a magnificent singing voice and a commanding stage presence, Hewer was soon in demand on TV and film.

However, his big break came when he was cast as Tony opposite the young Julie Andrews in the original Broadway production of Sandy Wilson’s The Boy Friend, later taking the show on an American tour.

West End successes followed with good roles in Six of One and Sail Away. Then, for 10 years, he host- ed the popular Canadian TV show, The Pig and Whistle, set in an English-style pub and featuring the Carlton Irish Showband. It attracted a host of British stars including Max Bygraves, Barbara Windsor, Anne Shelton and Chic Murray.

During this time, he appeared in an advertisement for Birdseye frozen peas and this resulted in his being offered the Captain Birdseye role in 1967. In 1971, the company unwisely dropped the character, but he returned triumphantly three years later after our “Cod War” dispute with Iceland, to become one of the longest-running characters in advertising history, with Hewer in the part until 1998.

Hewer, widowed in 1998, had a son and daughter.

John Hewer, actor/singer; born January 13, 1922, died March 16, 2008.