So sad that Anthony Head has died. Of course for most of us, he’s either Giles from Buffy (a great excuse to rewatch that show again!) or the enraging ex-husband in Ted Lasso (similar story!). But he had a huge and varied career and I really loved him in a few more things.

• Cabin Pressure. I think the character of Herc was only supposed to be a brief visitor to the John Finnemore radio sitcom, but ended up playing quite a big role in later episodes. He was the one quote I picked when bidding farewell to that show, too.
• Merlin. I loved Merlin in its first couple of series. It definitely went off the boil and ended in annoying fashion. But the first few were fresh and interesting, and Head was great as the grumpy and damaged King Uther.
• Doctor Who. Hard to shift the image of that demonic headmaster in Head’s episode School Reunion.
• I didn’t realise this until becoming obsessed with Jonathan Creek more recently, but Head played the comedic role of self-obsessed magician Adam Klaus in the pilot. Head then landed the role of Giles and wasn’t available to get involved in with the full series later, so the role was recast, but I do think he would have been great at it.
• So many other smaller roles. The long lost dad in The Split. One of the husbands in Motherland. And although it’s not aged well and better forgotten at this point, the prime minister in Little Britain. Such variety and so charming and captivating in all of them… even when he’s being a baddie.

To finish with one of Giles’ best quotes:

I encourage you to always challenge me when you feel it’s appropriate - you should never be cowed by authority. Except, of course, in this instance, when I am clearly right and you are clearly wrong.