He was usually a man of action, associated with such TV series as The Sweeney, Minder and New Tricks.
But, back in 1985, Dennis Waterman and Rula Lenska, who later became his third wife, attracted large crowds and positive reviews when they trod the boards at Aberdeen’s His Majesty’s Theatre in a bitter-sweet comedy.
The couple were in big demand during the 1970s and 80s, with Lenska also forging a high-profile reputation after appearing in Rock Follies, and there was some surprise when they chose to appear in Bernard Slade’s Same Time Next Year, and take it on tour to the Granite City, Nottingham, Newcastle, Plymouth and Cardiff, before a six-week run at the Old Vic theatre in London.
However, their visit to the north east was greeted with plenty of fanfare when they entered the stage at the classic venue in September.
The Press & Journal reported on the production in advance and even offered readers the opportunity to win tickets for the six-night run.
Pairing of Dennis Waterman and Rula Lenska turned into stormy union
It spoke about how the pair were playing “the odd couple who conduct an affair for almost a quarter of a century, but only meet once a year.
“George, a travelling accountant, and Doris, on her way to a religious retreat, meet casually at a country inn in North Carolina and enjoy themselves so much that they decide to meet at the same place and same time every year.”
If there was chemistry between them, that maybe wasn’t surprising. Although Waterman was married to Patricia Maynard at the time, he and Lenska become lovers and tied the knot for what turned into a stormy union in 1987.
The Evening Express’s review focused on how different the material was from the parts with which they were usually associated on television.
Waterman, who has died aged 74, was the tough-talking Cockney cop, Carter, who joined forces with John Thaw’s Regan in The Sweeney and the hapless muscular foil to George Cole’s shady entrepreneur Arthur Daley in Minder.
Lenska, meanwhile, featured in everything from Special Branch and Take a Letter Mr Jones – with John Inman – to Footballer’s Wives, To the Manor Born, Robin of Sherwood, EastEnders, Coronation Street and Jackanory.
Triumph of ‘considerable acting talents’
But there were only the two of them on stage at HMT.
And they triumphed.
The P&J said: “How pleasurable it is to savour live the considerable acting talents of such TV stars as Dennis Waterman and Rula Lenska, when seen in roles which are far removed from those we remember from the small screen.
“They are appearing together this week in Aberdeen in Same Time Next Year, an entertaining and ingenious two-hander in which they perform with a warmth which is totally engaging.
“The dialogue is fast-moving and splendidly handled, but the moments when the fun stops and some of the harsh realities of life intrude on their idyll are full of dramatic tension and wholly believable.
“Waterman and Lenska deservedly won the sort of affectionate laughter which showed just how closely the audience had become involved in their story.
“Bravo to both of them for the quality of their performances.”
Those who attended the shows spoke of how you couldn’t hear a pin drop in the auditorium as the couple gradually grew old together.
But, while the actors were gaining standing ovations, it wasn’t all sweetness and light when they eventually married two years later.
On the contrary, Lenska revealed later that she had been the victim of domestic abuse which led to their relationship ending in 1998.
Waterman later sparked controversy by telling Piers Morgan in May 2012: “It’s not difficult for a woman to make a man hit her. She certainly wasn’t a beaten wife, she was hit and that’s different.”
His film debut was linked to Inverness
A young Waterman made his film debut in 1960 in a movie linked to the Highland capital.
He played youngster Ted Lewis, the son of a newly-released prisoner, who kidnaps him and takes him to Scotland in Night Train for Inverness.
However, Lewis doesn’t know that Ted is diabetic and faces death without regular insulin injections. Meanwhile, a police manhunt is launched and the climax unfolds in the Highlands.
It won decent reviews and film historians Steve Chibnall and Brian McFarlane said: “It generates genuine suspense from a neatly plotted screenplay.”
Waterman’s screen career never looked back.
More like this:
Alastair Sim: The many faces of the Scot who remains the screen’s finest Scrooge
