http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSApN1vxrZs&feature=related

(The comments on that page make for interesting reading as well,unless its degenerated into the usual youtube insult throwing after i've posted this that is!)

Blimey, you know your Steptoe don't you If i have any Steptoe questions i'll know where to go!

No, no jest intended.

I've always had a facination with those two actors, they both seem so sad.

no, i meant more along the lines that they never seemed fulfilled, Athough he did fine stuff, Harrys career could have been (for want of a better word) bigger and Wilfred had his personal problems, such as his arrest.
I suppose also it does get hard to seperate the characters from the actors. after all, the Steptoe's were both tragi-comic.

EDIT, i was just reading on your site PhilGlass that Wilfred Brambell was considered for the part of Grandad in OFAH! WOW! Just imagine if that had happened!

Gomez -

It's nice to see someone else who knows of the Picassos Aventyr performance.  He and Bernard Cribbins create a fantastic double act.  

As for Harry being the one causing the problems - yes, this is how it is reported, however, we have a lot of evidence to the contrary. In 1974 it was Harry who begged his producer to let Wilfrid join him onstage for the Cinderella Pantomime, and it was Harry who set in motion the Steptoe stage show when a producer friend of his suggested it.  I don't see why he would turn down other movie roles just to work with someone he hated...  it doesn't make sense.

They were just two people who worked together.  There is no evidence of Harry being uncomfortable with Wilfrid's homosexuality.  Harry seemed frustrated that he was seen as Harold in everything else he did, but part of that was his own fault.  Those who have seen POTTER, the Arthur Low sitcom will see that in series 1 the character of Harry Tooms was played by Sydney Tafler.  Tafler plays him like a proper gangster.  In series 2 when Harry takes over the role, he intantly makes him Harold Steptoe.  Harry made the grave mistake with Steptoe of using his real voice.  Wilfrid used a different voice, allowing him to be almost unrecognisable in other roles.  Where as Harry wanted the lead roles,  Wilfrid was happy with guest appearances, on a pro rate basis often being paid more than the lead star.

As I say in the article, any evidenc epeople can provide would be welcome as I have endless amounts proving the opposite.  Alas, they can never provide it.