Welcome to episode 25 of The Minder Podcast in association with minder.org.
This time we feature an exclusive interview with Kevork Malikyan, the very recognisable face of a variety of starring side roles, from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade to Midnight Express. Let’s not forget Mind Your Language and The Professionals. From his very first role on screen in 1968’s Portrait of a Lady, Kevork has starred alongside acting greats, in that series he appeared with Edward Fox and Kathleen Byron.
Here we are mainly concerned with Aces High and Sometimes Very Low with also a shorter appearance in The Immaculate Contraption from series 10. In fact, as I tell Kevork, I am fairly sure he is the only actor who appeared in both series 1 and 10, certainly in a featured role.
This might be one of the most recollections of any guest so far, especially as we are talking 1979. As you will know if you listened to my top 10 Minder episodes, Aces High is one of my favourite episodes and if it weren’t for having the other Anthony Valentine episode ranked I would have placed it in the top ten. I am sure it is an episode many of you rate highly and if so, you will love this interview.
All sorts of interesting information comes up in this episode.
Were the actors playing cards for real?
How similar was Anthony Valentine to Maurice Michaelson?
Why was Dennis Waterman so lovely and yet very mean and hard?
And then there is the time during The Professionals where Kevork fell out of the back of the van. We also talk about the varied types of culture that existed both in 1979 right up to today.
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We also mention Kevork’s son, Sevan who is an artist. His site can be found here.
Wow, Kevork seems like a really nice guy, and very articulate considering English isn’t his first language. I never tire of watching ‘Aces High’, it’s an almost perfect Minder episode. Guilty of stereotyping? Maybe, but in an affectionate rather than malicious way, and after all, Maurice is shown to be just as big a cheat as the Greeks. Sadly it would probably be considered racist today; thank goodness Minder was made when it was, at a time when writers had more creative and artistic freedom than they do now.
PS. Two other actors also appeared in both series 1&10; Kenneth Cope in the wonderful ‘Bury My Half At Waltham Green’, and ‘Bring Me The Head Of Arthur Daley’; and Tony Steedman in ‘The Bounty Hunter’, and ‘A Fridge Too Far’.
Thanks for your comments Chris and for pointing out the other two actors appearing in both series – great stat! Cheers, Paul.
Another great ep and Kevork does seem like a very nice chap, unlike his 2 Minder characters. Would have been great to hear a litte more about Barry Evans and Mind your Language, another great show that Kevork was good in and a comedy for a change, but I am glad he still remembers so fondly falling out of the van in the Professionals, I watch that ep often and always see him doing that at that point, despite the actual finished edit not showing that part. I still have the It’ll be alright on the night clip on VHS somewhere 🙂 Great work again Paul..