---
name: "Brian Wilde"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/brian-wilde"
fi1m_id: "brian-wilde"
imdb_id: "nm0928415"
tmdb_id: 49998
wikidata_id: "Q3397288"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "13 June 1927"
died: "20 March 2008"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 81
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-10-07T10:14:28.672750+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Brian Wilde

## Identity

Brian Wilde

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/brian-wilde
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** brian-wilde
- **IMDb ID:** nm0928415
- **TMDB ID:** 49998
- **Wikidata ID:** Q3397288
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Wilde, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3397288, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0928415/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/49998

Actor. Born 13 June 1927 in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, England, UK. Died 20 March 2008.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 13 June 1927, Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, England, UK
- **Died:** 20 March 2008
- **Active:** 1965–1975
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 4: 3 acting, 1 other
- **Frequently works with:** [Sydney Lotterby](https://film.one/person/sydney-lotterby.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 81, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 66 (2), 1970s 86 (2)
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 2, Action & Adventure 1, Comedy 1, Crime 1, Romance 1
- **Screen time:** 2 hours of reviewed films
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Wilde, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3397288, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0928415/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/49998

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*The Sweeney*](https://film.one/tv/the-sweeney.md) (84)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*Darling*](https://film.one/film/darling.md) (70)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Brian Wilde

> Brian Wilde was at his best when authority made a man uncomfortable. His precise delivery and weary manner gave *Porridge* a warder we could believe in, even when he was willing to believe almost anything.

Mr Barrowclough is almost grateful when Fletcher offers a plausible explanation in *Porridge* (1974). Brian Wilde makes that willingness to be persuaded funny without making the warder seem worthless. He is a useful opponent for Ronnie Barker precisely because he would rather not have a contest. We felt fond of Barrowclough because Wilde makes his gullibility seem to come from a wish to think well of people.

His early film work includes Rand Hobart, a hypnotised farmer, in *Night of the Demon* (1957). The regular comic roles came with the depot manager known as Bloody Delilah in *The Dustbinmen* (1970). The shift towards television comedy suited an actor whose precise delivery could keep complicated dialogue clear. National prominence followed with *Porridge*, where that precision has a particularly useful partner in Barker.

Fulton Mackay makes Mr Mackay vigilant whenever Fletcher speaks; Wilde lets Barrowclough seem ready to accept an answer. Barker therefore has two different men to contend with, rather than the same obstacle twice. Wilde's restraint matters here: if he pushed the foolishness harder, Barrowclough would be difficult to credit as a working prison officer. The warders' battles with Fletcher can become predictable, but the contrast between Mackay and Wilde keeps those exchanges worth watching.

He joined *Last of the Summer Wine* as Foggy in 1976, working alongside Bill Owen and Peter Sallis in Roy Clarke's comedy. Foggy, an ex-army corporal, drew on the pompous side of his comedy. Wilde's ability to make such men credible was valuable here too, though the recurring middle-class comic types could become familiar.

That familiarity is a limitation, but it need not be a reason to dismiss an actor who understood the value of not pressing every joke. In *Porridge*, Wilde gives Barker room and gives Barrowclough enough dignity to survive being fooled. Start there, and watch how much depends on the man who would prefer everyone to behave reasonably.

## Biography

Brian Wilde was an English actor. Born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, he trained at RADA and began his career in the 1950s with roles in films including *Night of the Demon* (1957). He appeared in numerous television series and films over four decades.

Wilde is best known for his television comedy roles as the mild-mannered prison officer Mr Barrowclough in *Porridge* (1974–1977) and as Foggy Dewhurst in *Last of the Summer Wine* (1976–1997). He was married to actress Eva Stuart.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

### Performed in (3) — the average rests on these

- *The Sweeney* (1975), Fi1m 84, as Stanley Hedges — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-sweeney.md)
- *Porridge* (1974), Fi1m 89, as Mr. Barrowclough — [page](https://film.one/tv/porridge.md)
- *Darling* (1965), Fi1m 70, as Basil Willett — [page](https://film.one/film/darling.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *You Only Live Twice* (1967), Fi1m 62, as 1st Policeman (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/you-only-live-twice.md)

