Martin Shaw

Later projects have included a hospital drama, Always and Everyone (1999) from Granada, in which he plays consultant Robert Kingsford, and playing Adam Dalgliesh in the BBC adaptations of P. D.

A rare television flop for Shaw was Rhodes (1996), a quickly forgotten mini-series about the highly controversial British imperialist Cecil Rhodes.

Shaw is patron of the Hillside Animal Sanctuary at Frettenham, Norfolk, England. This was founded in 1995 to help and campaign for animals in need and to bring public awareness to the millions of animals suffering every day in the intensive factory farming industry.

Never one to take the obvious route, Shaw refused them all, including the American series The Equalizer (1985), preferring variety of work to riches.

He achieved genuine stardom with The Professionals (1977), generally seen, along with The Sweeney (1974), as one of the two classic British action series to be spawned from the 1970s. Before that he had always been careful to be very different in each of his roles to avoid being typecast, and to spend long periods in the theatre.

The episode of The New Avengers (1976) in which he appeared was the first time he and Lewis Collins starred together. They later went on to star in the The Professionals (1977).

Turned down an offer to audition for the role of James Bond in the late 1970s.

One of England's most popular actors for more than four decades, Martin Shaw is noted for his versatility. He has featured in over 100 TV roles, his long TV career beginning in 1967 with ITV Play of the Week: Love on the Dole (1967).

His theatrical career has been very distinguished, with a string of West End successes, beginning in 1967 with the first revival of "Look Back in Anger" and most recently on Broadway as Lord Goring in "An Ideal Husband" which won him a Tony nomination and a Drama Desk award for Best Actor. The Professionals was an international hit, and brought him offers of similar roles.