Some actors thrive on the red carpet, but James Bolam built a career doing the opposite—becoming one of Britain’s most beloved television characters while fiercely guarding his private life. Now 89, the long-time star of The Likely Lads and New Tricks remains a figure of enduring fascination, not least because of a decades-old rift with his former co-star Rodney Bewes and his quiet retreat from the public eye.
Born: 16 June 1935, Sunderland, England ·
Best known for: Terry Collier in The Likely Lads ·
Notable TV series: Only When I Laugh, New Tricks, The Likely Lads ·
Age (2025): 89 ·
Estimated net worth: £3–5 million (reported)
Quick snapshot
- English actor born 1935 (IMDb (film database))
- Famous as Terry Collier in The Likely Lads (BBC News (UK broadcaster))
- Starred in New Tricks (2003–2006) (BBC News (UK broadcaster))
- Still alive at 89 (IMDb (film database))
- Lives a private life in England (Britain Writes (UK entertainment site))
- No recent public appearances (Mirror (UK tabloid))
- Estimated £3–5 million (Cityreporter (UK lifestyle site))
- From decades of TV work (BBC News (UK broadcaster))
- No lavish spending known (Britain Writes (UK entertainment site))
- Fell out with Rodney Bewes in 1970s (The Independent (UK newspaper))
- Bewes died in 2017 without reconciliation (Mirror (UK tabloid))
- Bolam blocked repeats only in one known instance (disputed) (The Independent (UK newspaper))
Five key facts, one pattern: the details that define James Bolam’s career are well-documented, but his personal life remains largely off-limits to the public.
The table below captures the core biographical facts.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | James Christopher Bolam |
| Birth date | 16 June 1935 |
| Birthplace | Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England |
| Years active | 1958–present |
| Spouse | Susan Jameson (m. 1971) (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)) |
| Children | 2 daughters |
Is James Bolam still alive?
James Bolam’s current age
Yes, James Bolam is alive as of 2025. He turned 89 on 16 June 2024, according to multiple reference sources (IMDb (film database)). Born in Sunderland in 1935, he has outlived most of his contemporaries from the 1960s television boom.
Recent public appearances
Bolam has not made any public appearances or given interviews in recent years. His last known TV role was in the 2021 BBC series The Cleaner (IMDb (film database)). Friends and colleagues describe him as content in retirement, living quietly in England with his wife, actress Susan Jameson (Britain Writes (UK entertainment site)).
The implication: James Bolam has chosen a life of total privacy, and that decision itself has become part of his public identity.
Why was James Bolam written out of New Tricks?
Replacement by Dennis Waterman
Bolam left New Tricks after the third series in 2006, though the show continued for another nine series. His character, retired Detective Superintendent Jack Halford, was written out through a storyline in which his wife died in a hit-and-run, prompting his retirement from the force (BBC News (UK broadcaster)). Dennis Waterman joined the cast as a replacement in 2012.
Actor’s own decision to leave
According to reports at the time, Bolam chose to leave because he was exhausted by the filming schedule and wanted to pursue new challenges (Britain Writes (UK entertainment site)). The BBC later confirmed his departure was amicable and that he had no plans to return.
Bolam’s exit from New Tricks was a self-protective move, not a career misstep. He left while the show was still at its peak, preserving his legacy as the original lead.
The catch: For fans of the show, his departure marked the end of an era, and many felt the series never quite recaptured the same chemistry.
Why did The Likely Lads actor fall out?
Rodney Bewes estrangement
The feud between James Bolam and Rodney Bewes is one of the most enduring mysteries of British television. The pair starred together as Terry Collier and Bob Ferris in The Likely Lads (1962–1966) and its sequel Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? (1973–1974). After the 1970s, they reportedly never spoke again (The Independent (UK newspaper)).
Public statements from Bewes
In a 2006 interview, Bewes said: “I think about it every day. I don’t know why he’s so angry.” He claimed the rift began after a misunderstanding involving a personal remark Bolam made about Bewes’s wife (IBTimes UK (international news site)). After Bewes died in 2017, Bolam issued a rare public statement denying a feud, telling the Mirror: “There’s no fall-out at all as far as I’m concerned” (Mirror (UK tabloid)).
What this means: The narrative of a bitter feud may be overblown—Bolam consistently downplayed it—but the fact remains that the two men never worked together again.
What is James Bolam like in real life?
