Where are the cast of Bernard's Watch now? From tragic deaths and cancer battles to dramatic career changes

IMAGINE owning a magical pocket watch with the ability to stop time, just like in the hit TV drama, Bernard's Watch.

The ITV show about a schoolboy with time-freezing abilities televised that childhood fantasy for millions of young people in the UK- but where is the cast now?

Bernard's Watch first aired on TV from 1997-2001 and was then revived with a fresh new cast from 2004-2005.

The show's second run ended in 2005, just over 16 years ago, and much has changed in that time.

From TV game shows to tragic cancer battles, each cast member's life took a very different route, find out where everyone is now below.

Bernard Beasley (Played by David Peachey)

Peachey played the titular character during the original airing of the children's show.

During the first season, the watch was given to Bernard by a postman after the youngster was always late.

Fast forward to now, David has appeared on several game shows and the celebrity version of the BBC quiz show Pointless with other childhood stars such as Outnumbered's Tiger Drew-Honey.

The star resigned from acting soon after his time on the show, with no notable appearances in over 12 years.

In 2017, David announced he was training to become a doctor, after studying art in Venice in the early 2000s.

Bernard Beasley (Played by Ryan Watson)

In the show's reboot, Bernard was played by Ryan Watson, and the opening sequence showed the watch flying through Bernard's window.

The character of the "postman" did not exist, and the show was set in Bernard's show Pentup Primary, with new characters including his best friend Nathan and his enemy Nicolette.

Since the show ended in 2005, Watson has performed at the Royal National Theatre as Andrea Sarti in David Hare's adaptation of The Life Of Galileo.

He has also recently voiced several characters for BBC Radio 4.

He played the part of Prince Edward in the radio adaptation of Edward II for BBC Radio 3 in September 2009 and has starred in one episode of the Sarah Jane Adventures.

The Narrator (Voiced by Liza Goddard)

The original series featured a narrator, voiced by stage and TV actress, Liza Goddard.

Before her time on the show, the 71-year-old was married to Doctor Who actor Colin Baker and suffered from breast cancer, making a full recovery soon after her diagnosis.

She has also dated former Doctor Who companion Frazer Hines, who later appeared with Colin Baker in the story The Two Doctors.

In 2012 she had a cameo role in the all-star comedy film Run for Your Wife, and in 2013 she toured with the official Agatha Christie Theatre Company in Go Back for Murder, an adaptation of the book Five Little Pigs.

In September 2016, Goddard played the guest role of Gloria Francis in the BBC1 drama series Casualty.

Grandad (Played by Barry Jackson)

Barry Jackson played Bernard's grandad in the 1997 version of Bernard's watch.

Prior to starring in the children's show, he played Drax in Doctor Who, accompanying the fourth Doctor, Tom Baker.

He also appeared in A Touch of Frost, Silent Witness and the Stanley Kubrick film Barry Lyndon.

Jackson had recurring roles in Heartbeat, Midsomer Murders and coronation street.

Barry Jackson sadly passed away in 2013 at the age of 75.

Nicolette Ashbury (Played by Rosie Day)

Rosie Day played the mean-spirited Nicolette Ashbury, the main character's sworn enemy during the second run of Bernard's Watch from 2004 until 2005.

The actress has gone on to much bigger ventures including playing Mary Hawkins in the Golden Globe-nominated Starz and the Sony Pictures TV series, Outlander.

Day has also played Sarah Jessica Parker's daughter in the comedy film All Roads Lead to Rome and appeared with Uma Thurman in the Spanish horror film, Down a dark hall.

She currently stars as Tina Pemberton in Sky One's Living the Dream.

Yvonne Savage (Played by Kay Purcell)

Screen and stage actress Kay Purcell played the role of Bernard's bullying teacher, Ms Yvonne Savage, during the show's reboot.

Since the show ended in 2005, Purcell's biggest and most notable role was her appearance as Gina Conway in the CBBC show, Tracy Beaker Returns and its subsequent spin-off series The Dumping Ground.

She also played Cynthia Daggert in Emmerdale, Mrs. Rennison in So Awkward and Candice Smilie in Waterloo Road.

Kay was diagnosed with breast cancer in early 2017. The cancer spread to her liver and became inoperable.

She passed away in December 2020 after a lengthy stint on stage pantomimes, including Rapunzel.

Mr Steel (Martin Ball)

Bernard's headteacher Mr Steel was played by Martin Ball.

The actor was once engaged to Letitia Dean, best known for playing Sharon Watts on Eastenders.

Ball went on to portray the role of the twins' father in two series of Home Farm Twins Andrew in two series of Keeping Mum, Dr Dave Masters in Casualty and Reverend Mordaunt in Little Lord Fauntleroy.

On 30 April, 2021, he was cast as Maurice in the UK tour of Beauty and the Beast.

 

 

 

 

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