BBC sit-com Bread cast unexpected career changes and huge film career
It's been 34 years since the Boswell family were last on our screens, but what are the cast of the hit 80s BBC show Bread up to now?
It's been over three decades since Bread transported us into the Boswell family's Liverpool home. The hugely popular series encapsulated the struggles of the 1980s, chronicling the varying fortunes of the family as they navigated life under the watchful gaze of matriarch Nellie Boswell.
First broadcast on May 1, 1986, the show's iconic ceramic hen from the opening credits and the theme tune sung by the cast became a beloved part of millions of viewers' evenings.
The show ran for eight series until 1991, creating numerous memorable moments, whether it was Liverpool legend Sonia making a guest appearance or the notorious holiday to Italy in the Christmas special. But what have the cast been up to in the 34 years since the show ended?
Jean Boht - Nellie Boswell
Jean Boht portrayed Nellie, the matriarch at the centre of the show who had to tolerate her family's sometimes eccentric schemes to earn a living. Beyond the show, she made appearances in all the classic BBC soaps including stints on Casualty, Doctors, Holby City and The Bill, reports the Liverpool Echo.
She also had a spell on stage, performing alongside Jeremy Irons in 2006's Embers. Jean passed away in September 2023 at the age of 91 following a battle with Alzheimer's disease.
She spent her final days at Denville Hall, a home for retired actors and members of the theatrical profession.
Ronald Forfar - Freddie Boswell
Ronald Forfar was known for his role as Nellie's troublesome husband Freddie, easily identifiable by his unkempt white hair and impressive moustache. His character was a constant thorn in the family's side due to his ongoing affair with Lilo Lill and his disregard for his family's antics.
Post-show, he turned to writing, penning 'A Wilderness of Monkeys', a narrative about life in theatre. Ronald sadly passed away at the age of 81 in October 2020.
Eileen Pollock - Lilo Lill
Lilo, the 'other woman' in the Boswell marriage, was one of the most memorable and iconic characters on the show.
After the series concluded, Eileen spent much of her time on stage, collaborating with various Northern Irish companies. She also had a brief Hollywood stint, featuring in the film adaptation of Frank McCourt's 'Angela's Ashes' in 1999 and sharing the screen with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman in 'Far and Away' as landlady Molly.
Eileen sadly died aged 73 in 2020.
Peter Howitt - Joey Boswell
Howitt portrayed the eldest of the Boswell boys but was replaced in the fifth series when Graham Bickley assumed the role of Joey.
Peter went on to enjoy significant success post-show, making a name for himself in Hollywood with films like 'Sliding Doors' and the 2012 thriller 'Reasonable Doubt', starring Dominic Cooper and Samuel L Jackson. However, he is perhaps best known for directing the original 'Johnny English' film, starring Rowan Atkinson.
He currently resides in Vancouver, Canada, with his wife and two children.
Nick Conway - Billy Boswell
Nick, the youngest of the brothers, portrayed the bumbling Billy Boswell, who seemed to struggle with even the simplest tasks, though not always due to his own shortcomings. He went on to feature in numerous classic soaps, including The Bill and Casualty, before securing the role of Gavin for a spell on Coronation Street.
Now 62, Nick has also dabbled in DJing and opened a theatre school, following his own experiences in theatre.
Victor McGuire - Jack Boswell
Post his stint as Jack Boswell in Bread, Victor has bagged significant roles across film and television, including appearances in Hollywood blockbusters such as Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and The Woman in Black. On the small screen, he's been seen in Sky 1's Trollied, Casualty, and more recently as Big Garth on Coronation Street.
