Simon John Cadell (19 July 1950 – 6 March 1996) was a classically trained English actor, best known for his portrayal of the well-meaning holiday camp manager Jeffrey Fairbrother in the first five series of the BBC situation comedy Hi-de-Hi!.

Early life

Cadell was born in London into a distinguished theatrical family. He was the son of theatrical agent John Cadell and the grandson of Scottish character actress Jean Cadell. His extended family included the artist Francis Cadell RSA (his great-uncle), actress Selina Cadell (his sister), commercials director Patrick Cadell (his brother), and actor Guy Siner (his cousin). Through his marriage, he became the son-in-law of television producer David Croft.

Cadell was educated at The Hall School in Hampstead and later at Bedales School in Petersfield, where his close friends included Gyles Brandreth, who remained a lifelong friend.

Career

Cadell was a member of the National Youth Theatre and appeared in its 1967 production of Zigger Zagger. He went on to train at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. His earliest successes came in theatre during the mid to late 1970s.

One of his first notable television appearances was in Simon Gray’s Play for Today dramas Plaintiffs and Defendants (1975) and its sequel Two Sundays, both opposite Alan Bates. In 1978 he provided the voice of Blackberry in the animated film adaptation of Watership Down, based on the novel by Richard Adams. He also appeared in the television series Enemy at the Door (1978–1980) and had a brief role as a television news reporter in the disaster film Meteor (1979).

Cadell achieved widespread recognition for his role as Jeffrey Fairbrother in Hi-de-Hi! (1980–1984). He later played the scheming civil servant Dundridge in the television adaptation of Tom Sharpe’s Blott on the Landscape (1985). His radio work included the role of the elven king Celeborn in the BBC Radio adaptation of The Lord of the Rings (1981).

Further television work included a starring role in the BBC sitcom Life Without George (1987–1989), which ran for three series, and appearances in Singles (1991), Minder, Bergerac, The Kenny Everett Television Show, and Roald Dahl’s Tales of the Unexpected (as the co-pilot in the episode “Hijack”). Cadell was also a prolific voice-over artist for television commercials and narrated the BBC children’s series Bump, about a young elephant and his companion Birdie.

Personal life

In 1986 Cadell married actress Rebecca Croft, the daughter of producer David Croft. The couple had two sons. During the 1980s, Cadell was a supporter of the Social Democratic Party.

Health and death

A heavy smoker—reportedly up to 80 cigarettes a day—Cadell suffered a near-fatal heart attack in January 1993 after giving a recital with Joanna Lumley at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London. He underwent triple heart bypass surgery and returned to the stage four months later. In September 1993, while being treated for pneumonia, he was diagnosed with lymphoma.

Simon Cadell died in London on 6 March 1996 at the age of 45.