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To learn of the recent passing of 80’s TV action star Lewis Collins this week from cancer left me absolutely gobsmacked. Having been (and continuing to be) a big fan of cult TV series The Professionals, where Collins played the role of ex-SAS man William Bodie, I felt like a piece of my childhood had been ripped away from me with his death.

Like many other boys back in the early 80’s I’d tune in to watch Bodie, along with his colleague Ray Doyle, played by Martin Shaw, work together in fictional crime fighting unit CI5 to battle high-level corruption, foreign contract killers, criminal gangs and all manner of villains. Watching The Professionals was one of the high points of my childhood. No nonsense, full on action for 45 minutes of pure entertainment where the good guys always came out on top, even if only by their skin of their teeth. Then the next morning myself and other boys would re-enact what we’d watched the previous evening in the school playground - often to the disapproval and, no doubt, dismay, of certain teachers who’d inevitably have to separate us from one another.

Guided by their boss, George Cowley, played by the brilliant Gordon Jackson, Bodie and Doyle were the go-to guys to get things done when they needed to be done which made The Professionals pure childhood magic.

Coming back to the series 22 years later, and subsequently purchasing the full DVD box set, I found myself impressed with Lewis Collins in his role as William Bodie. Here was a man’s man; impeccably dressed, granite jawed, well muscled, not afraid to take action, good with his fists, humorous and possessing an ever-present sparkle in his eye for the ladies. A 100%, genuine alpha male 20+ years before the term became used.

I found myself transported back to the 80’s almost instantly and I loved every second of it. The more I watched the more I wanted to watch. Politically incorrect TV at its finest in an age when men could behave like men without fear of criticism or censure and Collins was perfect in that role.

This was an actor who had all the credentials; the walk, the talk, the look and the skills to pull it off.

Compared to fellow co-star, Martin Shaw, I felt Collins was consistently the better of the two; his dialogue and demeanour felt less contrived, more measured and better suited to the moment than Shaw’s. A very real alpha male who, if you were to meet in real life, you wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of.

It was therefore puzzling for me to learn that after the success of The Professionals Collins struggled to find acting work, most shockingly, given his credentials, being rejected as a potential Bond actor by Cubby Broccoli. Here was the perfect Bond, 23 years before Daniel Craig, and he was rejected?!! The mind boggles at how that could be. To think how well suited Collins was for that role, above all others, and it never materialised. A truly lost opportunity.

Despite never matching the success of his 80’s heyday Collins certainly appeared to have a life well lived. By all accounts he was an expert marksman/sharp shooter, a jujitsu black belt and karate expert, he passed the training for the territorial SAS but was rejected on the grounds he was too famous, had been part of the Merseyside music scene in the 1960’s (even managing to score a top 10 hit, Everything’s alright, with his group the Mojo’s) and ran a successful computer business in LA where he relocated to with his family in 1992.

And with all this to learn of his five year battle with cancer and subsequent death has been truly saddening. Wherever you are now Lewis I’d like to think you can look back at a life that was rich and full, that inspired millions of young boys and left you with many fans even years after we last saw you grace our TV screens.

Maybe you’re sat somewhere with the late Gordon Jackson imbibing on a Malt Whisky or two. Heaven knows you’ve earned it.

Here’s to you Bodie and thanks for the memories.

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