## Complete filmography (93)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Comedy Classics: Porridge* (2022), as (archive footage)
- *Wyatt's Watchdogs* (1988), series, as Major Wyatt
- *Children's Favourites - Volume 1* (1988), as (voice)
- *Alias the Jester* (1985), series, as Meredith
- *Royal Variety Performance 1984* (1984), as Foggy
- *The Kit Curran Radio Show* (1984), series, as Roland Simpson
- *Last of the Summer Wine: Getting Sam Home* (1983), as Foggy Dewhurst
- *The Funny Side of Christmas* (1982), as Foggy
- *The Kids International Show* (1982), series, as Foggy
- *Agatha Christie's Seven Dials Mystery* (1981), as Tredwell
- *The Best of the Adventures* (1981), as Harold (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *Porridge* (1979), as Mr. Barrowclough
- *Last of the Summer Wine Christmas Specials 1978-1982* (1978), as Foggy
- *Wuthering Heights* (1978), series, as Joseph
- *Play Safe* (1978), as Owl (voice)
- *Porridge: The Desperate Hours* (1976), as Mr. Barrowclough
- *Nobody's House* (1976), series, as Mr Kettner
- *Adventures of a Taxi Driver* (1976), as Harold
- *The Ghosts of Motley Hall* (1976), series, as Stamford Hives
- *To the Devil a Daughter* (1976), as Black Room Attendant
- *Our Mutual Friend* (1976), series, as Night Inspector
- *Porridge: No Way Out* (1975), as Mr. Barrowclough
- *Shadows* (1975), series, as Sliggs
- *Alfie Darling* (1975), as Doctor
- *The Sweeney* (1975), series, as Stanley Hedges — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-sweeney.md)
- *Porridge* (1974), series, as Mr. Barrowclough — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/tv/porridge.md)
- *Secrets* (1973), as Major Forster
- *Black and Blue* (1973), series, as Major Forster
- *No Sex Please - We're British* (1973), as Policeman
- *Seven of One* (1973), series, as Mr Barrowclough
- *Last of the Summer Wine* (1973), series, as Foggy
- *Crown Court* (1972), series, as Mr. Appleby
- *The Bristol Entertainment* (1971), as Captain Mercer / Judge Jefferies
- *Justice* (1971), series, as Latimer, Prison Doctor
- *Trial* (1971), series, Actor
- *The Uninvited* (1971), as Donald Ramsay
- *One Brief Summer* (1971), Actor
- *Elizabeth R* (1971), series, as Richard Topcliffe
- *The Piano* (1971), as Ted
- *Play for Today* (1970), series, as Tod
- *Goodbye Gemini* (1970), as Taxi Driver
- *Ace of Wands* (1970), series, as Mr. Peacock
- *Connecting Rooms* (1970), as Ellerman
- *Catweazle* (1970), series, as Mr. Potts - The Vicar
- *Doomwatch* (1970), series, as Prof. Fairbairn
- *The Dustbinmen* (1969), series, as Bloody Delilah
- *Carry On Doctor* (1967), as Man from Cox & Carter
- *You Only Live Twice* (1967), as 1st Policeman (uncredited) — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/you-only-live-twice.md)
- *The Jokers* (1967), as Sgt. Catchpole
- *Girl in a Black Bikini* (1967), series, as Edward Mitchell
- *Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment* (1966), as Mr. Gilbert (uncredited)
- *Rasputin: The Mad Monk* (1966), as Vassily's Father (uncredited)
- *The Mask of Janus* (1965), series, as Dermot Brewer
- *Thirty-Minute Theatre* (1965), series, as Mr Shater, Shyster
- *Darling* (1965), as Basil Willett — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/darling.md)
- *The Troubleshooters* (1965), series, as Hodges
- *The Man in Room 17* (1965), series, as George Horton, Dr. Boddington
- *A Man Called Harry Brent* (1965), series, as Harold Tolly
- *Rattle of a Simple Man* (1964), as Fred
- *Redcap* (1964), series, as Graham
- *Theatre 625* (1964), series, as Reverend James
- *Melissa* (1964), series, Actor
- *The Bargee* (1964), as Policeman
- *The Protectors* (1964), series, as Happy Dyer
- *It's Dark Outside* (1964), series, as Hosea Pitt
- *The Man Who Finally Died* (1963), as Cemetery Superintendent
- *The Informers* (1963), as Lipson
- *Friday Night* (1963), series, as Tommy, Announcer
- *West 11* (1963), as Speaker
- *We Joined the Navy* (1963), as Petty Officer Gilors
- *On the Run* (1963), as Chief Warder
- *Life for Ruth* (1962), as Newspaper Photographer
- *Z-Cars* (1962), series, Actor
- *The Avengers* (1961), series, as Raven — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-avengers-1961.md)
- *Coronation Street* (1960), series, as Sam Ross — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/coronation-street.md)
- *Sunday-Night Play* (1960), series, as David Eccles
- *Beyond the Curtain* (1960), as Bill Seddon
- *The Men From Room 13* (1959), series, Actor
- *The Square Peg* (1958), as New Recruit (uncredited)
- *Girls at Sea* (1958), as Bill
- *Night of the Demon* (1957), as Rand Hobart
- *Interpol* (1957), as Monk
- *Tiger in the Smoke* (1956), as Trumps
- *Now and Forever* (1956), as Policeman (uncredited)
- *Armchair Theatre* (1956), series, as Simon Trask, Ransom
- *Simon and Laura* (1955), as Peter Harbottle
- *The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel* (1955), series, as Sir Thomas Landers
- *Lilli Palmer Theatre* (1955), series, as George Colb, Judge
- *Dixon of Dock Green* (1955), series, as Clayton, Henry Brandon
- *Forbidden Cargo* (1954), as Smuggler at Airfield
- *Will Any Gentleman...?* (1953), as Clerk
- *Street Corner* (1953), as Pinky - Bogus Detective Sergeant
- *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Sir John Reith

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/brian-wilde