This is one of those MCMs brought about by me realizing, hey, that’s Arthur Dent in Brideshead Revisited! And then I hit IMDB and see that my favorite survivor of Earth’s demolition to make way for a hyperspace express route has had a few key roles in recent frock flicks as well. He studied at Cambridge where, through the Footlights Dramatic Club, he met Douglas Adams, who would later write Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. And through Adams, Jones became connected to various Monty Python members and was cast in their TV and film projects. That’s also how Simon Jones met his wife Nancy Lewis, when he had a role in The Meaning of Life (1983). Lewis was Monty Python’s U.S. manager at the time. While Simon Jones has done a lot of theater and voiceover work since then, he pops up in historical dramas just enough to justify this wee review.
Mr. Thornbury in Victorian Scandals (1976)
Arthur Dent in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (1981)
Lord Brideshead ‘Bridey’ in Brideshead Revisited (1981)
Sergeant Eric Young-Love in Privates on Parade (1983)
Sir Walter Raleigh in Blackadder II (1986)
Anderson in American Friends (1991)
C.S. Lewis in The Question of God: Sigmund Freud & C.S. Lewis (2004)
King George V in Downton Abbey: The Movie (2019)
Bannister in The Gilded Age (2022-)
Have you noticed Simon Jones in historical costume roles? What’s your fave?
He’s a hoopy frood! :)
But does he know where his towel is?
Such a gorgeous British face, in youth and old age. He and his wife were friends with some of my family; my mother used to tell me how sweet that Simon Jones was.
I just recently watched Brideshead Revisted for the first time- quite enjoyed it!- and when Simon Jones first came on the screen I recognized him from somewhere, but it took me a bit to place him: He was in the 90’s version of Miracle on 34th Street as the mom’s boss and the guy who takes them to the “catalogue house” at the end. Small part but I remembered him distinctly! He’s great!
Julian Fellowes demoted him – from King to Butler.
THE Arthur Dent – I believe on the radio play as well.
He looks totally different from his youth thru mature years. It’s time for a Brideshead re-watch. Thanks for this MCM.