Tracking down evidence of John Tams on film is marginally easier than the theatre work. The list at the bottom of this page is the basic details, if anyone would like to mail me with information about exactly what form his contribution took I would be grateful! But we start with the thing most people have heard of...

Sharpe

There is a whole cult following for these TV films, set in Napoleonic times, starring Sean Bean as the eponymous hero. John Tams did some singing, wrote some music (with Dominic Muldowney, "a proper crotchet and quaver man") and storylines, and played the crack shot Rifleman Daniel Hagman..."I don't judge distances very well - I tend to be very careful with bayonets."

Now I'm a sucker for a "behind the scenes" movie and Jason Salkey (who played Rifleman Harris) has released the video diaries he shot during the making of the series. John Tams does appear, but almost more enlightening for me was the parallel between the actors' lifestyle and that of the soldiers they were portraying. They moan obsessively about the bad conditions. They fret over subtle or imagined favoritism. They lark around, they drink, they are bored, hot and dirty. Occasionally they spring into action! I found this film fascinating and enjoyable and the scenery is stunning too. For ordering details check out the Rifleman Harris website. Please mention this website if you do order!

But which came first, the part or the music? "Oh, the part. I was cast, yes. And then we were doing a night shoot and somebody says, 'does anybody know a song?' And I sang something he hadn't heard before... and he said, 'do you know any more?'" At this point the series was nearly shelved. However after reconvening with some new personnel, "the inheritance was that the new director had seen the footage and said 'Are you doing all the singing? Carry on, if you spot a moment chuck a song in.' And then at the end of the shoot, the producer said 'Do you want to write the music?' He thought I was cheap! I said no I can't, I'm completely sick and worn out, I want to go home to my wife and daughter. We ended up doing it with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra and I never really got home for six years." John Tams

If you want to know more try this Sharpe fansite. There is also the Sharpe Appreciation Society which rejoices in the glorious address of www.southessex.co.uk I haven't yet seen all the episodes, but I do own these four:

"Sharpe's Rifles"
In which we first meet Hagman and hear the immortal words "brown paper and paraffin oil is the only cure for a contrary leg."

"Sharpe's Battle"
The cast are getting into their stride now, with lots of swashbuckling action and interplay between the characters. Plenty of "Chosen Dan" moments too, and some inventive fiddle playing!

"Sharpe's Justice"
Set in Yorkshire and I suspect this could be JT's favourite because it's got some nice grim socialist issues. And almost a love scene for Hagman. Bless.

"Sharpe's Waterloo"
In which Hagman gets killed. Howls of outrage from the sofa.

"I kept shedding bits of me kit. I started off with a water bottle and a bayonet. But every time I jumped into a trench I landed on the bottle or the bayonet and I was getting quite bruised. I got rid of the bottle early on - I made sure it was in shot, there's a big explosion and you see the bottle go flying off, so after that Dan didn't have a bottle. And the bayonet had a twenty four inch blade plus the handle, it kept tripping me up, so I lost that too. We all had shakoes to start with, but I stamped on another lad's and we had a deal, he'd stamp on mine in the next battle. They had to make seven or eight for Sean, 'cos he kept losing them, he hated wearing them. He's got this long face and a tall hat... By the end of the series I was travelling quite light. I had a violin neck made specially, to stick out the top of the backpack, but it kept falling out." John Tams

Other TV and Film Work

Heartbeat
Tams returns to stalking across the moors in an army greatcoat, though this time hefting a metal detector rather than a Baker rifle. Playing a reclusive army major he thoroughly earned this promotion from the ranks before dying in suspicious circumstances halfway through the episode. Shame!

My Uncle Silas
Aired on ITV in January 2003. John Tams appeared briefly in the episode "Shandy Lil", playing melodeon with Alan Dunn on concertina and Roger Wilson on fiddle.

When Saturday Comes
This 1996 film starred Sean Bean and was mostly about football. John Tams is listed as "factory worker" but you will have to look hard. I think I've found him though, sitting with his back to the camera and laughing, "cutting it a bit fine!" as Sean runs through the factory gates at the last minute.

Travelling Man
A Granada TV production in the early 1990's. John Tams apparently sits in the corner of a pub, does an occasional info dump about canals, then disappears again.

The Rainbow
1989 film adaptation of the DH Lawrence novel. John Tams plays Uncle Frank.

The Raggedy Rawney
John Tams has a small part in this 1988 film and wrote some of the music. "Worth it," according to Cathy in Canada, "for the haying scene alone, and watching him trying to work out where to put those long legs." Having now seen it, all I can say is I hope that scythe wasn't sharp.

The Holy City
This was directed by Mysteries helmsman Bill Bryden and charts the later career of a modern Messiah listed only as "The Man" in an unemployment ravaged, snow strewn Glasgow. John Tams plays one of the disciples who handily enough is the lead singer in a band, whch means we are treated to some glorious shots of the Home Service; crammed onto a tiny stage in a smoky club, marching with a donkey (who JT remembers was called Loudon) down a street of bemused shoppers, and rousing some more shoppers with a rallying open air chorus of Walk My Way. In a company including Linda Thompson, Fulton McKay and Alexander Morton (later to play Golly in Monarch of the Glen) John strides grimly through the derelict shipyards, with the strains of "Sorrow" echoing off the tenement walls. Wonderful stuff.

Ill Fares the Land
Another 1985 Bill Bryden film set on the Hebridean island of St Kilda. The film is a dramatisation of real life events leading up to the evacuation of St Kilda in 1930. John Tams wrote the music but does not appear.

Sons and Lovers
1981 serial adaptation by Trevor Griffiths of DH Lawrence's novel. John Tams did the music, and for the theme tune arranged the traditional tune "My Bonny Boy", which also features as the introduction to the song Scarecrow on the Home Service album Alright Jack. He also appeared in the film as Mr Pappleworth, Paul Morel's supervisor at the surgical appliance factory, whom Lawrence describes as "a thin, sallow man"!

Here We Go A-Wassailing
A BBC documentary from about 1977, with music provided by the Albion Band and John Tams narrating. Parts of this were reproduced on the Albion Band album "Songs from the Shows".

also: A Question of Leadership, Clapperclaw, Assembled Memories, The Ruth Rendell Mysteries, God Speed Co-operation, Back to the Roots, A Little Night Music, Crimestrike, The Gifted Adult, You Don't have to Walk to Fly, Albion Market, Floodtide, No Further Cause for Concern, Investigation, The Fool, As You Like It, Six Characters in Search of an Author, Elidor