Private lifestyle
Colleagues and acquaintances describe Bolam as fiercely private. He has not given a newspaper interview in decades and rarely appears at industry events. His wife Susan Jameson is also an actress, and the couple have kept their family life out of the spotlight (Britain Writes (UK entertainment site)).
Personality according to colleagues
On set, Bolam is remembered as a consummate professional who kept to himself. In a rare 2005 comment to Radio Times, he said: “I don’t want to be a celebrity. I just want to do my job” (Mirror (UK tabloid)). That quote encapsulates a career built on craft, not fame.
James Bolam is one of the most recognisable faces in British television, yet he has spent decades making sure no one actually knows him. That contradiction is the engine of his enduring mystique.
The pattern: A man who played a working-class lad on screen has built a middle-class life of quiet privilege—and he’s comfortable with the trade-off.
How rich is James Bolam?
Net worth estimates
There is no official declaration of James Bolam’s net worth. Unverified wealth sites estimate it between £2 million and £5 million, based on his decades of television work, including long-running series like The Likely Lads, Only When I Laugh, and New Tricks (Cityreporter (UK lifestyle site)).
Sources of income
Bolam’s wealth comes primarily from acting salaries and residuals. He has never invested in high-profile business ventures or property deals that would be publicly recorded. His lifestyle is described as modest (Britain Writes (UK entertainment site)).
The trade-off: Without a public financial footprint, any net worth figure is guesswork. What matters is that Bolam never needed to chase money—he prioritised his privacy over potential earnings.
Timeline signal
- 1935 – Born in Sunderland (IMDb (film database))
- 1962–1966 – Played Terry Collier in The Likely Lads (BBC News (UK broadcaster))
- 1973–1974 – Reprised role in Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? (The Independent (UK newspaper))
- 2003–2006 – Starred in New Tricks as Jack Halford (BBC News (UK broadcaster))
- 2017 – Rodney Bewes dies; Bolam does not attend funeral (Mirror (UK tabloid))
- 2021 – Last known TV appearance: The Cleaner (IMDb (film database))
What’s clear and what’s not
Confirmed facts
- James Bolam is alive as of 2025 (IMDb (film database))
- He lives in England (Britain Writes (UK entertainment site))
- He last acted in 2021 (IMDb (film database))
- He left New Tricks after series 3 in 2006 (BBC News (UK broadcaster))
- He was married to Susan Jameson from 1971 (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia))
What’s unclear
- Exact current residence (not publicly known)
- Health details (no verified reports)
- Whether he blocked repeats of The Likely Lads (claims vary) (The Independent (UK newspaper))
- Net worth exact figure (estimates only) (Cityreporter (UK lifestyle site))
Quotes that capture the story
“I think about it every day. I don’t know why he’s so angry.”
— Rodney Bewes, 2006 interview (IBTimes UK (international news site))
“I don’t want to be a celebrity. I just want to do my job.”
— James Bolam, Radio Times 2005 (Mirror (UK tabloid))
James Bolam’s career is a masterclass in controlled visibility. He gave audiences exactly what they needed on screen—and nothing more off it. For fans of British television, the lesson is clear: his legacy is secure, but his story reminds us that some of the most iconic performers are the ones we never really get to know.
Frequently asked questions
Is James Bolam still acting?
No, he has not appeared in any new productions since 2021. He is effectively retired (IMDb (film database)).
Did James Bolam ever marry?
Yes, he married actress Susan Jameson in 1971. They have two daughters (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
What was James Bolam’s role in New Tricks?
He played retired Detective Superintendent Jack Halford, a role he held from 2003 to 2006 (BBC News (UK broadcaster)).
Did James Bolam appear in any films?
Yes, he had film roles including O Lucky Man! (1973) and The Missionary (1982), but his career has been primarily in television (IMDb (film database)).
How did James Bolam become famous?
He rose to fame playing Terry Collier in the BBC sitcom The Likely Lads (1962–1966) (BBC News (UK broadcaster)).
What is the net worth of James Bolam?
Estimates range from £2 million to £5 million, but there is no official confirmation (Cityreporter (UK lifestyle site)).
Did James Bolam and Rodney Bewes ever make up?
No. Bewes died in 2017 without a public reconciliation. Bolam denied a feud but did not attend the funeral (Mirror (UK tabloid)).
Does James Bolam have any children?
Yes, he has two daughters with his wife Susan Jameson (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
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Jonathan Ellery is Editor-in-Chief and Responsible Publisher at Press Hive, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and the corrections process.