Bernard Hill’s touching response to getting offered a role in the BBC Drama The Responder has been revealed after the legendary actor died at the age of 79.
The Manchester-born actor, who starred in Titanic and Lord Of The Rings, passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning, his agent has said.
His death came just hours before his final performance aired on TV that night in Martin Freeman’s BBC One drama The Responder.
Viewers tuned in to the first episode of the second series of the crime drama, which stars Martin as Chris Carson, a police response officer struggling to keep a grip on his mental health.
As a new addition to series two, Bernard plays Tom, who is the estranged father of Freeman’s character Chris.
Revealed: Bernard Hill’s touching seven-word response after being offered role in BBC drama The Responder as legendary actor dies aged 79
Tony Schumacher, the writer of The Responder, has spoken about Bernard Hill’s career – specifically how happy he was to get the actor in his show
Shortly after the sad news of the actor’s death was announced, BBC Breakfast presenter Roger Johnson (@RogerJ_01) took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a clip that the morning programme had aired that day about The Responder.
He penned: ‘Sad irony we ran a VT on @BBCBreakfast this morning which I did this week previewing The Responder tonight. Writer @tonyshoey was so proud to get Bernard Hill in the show.’
The video featured Tony Schumacher, the writer of The Responder, talking about Bernard’s career – specifically how happy he was to get the actor in his show.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, he said: ‘Out of all the great things that have happened in my career recently, bringing Bernard Hill back to Liverpool to be in the show is just…he loves this city so much.’
Bernard famously played the out-of-work Scouser Yosser Hughes in Alan Bleasdale’s Boys From The Blackstuff in 1982.
Meanwhile, Tony also shared Hill’s response to getting offered a role on the popular crime drama, which has touched the hearts of many.
He said that when the team got in touch, the actor simply responded: ‘I’d love to come back to Liverpool.’
The short clip has already racked up more than 5,000 views, with fans rushing to praise the actor and express their sadness:
‘I watched that and then heard the sad news and was all confused.’
Tony Schumacher, writer of The Responder said that when the team got in touch, the actor simply responded: ‘I’d love to come back to Liverpool’
The short clip has already racked up more than 5,000 views, with fans rushing to praise the actor and express their sadness
The thespian returned to our screens tonight in the Martin Freeman drama The Responder. Pictured: Hill (left) on set with Freeman (right) during filming for the BBC programme
‘Thought about Boys from the Blackstuff this morning after watching your piece and remembering the huge impact it had at the time (esp Yosser Hughes). So sad hearing about Bernard Hill later on today.’
‘He was a fantastic actor R.I.P #BernardHill.’
‘Yes I watched that this morning, so sad to hear he had died this afternoon.’
‘Pleased Bernard got that job. His last #Hoorah ‘Giz a Job, I can do that’, and he did.’
The video snippet touched on how the father-of-one first became familiar to many in the UK for his emotive and bold performance in Boys From The Blackstuff, a role that also brought him to the attention of Hollywood.
His character was a man left struggling to do the right thing after becoming unemployed and coined the phrase ‘gizza job’ – meaning ‘give us a job’ – became a common refrain among protesters in Thatcherite Britain.
Later, he was cast as Captain Edward Smith in James Cameron’s gargantuan film, Titanic.
The 1997 movie saw him play the captain of the famous vessel on what would be its maiden and only voyage across the Atlantic, before going down with the ship after it hit an iceberg.
Bernard rose to fame for his performance as Yosser Hughes in the 1982 BBC drama Boys from the Blackstuff
The actor also portrayed Captain Edward Smith in the 1997 Oscar-winning film Titanic (pictured)
Bernard, pictured as King Theoden, won plaudits for his portrayal of the ageing monarch trying to protect his people from the forces of evil
It marked the start of a late career renaissance for Hill, who was then chosen by Peter Jackson in the role of King Theoden in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
The actor was praised for his portrayal of the embattled King of Rohan who valiantly fights to save his people from the forces of evil.
Tributes have been paid to the thespian, with praise for his ‘incredible talent’ and a career that saw him ‘blaze a rail across the screen’.
Following the first episode of season two of The Responder last night, emotional viewers took to X, writing: ‘Poignant seeing Bernard Hill in the Responder on BBC1 on the day he passed away’: ‘RIP wonderful Bernard Hill, tears welling as always with this powerful performance’.
‘Unexpectedly I find myself watching Bernard Hill on The Responder tonight on the telly box. What superb timing! Hat’s off to you sir, you were one of the best RIP’: Awe, watching The Responder and knowing Bernard Hill is in it RIP’.
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, said: ‘Bernard Hill blazed a trail across the screen, and his long-lasting career filled with iconic and remarkable roles is a testament to his incredible talent.
‘From Boys from the Blackstuff, to Wolf Hall, The Responder, and many more, we feel truly honoured to have worked with Bernard at the BBC. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this sad time.’
