Bill Kenwright | Coronation Street Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Share Ad blocker interference detected! Wikia is a free-to-use site that makes money from advertising. We have a modified experience for viewers using ad blockers Wikia is not accessible if you’ve made further modifications. Remove the custom ad blocker rule(s) and the page will load as expected. Bill Kenwright CBE (born 4th September , 1945 in Liverpool ) is a British actor and theatrical producer who played Gordon Clegg on Coronation Street from 1968 to 1969 , and then intermittently until 1995 . The part was taken over by Geoffrey Leesley for guest appearances in 2002 and 2004 before Bill reprised the role for the episodes following the death of Gordon's mother Betty in 2012 . Prior to his casting on the Street, Bill was a contemporary of Paul McCartney's in school and became a part-time drama student at the Liverpool Playhouse. At the age of 17 he was invited to join the National Youth Theatre's tour of Europe followed by a short season in the West End.

A year later he was awarded a place to read English Literature at Manchester University but immediately upon arrival made his way to Granada 's Quay Street studios and asked for work. To his amazement he was taken on to appear in The Villains and then appeared in Strike Pay and First Timers before Coronation Street. He went on to appear in the 1972 film Carry on Matron and an episode of The Liver Birds the same year. Bill gave up full-time acting in the mid 1970s to become a highly successful theatrical producer, his biggest hits being West End production Blood Brothers and a national tour of Joseph and the Amazing Techincolour Dreamcoat. He had a minor stint as a recording artist in the late 1960s , and now owns his own record label. Bill staged a successful takeover of Everton Football Club in 1999 , and became the chairman in 2004 . Bill Kenwright : definition of Bill Kenwright and synonyms of Bill Kenwright (English) Bill Kenwright CBE (born 4 September 1945, in Liverpool , Merseyside , England ) is a leading West End theatre producer and film producer .

He is also the Chairman of Everton Football Club , an English professional football club from the city of Liverpool . He attended Booker Avenue County Primary School, and then Liverpool Institute High School from 1957 to 1964 and appeared in school productions (including Shylock in The Merchant of Venice ) on the stage in the Mount St. building (predecessor to LIPA ). He was also treasurer of the Christian Union at school. In 2007 Kenwright was a judge in the BBC1 television series " Any Dream Will Do ." Contents 9 External links Theatre Kenwright is one of the UK 's most successful theatre producers , best known for the long-running West End hit Blood Brothers and the record breaking tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat . Other recent productions have included West End runs of Whistle Down The Wind at the Palace Theatre , Festen in London, on a UK tour and now on Broadway, The Big Life , Elmina's Kitchen , Scrooge - The Musical, The Night Of The Iguana , A Few Good Men , A Man For All Seasons alongside UK tours of Jesus Christ Superstar , Tommy , Whistle Down The Wind , Tell Me On A Sunday , and This Is Elvis.

He produced the London revival of Cabaret at the Lyric Theatre in September 2006, starring Anna Maxwell Martin , James Dreyfus and Sheila Hancock . He has helped start the careers of many current West End theatre producers , including Mark Rubinstein and Marc Sinden . [1] It has been estimated that he employs more actors in a year than the BBC. [2] He also directs many productions, including Blood Brothers, Whistle Down the Wind and more recently, was asked by Andrew Lloyd Webber to make changes to the direction of Love Never Dies . Current and recent productions include: Blood Brothers - Phoenix Theatre , London and on UK National Tour, starring Helen Hobson and Steven Houghton 1991 Stepping Out (executive producer) Music Bill Kenwright has his own record label (Bill Kenwright Records), which has released three albums as of February 2008. The London Palladium cast recording of Scrooge starring Tommy Steele and the 2006 Lyric Theatre Recording of Cabaret were joined in February 2008 by the debut album of Kenwright's new boy group Dream On.

Dream On, comprising five runners up from the BBC's Any Dream Will Do - Craig Chalmers, Lewis Bradley , Chris Crosby, Chris Barton and Antony Hansen was formed in January 2008. He began his music career in a band known as The Chevrolets'.

