Wycliffe star Jack Shepherd dies aged 85 after ‘short illness’

Wycliffe star Jack Shepherd, who played detective Charles Wycliffe in the ITV series, has died at the age of 85.

The English actor died following a ‘short illness’, his family said in a statement.

The Leeds star was best known as Cornish detective Wycliffe, in the drama which aired between 1993 and 1998.

Based on the novels by W J Burley and set against the magnificent and windswept Cornish coast, the detective series followed the extremely meticulous and whipsmart Detective Superintendent Wycliffe.

Cornwall faced a string of serious crimes, which Wycliffe and his investigative team took on, with colleagues DI Doug Kersey, played by Scottish actor Jimmy Yuill, and Helen Masters’ DI Lucy Lane.

A statement shared with PA said: ‘It is with great sadness we can confirm that the celebrated actor Jack Shepherd passed away yesterday at the age of 85.

‘He died peacefully in hospital after a short illness. His wife and family were with him.’

The statement from Shepherd’s agents Markham, Froggatt & Irwin went on to say they are ‘very proud and honoured to have been part of Jack’s illustrious career’.

The statement concluded: ‘His passing is a sad loss to us all. Jack is survived by his wife Ann Scott and children Jan, Jake, Victoria, Catherine and Ben.’

After attending school in Leeds, Shepherd won a scholarship to Newcastle University to study fine art. He later moved to London to study at The Central School for Speech and Drama.

In his twenties, he joined London’s Royal Court theatre, before his big TV break came in the 1970s, as rebellious Labour MP Bill Brand in the hit series Bill Brand on ITV.

The series, created by Trevor Griffiths, also earned Shepherd a best actor Bafta nomination in 1977.

Alongside TV, Shepherd also acted on stage at the National Theatre.

He directed The Two Gentlemen of Verona in 1996 at Shakespeare’s Globe, before the show went to Broadway.

Shepherd won multiple awards, including an Olivier award for the original production of Glengarry Glen Ross in 1983.

He also worked with director Bill Bryden on numerous theatre productions and was a playwright in his own right, as well as a saxophonist and jazz pianist.

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