Elstree Calling

Alexandra Bastedo with Stuart Damon and William Gaunt in The Champions.

Alexandra Bastedo Interview:

I recently had the great pleasure of interviewing the actress Alexandra Bastedo.

Alexandra is arguably best known for having played the role of Sharon Macready in the Sixties TV series, The Champions, which was made at Elstree Studios. Created by Dennis Spooner, produced by Monty Berman and with a memorable theme by Tony Hatch, the thirty part series is now regularly repeated on ITV4 and is also available to buy on DVD.

Alexandra's other extensive TV credits include appearing in The Saint, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased); and more recently in the BBC soap, EastEnders.

Various film credits for the actress have ranged from Casino Royale, with Orson Welles, Peter Sellers and David Niven, to appearing in Batman Begins. Her favourite film was Draw, with Kirk Douglas and James Coburn.

Stage work has always been a major interest for Alexandra and she has appeared alongside a variety of performers during her career including: Roy Castle, Leslie Grantham, Harry Secombe and Simon Ward.

Alexandra is very passionate about animal welfare and runs the ABC (Alexandra Bastedo Champions) Animal Sanctuary, which is based at her home in Sussex. The actress also supports a variety of animal organisations whose goals match her own.

In this interview, Alexandra primarily recalls the various action TV series that she made at Elstree Studios.

Paul: What memories do you have of working on The Saint, with Roger Moore (now Sir Roger Moore)?

Alexandra: I remember that filming on the two episodes I made (Crime of the Century and The Counterfeit Countess) was a very pleasant experience. Roger Moore was a very charming actor to work with.

Paul: You appeared in an episode of Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), which was made at Elstree Studios, called Who Ever Heard of a Ghost Dying? What recollections do you have of working on this episode? 

Alexandra: I remember forming a friendship with Annette Andre, who played Jeannie Hopkirk in the series, and I kept in touch for a long while afterwards until life got in the way and we gradually lost touch.

Paul: What do you recall of appearing in an episode of Department S called The Man Who Got a New Face?

Alexandra: I really enjoyed working with Peter Wyngarde, as he is both a fascinating and an interesting actor.

Paul: Despite all of your various theatre, film & TV credits, you are probably best known for playing Sharon Macready in the TV series, The Champions. What recollections do you have of working on this classic series?

Alexandra: I remember clearly the film test that I did for The Champions with both Stuart Damon and William Gaunt. I remember being really pleased when I found out that all three of us had got the lead roles.

I also remember that my flat mate at the time (whose name I won't mention as she still lives in London) also did a film test for the role of Sharon Macready, and for a while I felt a bit uncomfortable that I had got the part and she hadn't. Fortunately she auditioned successfully for a role in a play in the West End of London shortly afterwards, so that made things easier.

I also recall that we had very good lighting cameraman on the series, which is why it looked so wonderful.

Part 2