[3] Perhaps less known is Bill's recording career both solo and with a group Bill Kenwright and the Runaways: "I want to go back there again"/"Walk through dreams" Columbia DB8239 (August 1967) [4] and solo, as Bill Kenwright: "Love's Black & White"/"Giving Up" MGM 1430 (July 1968) "Tiggy"/"House That Fell On Its Face" MGM 1463 (November 1968) "Baby I could be so good at loving"/"Boy & A Girl" MGM 1478 (January 1969) "Sugar Man"/"Epitaph"/"When Times Were Good" Fontana TF 1065 (October 1969) In 1969 Bill tried his hand at record production, producing 2 singles for Manchester band 'Money', who also worked as his backing band for several cabaret gigs in Oldham and at 'Allinsons' Liverpool.

[5] The first record, Come Laughing Home, was the title music for Bill's first foray into Theatrical Production with Reginald Marsh (also a Coronation Street Star) as co-producer. The show starred Anne Reid who at the time was playing Valerie Barlow in Coronation Street. It was the first time a Coronation Street star worked in live theatre whilst still in the series. The show opened at Blackpool's Grand Theatre. Surprisingly, the single was also released in Argentina. Actor As a young man he became an actor . His early successes included a role in Coronation Street , as Gordon Clegg who was introduced in April 1968. Kenwright left the show after a year to pursue his producing career in March 1969, although he did return to the show on occasion throughout the 1970s for guest appearances. He made brief stints in other shows, such as The Villains and The Liver Birds and in Carry On films . Everton Football Club Bill Kenwright is the current chairman of his boyhood team Everton Football Club, where he used to watch them in the "boys pen" section of Goodison Park . He succeeded Littlewoods director Philip Carter in the role.

Kenwright has been on the Everton board since 1989 and became the second largest shareholder in 1999 when Peter Johnson sold his shareholding in the club after the Football Association told to him sell his interests in either Tranmere Rovers or Everton as he was breaking the FA's rules. [6] He became the largest stakeholder in the club in 2004. Scottish international forward Andy Gray reported in his autobiography that the Everton board were ready to offer Gray the job as manager in August 1997, but Bill Kenwright, then director, had wanted to appoint Howard Kendall as manager for a third time. [7] Gray would decide not to become Everton manager and Kendall was appointed. 1994 buyout proposal Kenwright became involved in a consortium to buy Everton in 1994, as his consortium rivalled Birkenhead -based Peter Johnson. Kenwright's consortium had assurances from the Everton owner's family head Lady Grantchester that the Moores family would sell their stake in the club. Kenwright's proposal was dismissed as "The Manchester Consortium" in the Liverpool Echo , [6] as the rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester was enough to deter supporter's support.

Kenwright's consortium included Manchester based Tom Cannon , Tony Tighe (who later went on to create The Everton Collection ) and Mike Dyble whilst building magnate Arthur Abercromby was Cheshire based. [6] Abercromby offered a £2million interest free loan to the club for purchase of players. [8] Kenwright, who had been a director at Everton for ten years, had an opportunity to sway the board members to accept his bid but chose not to because he did not want a public relations battle with the more affluent Johnson. Tighe, in an interview with a journalist David Conn , said: "Bill didn't want a public row, that's why he didn't go to press much. He wanted the board to be unanimous. As he saw it, he didn't want Everton's name to be dragged through controversy." [6] Peter Johnson's bid was accepted by the Everton board. In a bizarre twist, Johnson installed Kenwright as vice-chairman and Sir Philip Carter was re-instated as Chairman. 1999 buyout proposal and True Blue Holdings Kenwright's consortium bought 68% of Everton F.C. from Peter Johnson for £20 million in 1999.

A holding company called True Blue (Holdings) Ltd was formed in January 2000. The stakeholders in True Blue Holdings included Paul Gregg , Jimmy Mulville , Jon Woods and Willy Russell before it was dissolved in 2004. [6] Mihir Bose reported that Anita Gregg lent up to £7million to Bill Kenwright. [9] Upon completion of the deal, Kenwright said: "Acquiring Peter Johnson's shares is only the first step to restoring a great club to where it belongs - to where it should be. If you are going to run a successful football club you need two qualities: you need to be realistic and you need a plan. I'm realistic and I have a plan." [10] Kenwright later said: "We should have had £42m not £22m. We bought and the money went into someone’s pocket. It didn’t go into the Club so we had no safety valve, we had no cushion." [11] One of the first major hurdles facing Bill Kenwright was enticing a media company to invest in the club.

At the time, media companies NTL (Aston Villa, Newcastle United) and Granada (Liverpool) were purchasing large stakes in Premier League football clubs. NTL subsidiary PremiumTV were close to purchasing shares Everton but it never materialised. Kenwright said: "We were close to doing a media deal with NTL when NTL went bust, out of business in that particular area of its activities. It was literally on the day that we were accepting a cheque for over £30m. Literally on the day. That was the very final major deal, not to be completed in this case, but after that there was no other major deal so we were in the...whatever." [11] Everton had purchased several high profile players based on the expectancy of the deal to be completed, including Alessandro Pistone , Niclas Alexandersson , Steve Watson and the returning Duncan Ferguson . Chairman Sir Philip Carter wrote to shareholders stating: "It should be remembered that a net £10m was spent last season on strengthening the squad in anticipation of our concluding a lucrative media deal which unfortunately was aborted by the media group within hours of the anticipated signing." [12] Francis Jeffers and Michael Ball were sold to appease the banks.

[12] Everton sacked former Rangers manager Walter Smith after poor league performance in March 2002 and appointed Preston North End manager David Moyes , following Smith's recommendation. [13] In 2003, he attempted to relocate Everton to the Kings Dock on the riverside but after a public feud with director Paul Gregg over the proposal's finances and sale of Wayne Rooney , the move fell through. Gregg had wanted to keep Rooney at the club and Kenwright reluctantly felt it was best he be sold to ease the club's financial burden. [14] Paul and Anita Gregg later sold their shares to Florida-based businessman Robert Earl . Kenwright's close-friend Philip Green is believed to have helped him secure the club after being approached for help. [15] [16] Chairmanship On 1 June 2004, Bill Kenwright achieved his life long dream of becoming Chairman of Everton Football Club. On the same day as Kenwright's achievement, Trevor Birch was appointed Chief Executive Officer to replace the outgoing Michael Dunford . Kenwright said that Birch would be his "sounding board" and that the new CEO should "dictate the policy of the football club".

Kenwright stated that Birch had not been brought in to sell the club, but that a new investor can have his shares as long as they "have money to run the club". [17] Birch resigned six weeks later. [18] He resigned after a meeting with True Blue Holding (Kenwright, Woods, Gregg and Abercromby) where the board opted to not to sell the club. Gregg claimed there was a refusal to relinquish control by other directors and that it was preventing progress at the club. [19] Fortress Sports Fund In August 2004, it was reported that a Brunei -based fund Fortess Sports Fund (FSF) were interested in buying a stake in Everton. Following the public fall-out with director Paul Gregg , it was anticipated that Gregg's shares in addition to others would be sold to the fund. The Fund was initially set up to acquire a 40 percent stake for £20m million. Bill Kenwright backed FSF's proposals whilst Paul Gregg was looking else where for investment. Kenwright would stay on as Chairman if the FSF investment was accepted.

[20] The deal was due to be agreed in August but Paul Gregg had not had time to inspect the proposals and indecision by the Everton board delayed the proposals. [21] The fund was established by Swiss-based English fund manager Christopher Samuelson, football agent Jerome Anerson and a 23-year old Russian student Anton Zingarevich. Zingarevich, son of Russian print businessman Boris Zingarevich with a fortune of £182m, was praised by Kenwright as having an "encyclopaedic knowledge" of football. [22] A spokesman for the Zingarevich family announced that Zingarevich had no intention of investing in the fund but that Anton Zingarevich would be managing the fund. [23] In September, Kenwright described investment from the FSF as an "absolute possibility". [24] Prior to the AGM which was scheduled to take place on 7 December 2004, Samuelson said: "It's taken some time but we are nearly there now.

The AGM will have to approve the investment in December, but after that the money will be available." [25] Kenwright and Everton director Jon Woods were in favour of accepting the investment whilst Paul Gregg was sceptical and refused to endorse it. [26] Gregg believed that the fund under-valued his investment, it was reported that the fund's bid was £12.8m for 29.9% of the club. On 22 December Samuelson said: "Cash transfers can take three or four days and I hope it is with Everton by Christmas." [25] However, it would need to be ratified at an EGM. In January, Samuelson stated the money was ready and that the delay was because the FSF would be set-up as a financial mechanism known as a cell fund, a cell fund could only be create in certain countries with lax tax laws. Samuelson said: "The funds we have are made of private individuals. They don't want publicity for themselves," [27] In February 2005, Keith Wyness stated that the club had begun to look for other potential investors.

[28] In April 2005, Samuelson stated that "the Fund is completed and registered" but Everton director Paul Gregg publicly questioned the FSF: "As a director I have not received any proof of funds - or that they even exist." [29] The Liverpool Echo described the FSF situation as a "farce". Paul Gregg stated that he had been "led down the garden path and that the whole exercise has embarrassed the club." [29] Samuelson re-iterated that funds were ready; "The fund is approved and ready to go. I have not received the actual certificate of incorporation of the fund but that is a technicality." He stated that an EGM was necessary to confirm the FSF fund. "As far as I'm concerned it's a fait accompli - subject to the approval of an EGM of shareholders." [30] An EGM was never called and the question of investment into Everton from the FSF slowly fell away from the public eye.

In the aftermath of the deal collapsing, a press officer for Everton privately revealed in an email that Christopher Samuelson came through with "both the fund and the cash" but by that point the fund "had served its purpose" and that "Bill told him [Samuelson] to go away." [31] It continued "Why haven't we announced that small detail? ....because it doesn't really matter....what mattered was achieved." [31] The email stated that the fund was "designed to be used as a means to an end.......nothing more". [31] In November 2005, at the following AGM. Kenwright said that Samuelson "was someone who I believed could have come up with the money, he had his credentials and thought he could come up with a deal that was good for the club[...]but he didn't, like many many other people, come up with the goods." [32] He added: "I am spending 24 hours a day trying to raise finance for this club.

I had a meeting today, three yesterday, all involving money that would dilute my shareholding - but I'm not interested in that." [32] 2004 Extraordinary General Meeting By September 2004, concerns amongst fans had grown about the future of the club thanks to the collapse of the King's Dock project, the sale of Wayne Rooney, growing amount of debt, low league position and a highly publicised 'media battle' between directors in the local press. An Extraordinary General Meeting was called by shareholders; "The shareholders of the Company express their deep concern at the current state of affairs in the Company". It called for the board of directors to resign if they did not address previous motions to the satisfaction of shareholders. [33] Bill Kenwright is considered approachable by fans and prior to the EGM he contacted a fan website before the press regarding the meeting. [34] Keith Wyness was unveiled as the new Chief Executive Officer at the EGM. 2007 Extraordinary General Meeting In 2007, Kenwright announced that he would like to relocate the club to Kirkby as part of a proposal known as Destination Kirkby which included a Tesco supermarket and a retail park .

The pursuit of this project led to minor shareholders of the club calling for an Extraordinary General Meeting in 2008. After it was confirmed that the EGM would go ahead, Keith Wyness resigned and was replaced by Robert Elstone who was promoted to the position from within. [35] At this meeting, Kenwright revealed that he took business advice from retail industry leaders Sir Philip Green and Sir Terry Leahy . [36] A vote was held on whether the club should pursue the project due to a growing number of concerns, the vote was on the basis of "one share, one vote" as is in keeping with normal shareholder's meetings, and the motion to abandon Destination Kirkby was defeated. The result of the ballot was 622 votes for and 26,553 against, representing 97.71% of all votes cast against the resolution. [37] Financial performance Bill Kenwright is sometimes compared to those who own other Premier League clubs and has said he can't afford to compete financially with some of the larger clubs: "People often say to me: 'Get your cheque book out, Bill.

If these people think that I have a cheque book with tens of millions of pounds at my disposal, they have the wrong person. I could no more buy all of Peter Johnson's shares than play centre-forward this Saturday. These amounts are not in my personal ball park." [38] In July 2009, Kenwright explained the club's financial position under his stewardship: "Our debt is a big debt and a worrying debt, but it is manageable because of our performance on the field". In 2010, thousands of fans protested outside Goodison before the games against Aston Villa and Wolves. 'The Blue Union' fan group is unhappy with the running of the club under Kenwright, including selling the training ground for £15million and leasing it back £1million a year over 50 years and selling the clubs previous training ground, Mikel Arteta, Steven Pienaar, Yakubu & Jermaine Beckford without re-investing in the playing squad. The money was paid to club creditors leaving Everton's on the field performances stagnating, resulting in faltering league positions.

Kenwright also refused to name the price of the club numerous occasions, including on Sky Sports 'Goals on sunday' leaving fans sceptical as to wether the price of the club is putting potential buyers off. [39] Personal life Kenwright was married to actress Anouska Hempel from 1978 to 1980 and has a daughter and two grandchildren from his relationship with the actress Virginia Stride . He is currently in a long-term relationship with actress and political activist Jenny Seagrove . They live in London. He has many cousins, Tommy, Elizabeth, Barbara and Steven. Lauren, Holly and Lily are grandchildren of Elizabeth. In April 2008, he agreed to produce Dixie: The People's Legend ,a documentary on Everton legend Dixie Dean produced by Liverpool-based company Tabacula. [40] Kenwright is also very fond of former players and considers many personal friends. He also invited several former players to Wembley for the 2009 FA Cup Final as guests. Honours He received an Honorary Fellowship from Liverpool’s John Moores University and is an Honorary Professor of Thames Valley University in London.

In the year 2000 Kenwright was awarded the CBE for his services to film and theatre. In November 2008 he was awarded an Honorary degree of Doctor of Letters from Nottingham Trent University in recognition of his outstanding contribution and commitment to British theatre. References Bill Kenwright - Bio, Facts, Family | Famous Birthdays Famous Birthdays Virgo ABOUT English film and theater producer known for Blood Brothers and Joseph and the Amazing Techinocolor Dreamcoat. He was also a judge on the reality series "Any Dream Will Do". BEFORE FAME He acted when he was young, including appearances on the popular soap opera Coronation Street. TRIVIA He became the chairman of the Everton Football Club in 2004.

FAMILY LIFE Bill Kenwright | Everton Chairmen Everton FC Director, 1989 - present Everton FC Vice-Chairman, 1998 - 2003 Everton FC Chairman, 2003 - present (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images) A lifelong Evertonian who frequently regales supporters with tales of his days in the Boys' Pen at Goodison Park, Bill Kenwright was elected to the Everton Board of Directors on 23 October 1989. After failing in a bid for control of the club in 1994 he eventually succeeded in buying Everton six years later when Johnson was persuaded to sell his controlling stake. Kenwright installed former supremo, Sir Philip Carter , as Chairman but eventually took the helm himself in 2004 when Carter became Life President until his passing in 2015. Born on 4th September 1945 in Liverpool, Kenwright attended Booker Avenue County Primary School and then Liverpool Institute High School before makng his name as an actor in the 1960s with in the role of Gordon Clegg in Coronation Street.

He would go on to later parts in The Villains, the Liver Birds and the film Carry On Matron. His greatest success would come as of the country's top theatre producers, scoring hits with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (the rights to which he later sold to Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber for £1m), Blood Brothers, and the stage version of Shirley Valentine. 1994 Having enjoyed a period of unprecedented success in the mid- to late-1980s, Everton FC was in the midst of a marked decline as the ban on English clubs competing in Europe following the Heysel tragedy led to the break-up of the club's best team of the modern era. Lady Grantchester, now the head of the Moores family, had indicated that the club's owners would be willing to sell their stake in Everton FC, leading to two rival bids for control in 1994. Kenwright headed up a consortium that included Prof. Tom Cannon, Tony Tighe, Mike Dyble and construction magnate Arthur Abercromby but he was eventually persuaded that Birkenhead-based tycoon Peter Johnson, a man of considerably deeper pockets, would be better placed to return Everton to former glories.

1999 Johnson's tenure promised much at the outset but he oversaw a tumultuous period that took Everton to the brink of relegation in 1994 and again in 1998 before frustrated supporters, unsettled further by questionable plans to relocate the club to a brownfield site at Cronton Colliery, made his position as Chairman untenable. Once again Kenwright stepped forward with a consortium that included friend Paul Gregg and his wife Anita to bid for control and with no one else apparently interested, his True Blue Holdings succeeded in negotiating Johnson down to a price of £857 per share – effectively allowing the then-chairman to walk away with his initial investment of £20m+. 2002 - 2003 Relatively early in their onwership of the club Kenwright and True Blue Holdings were faced with declining fortunes on the pitch where Walter Smith's tenure as manager was faltering badly despite its early promise. Smith had come south of the Border following a glittering managerial career at Glasgow Rangers where it was hoped he could emulate the success in the Premier League of another uncompromising Scot, Alex Ferguson.

Unfortunately, by March 2002 it had become obvious that Smith's time as the Toffees' boss had come to an end and, following an awful run of results thtat culminated in a dreadful 3-0 FA Cup defeat to Middlesbrough, the decision was taken by the Board to sack him. Smith's last act, however, is believed to have been to recommend his successor, another Scot – albeit one with no top-flight experience – in the form of Preston North End boss, David Moyes. Just 39 at the time, Moyes was nevertheless regarded as one of the most promising manager's in the game and had been approached by Ferguson at Manchester United to become his assistant but he turned it down feeling he wasn't ready. Moyes's impact was instantaneous – he won his first match in charge of Everton, a 2-1 home victory over Fulham and would lead the club to safety from relegation that spring with room to spare. It marked the beginning of more than a decade of consolidation, stability and rebuilding at Goodison Park during which the spectre of relegation would be removed after a scare in the new manager's second full season when the Blues finished 17th.

Though he was nominal Vice Chairman following the takeover, Kenwright was the de facto leader of the club from the outset and it was he who led what had the potential to be the biggest single initiative in Everton's history since the club's move to Goodison Park in 1892. Together with English Partnerships, Liverpool City Council and the North West Development Agency, Everton proposed to build the "Waterfront Stadium and Arena" at Liverpool's Kings Dock, a new ground and entertainment venue in a prime location on the banks of the Mersey. With overwhelming backing from supporters, the club's proposal emerged as the preferred bid for the site but the Everton board was already battling to raise its £30m commitment to fund the development. When cost estimates began to rise, almost doubling by 2003, Everton were forced to accept defeat at withdraw their proposal, with a smaller concert and exhibition arena chosen instead. A reverse mortgage scheme proposed by Gregg to salvage the scheme at the eleventh hour but would have effectively handed control of Everton to him was rejected by Kenwright and Jon Woods and the Blues' waterfront dream died.

2004 The year that Kenwright became Chairman in his own right would be one fraught with controversy over the sale of young star Wayne Rooney to Manchester United and the infamous Fortress Sports Fund debacle that eventually succeeded in forcing Gregg off the Everton Board and, with the help of American-based entertainment magnate Robert Earl, consolidated power in Kenwright's hands. Rooney had burst onto the Premier League scene as a precocious 16 year-old and was, by the 2004 European Championships, an established England international and, perhaps, the best player that Everton's youth Academy had ever produced. The precise machinations that led to his departure from the club he had grown up supporting remain obscured by spin and assertions by both sides but the combination of urgings from the player's aggressive agent, Paul Stretford, and Everton's increasingly dire financial situation greased the wheels for Rooney's acrimonious sale that August in a deal that eventually rose to £27m.

It is believed that the vital cash injection from what was, at the time, a club record transer staved off the very real possibility of Administration, a pressing state of financial affairs that looked like it might be eased towards the end of 2004 with a £15m rescue package brokered by Swiss-based financier Christopher Samuleson. Despite repeated assurances from Kenwright that the Fortress Sports Fund money was "48 hours" from being deposited into the club's bank account, it never materliased. A club official would later admit to shareholders that the FSF had been a calculated ruse to push Gregg out of the club. 2005 - 2007 Despite the ructions in the Boardroom and Kenwright's failure to follow through on his promise of signings to fill the void left by Rooney, the 2004-05 season proved to be a surprisingly successful one thanks to the managerial appointment he had facilitated in 2002.

David Moyes had been brought in from Preston to re-energise a team that was heading for another relegation battle before the Scot masterminded a successful escape from the drop and, three years later, steered Everton to fourth place in the Premier League and a shot at qualification for the Champions League. The club's bid for entry to the group stage of the successor to the old European Cup was foiled agonisingly by Villarreal and a highly controversial decision by referee Pierluigi Collina to deny what appeared to be a legitimate goal by Duncan Ferguson. It would be Everton's best chance of breaking the hegemony of English football's new elite for a decade. 2014 - 2016 A virtual ever-present at Everton matches, particularly at home, Kenwright became conspicuous by his notable absence from Goodison Park during the 2014-2015 season, leading to mounting speculation regarding his health. Fears that the Chairman was seriously ill were lent credence by the first acknowledgement as such in the media by John Richardson of The Express in January 2015, followed by various doom-laden prophecies by the infamous Goodison rumour mill.

The Chairman acknowledged his illness in due course, without providing any detail, and insisted that he was on the mend but an apparent escalation in the club's search for fresh investment at the end of the year merely added further fuel to the fires of speculation. A £200m bid by a partnership of American venture capitalists, John Jay Moores and Charles Noell, under the banner of JMI Services, looked to be on the verge of completing a takeover of the Everton by the end of January 2016, paving the way for Kenwright to step aside completely after 16 years at the helm. A period of silence following the expiry of the Americans' period of exclusivity and due diligence cast doubt on the proximity of a deal until the emergence of British-Iranian billionaire, Farhad Moshiri, in late February. The Monaco-based businessman came seemingly out of the blue from the perspective of Evertonians and the public to purchase a 49.9% stake in the club, with Kenwright and Jon Woods each selling holdings totalling 13% of shares in Everton and Robert Earl ending his decade-long association with the Blues by selling up completely.

The move gave Moshiri de facto control at Goodison and there were immediate promises of an expanded kitty for player acquisition and retention as well as a commitment to examine the long-standing stadium issue. Blues takeover: Kenwright's message to fans Exclusive Liverpool Echo interview by Ken Rogers Monday 15 February 1999 BILL KENWRIGHT today gave the clearest hint yet that he is closing in on a deal that will signal a new beginning for Everton Football Club. The Goodison Park vice-chairman and his advisers have spent the past four months working on a complicated financial plan to try and secure the 68 per cent majority shareholding held by Peter Johnson. The fans have increasingly been demanding answers to problems that have still not been finally resolved. They have interpreted silence from the boardroom as a signal that nothing is happening. On Saturday, a small group of supporters organised a petition calling on former chief Johnson to sell his shares immediately and at a fair price to end what they perceive as a worrying financial stalemate. Kenwright today agreed to speak exclusively to the ECHO to help calm the fans fears.

The vice-chairman has been reluctant to say too much with negotiations at such a delicate stage, but he feels that he must now clarify a number of important points to ensure that Evertonians remain totally united as the club enters a crucial phase of the season. Kenwright said: "I want to make it clear that in no way has Peter Johnson been obstructive to me. He has not asked for hundreds of millions of pounds. He has made me feel confident that he wants me to take over Everton Football Club. "Obviously, it would not be right to discuss in public the actual size of any offer and what he might require to step aside, but I have always been hopeful that we can reach an agreement and continue to be so." This statement from Kenwright might seem to suggest that there is still a lot of work to be done, but his caution is clearly linked to what happened five years ago when he actually had an agreement in his possession signed by Lady Grantchester of the controlling Moores family which appeared to give him control of the club. Kenwright's elation was shattered when Johnson stepped in at the very last moment to snatch the club from his grasp.

This time round, Kenwright will take absolutely nothing for granted, nor will he tempt fate, until the ink is dry on this latest agreement. The title of the theatre impresario's new film – "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" – seems perfectly apt right now as he moves into the final straight in his dealings with his former arch-rival Johnson. Kenwright shows little or no animosity towards the man who DID Break his heart back in 1994. He explains: "If you had said four years ago after my failed takeover bid that I would subsequently be sitting in the vice-chairman's seat with Sir Philip Carter back in his former role as chairman, I would have said you are barking mad. But that is where we are today. "The fact that I am even talking about a takeover bid fills me with mixed emotions. On the one hand I am thrilled. On the other I am sad that things have not worked out because it means the club has not progressed the way all Evertonians like myself hoped it would. I swallowed my personal disappointment five years ago and put all of my backing behind Peter Johnson. "I stood aside. He was the man Everton wanted at that time. He was also given the backing of the fans and the media.

I am sorry it has not worked out. I would have been happy if it had because this would have indicated that the club was on top and moving forward and this is the only thing I am interested in. "So while I am thrilled that my dream of leading the club is still alive, it is still a double-edged sword. I feel that the new leader of Everton will face a bigger challenge now than when Peter Johnson first took the chair. "It’s a whole new ball game. You only have to look at the vast investment in the other leading clubs, not least in London. "Anyone looking at the Everton situation will have to deal with three key areas. The first - and the one that I have been dealing with - is the complicated challenge of securing the major shareholding. Stage two is to stabilise the club financially. Finally, it is vital that manager Walter Smith is provided with sufficient funds to suit his needs. "Some fans might say that our need is now. All I can say is that even as we speak, if Walter came to me and said he wanted a certain player, I would move heaven and earth to help him, as would Sir Philip Carter and the rest of the board. But Walter is a realist.

"He has a total grasp of the present situation. Despite speculation about his future, he is in the place he wants to be, doing the job he wants to do. He is under no pressure from the board. He knows what the score is. I have a huge confidence in him that he will lead us forward on the field. " Kenwright understands why the pressure is getting to his fellow supporters and he can associate with those who have begun to point the finger at the board and ask serious questions about the way the club is being run. He said: "I was one of those fans who wrote angrily to the directors 40 years ago when Everton got rid of my hero Dave Hickson. "I told them they didn't understand us. I therefore had every sympathy with those people who were totally bemused about the sale of Duncan Ferguson to Newcastle. It was history repeating itself. "However, we have had a serious financial situation and it is something the present board is now trying to deal with. "When I got involved in my first bid to take over the club five years ago, I knew nothing about stocks and shares. But I learned very quickly.

People often say to me: 'Get your cheque book out, Bill.' "If these people think that I have a cheque book with tens of millions of pounds at my disposal, they have the wrong person. I could no more buy all of Peter Johnson's shares than play centre-forward this Saturday. These amounts are not in my personal ball park. "But then they are not in the ball park of many other Evertonians like me. Someone like Paul McCartney is an Evertonian and he might have that kind of cash as an individual. But I am the only one who has come forward publicly to try and find a solution and help take this club forward. "I am not going to be the major shareholder when the deal is finally done. We have naturally been talking to powerful financial institutions to enable us to reach this stage. "What I will be is a catalyst to get things going with me in the driving seat alongside the chairman Sir Philip. I believe it is very important that we have someone at the helm who understands the club and the fans. It won't be Everton in the hands of an institution and that institution will never drive the club. I will do that with Sir Philip Carter and the board.

If everything comes right, as I hope it will, I will explain how it works to the fans. "I don't want any grey areas and I won't mislead the fans in any way. We have been working on this on a daily basis. I have had a heavy involvement along with my staff and advisers and I'm sure Peter Johnson's advisers have been extremely busy also. "Obviously, the one thing I don't know is who else Peter Johnson has been talking to, but in all my dealings with him, I believe he wants me to make this deal succeed." Kenwright spoke candidly about his relationship with his former arch-rival. While both are very different people, they have found themselves launched together by the Everton experience. Johnson found his situation at Goodison totally untenable as fans waged war against his regime and his style of management. Kenwright said: "Do I think he has made mistakes? Yes, definitely. Is he the devil that some fans would like to paint him? No. Do I in any way condone the threats and talk of violence against Peter Johnston? Definitely not. