If you had to cast a movie/TV series of the books, who would you cast as Jackson Lamb?
Am currently halfway through reading Joe Country and I was racking my brains to try and think of who’d be the ideal actor. The only candidate I could come up with was Michael Gambon (well MG as he was about 30 years ago….)
How about you?
pencilsqueezer says
The late Richard Griffiths springs to mind but as he’s a wee bit dead he may be unavailable.
How about Brendan Gleeson?
Northcote says
I always imagine him as the bloke who does the chateau programme, Dick Strawbridge.
Razor Boy says
I think Phil Davis could be a decent Jackson Lamb but is he portly enough …would be good to see a tv version of the books wouldn’t it.
SouthernExile says
I think Timothy Spall would work. He can do dignified slob as well as anyone
Freddy Steady says
Timothy Spall is a good call. Maybe splice him with Brian Blessed.
Junglejim says
I think there is a mention somewhere of somebody referring to Lamb as ‘like Timothy Spall gone to seed’ & he’s always been the approximate image in my head.
To be fair to Mr Spall, he has of late got a lot trimmer & is obviously looking after himself these days, so I don’t know if could pull it off these days – maybe cast the net wider for someone looking more wrecked.
retropath2 says
There is that fella with a dodgy eye who used to play seedy fatsos in the 80s a fair bit. Any help? Usually in shabby suits. Lank dark hair.
Freddy Steady says
Was that not Richard Griffiiths ?
retropath2 says
No, not the estimable PITS private eye.
Freddy Steady says
Ooh, I think I know who you mean. Don’t know his name though…sort of floppyish blondeish hair. Maybe.
David Kendal says
Was it Paul Brooke? Although I’d say he usually played world-weary rather than seedy.
GCU Grey Area says
Played ‘Sarge’ in that sitcom ‘Morning Sarge’.
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0111727/
Freddy Steady says
Not him I’m afraid. The bloke on thinking of is a bit younger thinking about it. Might have played a few Nazis in various programmes or films.
retropath2 says
That’s the fella I was thinking of.
Freddy Steady says
Arf!
I can picture him in my head, just can’t describe him.
P.S. Glad you enjoyed N Norfolk…lovely part of the world.
snodgrass says
It seems that Apple TV are making a series and Gary Oldman has the part.
pencilsqueezer says
Won’t be watching that then for a couple of reasons.
Carl says
Toby Jones is the picture I see when I read them.
He has form in the genre, having played Percy Alleline in the film version of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.
Jaygee says
Agreed. Think TJ would be terrific.
Gary Oldman doesn’t really do it for me.
Freddy Steady says
Gary Oldman is too angular.
retropath2 says
With his Churchill padding and some pre-film “dieting” maybe though.
Fifer says
Should be John Hannah surely? Then he could add a triumphant Lamb to his masterful Rebus! I do often wonder how on earth some casting decisions get made; there may well be a thread in here somewhere.
Jaygee says
The story I’ve heard about Rebus is that JH apparently owned the TV rights to the books and – despite vigorous protestations that he was too young for the part – the TV company said they wouldn’t make a series if he wasn’t Rebus.
Much as I’ve loved the Rebus books these last 20-odd years, I’ve never been able to bring myself to watch either JH or Ken Stott in the role.
Not that I’ve got anything against KS (or JH for that matter), but our Ken seems to be the go-to guy when producers are in need of a world-weary maverick cop (Vice, Messiah, etc, etc).
Fifer says
I always had Roddy McMillan – Para Handy & The View From Daniel Pike – in my head as the perfect Rebus; jaundiced, a cynic but with a sense of humour. Sadly he died far too young for the role.
A new series is said to be on its way, with Ian Ranking taking a bigger role in the production following his reacquisition of the rights to the books. No word on casting yet; could be Stott again or maybe Brian Cox (no, not that one!)
Sidney Duststar says
Not that I spend all my time thinking about past Tory politicians, but I always see Nigel Lawson or, even better, Leon Britten, sitting at the top of Slough House.
Freddy Steady says
@sidney-duststar
That is an excellent shout. Leon Britten I reck,
joe robert says
I had Greg Davies in my head. Not portly enough, perhaps, but I can really hear some of Lamb’s insults in his voice.
On the subject of bad casting decisions: David Morrissey is far too dashing to play Tom Thorne. Mark Addy would’ve been much better.