A look at the legacy of the hit Merseyside show and the cast that made it so special
Hit 1980s/1990s ITV sitcom Watching was set on Merseyside(Image: Granada Television)
Watching arrived on our screens 39 years ago and immediately became a cult classic. From 1987 – 1993, viewers loved watching the unlikely romance play out between smart-mouthed Brenda from Liverpool and Malcolm, who hailed from Meols.
The “odd couple” dynamic meant the series was a huge hit on ITV across seven seasons went it was reeling in an impressive 13 million viewers at its height. The series comprised 54 half an hour episodes and also included two specials that were an hour each. Watching was a nod to Brenda’s preference for people watching as opposed to Malcolm’s love for bird watching.
Despite their initial differences, the story wrapped up in emotional style when Brenda and Malcolm got married in the episode, titled Knotting. It was certainly not the end for the talented cast as Watching was a launching pad for them to go on an enjoy successful careers in film and television.
Watching is still fondly remembered almost four decades on and the talented cast at its heart are still massively in the limelight today. We have taken a look at where those people at the heart of the show are now.
Liza Tarbuck
Liza Tarbuck(Image: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
Liza played Brenda’s sister, Pamela Wilson, in the hit ITV comedy, which proved to be her big break. Before then, she was best known as the daughter of legendary comedian, Jimmy Tarbuck.
She trained at at the National Youth Theatre and Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) before the role in Watching put her on the path to enjoy a career in her own right. After starring in Watching, Liza appeared in Tumbledown and has went on to enjoy a glittering career in film, TV and radio.
Earlier this month, Liza stepped down from her role as host of a Radio Two show on a Saturday evening. In an Instagram post reflecting on the exit, she said: “Thousands of people enjoyed each other’s company like great friends… Thank you for letting me in, it’s been a privilege.”
Emma Wray
Emma Wray and Paul Bown in character as Brenda Wilson and Malcolm Stoneway (Image: TV Times/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Emma, who hailed from Birkenhead, was the actor that brought Brenda to life. After Watching ended, Brenda appeared in shows such as Stay Lucky and Big Game before she suddenly retired from acting.
After her retirement, it was reported that Emma was working as a nanny in her home region, Birkenhead. During her 12-year acting stint, Emma, 59, dated co-actor Perry Fenwick, who went on to become a familiar face in EastEnders.
She has largely stayed away from the limelight and it is not known if she is married or in a relationship.
Paul Bown
Paul shot to stardom with his role as Malcolm in Watching. The 68-year-old has gone on to enjoy a great career in TV with appearances in shows such as Coronation Street, Casualty, Holby City, Endeavour and Father Brown.
In Corrie, he played Roy Cropper’s brother, with other TV drama roles including appearing in A Confession with Martin Freeman and Bancroft. He also made an appearance in The Damned United, starring Hollywood actor Michael Sheen.
In 2022 he appeared in BBC One comedy series Death in Paradise as chess champion Maurice Holburne. In his personal life, Paul is married to Jane Jamieson and together they have four children.
Perry Fenwick
Perry Fenwick with former EastEnders co-star Danielle Harold(Image: Getty Images)
The role in Watching marked Perry’s debut as he played Terry Milton in the show. It was certainly not the last we saw of him as he went on to play Billy Mitchell in EastEnders.
He joined as a guest but Billy has gone on to be an Albert Square stalwart and is still a regular in the soap to this day. Perry has also featured in TV shows such as Inspector Morse, The Brittas Empire, Minder, On The Up, The Thin Blue Line and the renowned detective series Bergerac, starring John Nettles.
He was romantically involved with Watching co-star Emma Wray and was famously married to former Coronation Street actress Angela Lonsdale. The couple parted ways in 2010 after five years of marriage. Perry boasts numerous film credits, including Empire State, The Winslow Boy and Mona Lisa.
Patsy Byrne
Portrait of, from left, British actors Emma Wray, Paul Bown and Patsy Byrne (1933 – 2014)(Image: Getty Images)
Patsy is a treasured part of British comedy history with her role as Nursie in Blackadder. She also shone in Watching as Malcolm’s domineering mother Mrs Stoneway.
A graduate of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Patsy died at the age of 80 in 2014. She had an illustrious TV and film career which included roles in Inspector Morse, 2point4 Children, Les Miserables, David Copperfield and Stealing Heaven, to name a few.
She also starred in the hit ITV series Heartbeat, boasting an impressive acting career that spanned over three decades.
John Bowler
Actor John Bowler attends the Inside Soap Awards 2010 (Image: Getty Images)
John studied acting in Glasgow before getting his break on Watching, appearing in the series early in his career. Now, at 73, John has had a distinguished career.
Uniquely, the seasoned actor has appeared in all three major soaps: EastEnders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale. However, he is perhaps best remembered for his role as PC Roger Valentine in 229 episodes of the popular ITV police drama The Bill.
John has also featured in popular TV shows such as Casualty, Law and Order UK, WPC 56, Holby City, DCI Banks, Doctor Who, Father Brown and, since 2019, Emmerdale as DI Goldberg. He made a brief appearance in Corrie in 2002 and then a year later played the character Dougie Slade in six episodes, before completing a full round of soap appearances with a role in ITV’s Emmerdale. In 2022, he played the role of Liam Nicholson in the BBC daytime soap opera Doctors.
Elizabeth Spriggs
Actress Elizabeth Spriggs arrives for world premiere of ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone at the Odeon Leicester Square in London.(Image: PA)
A decade after her acting debut in 1968, Elizabeth was awarded the prestigious Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role for her standout performance in Love Letters on Blue Paper. She also earned a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her part in the 1995 film Sense and Sensibility, which starred Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant and Alan Rickman.
The well-loved actress also appeared in the box office hit Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, as her career continued to soar to Hollywood heights. Elizabeth, who died aged 78 in 2008, secured sought-after roles in Richard’s Things, Impromptu and Paradise Road, and enjoyed an impressive TV career that spanned an incredible 50 years.
She featured in a wide range of well-known shows including Casualty, Heartbeat, Doctor Who, The Royal, Midsomer Murders, Agatha Christie’s Poirot and Swiss Toni. Her star-studded funeral was attended by a host of top actors including Peter Vaughan, Jeremy Irons and Robert Hardy.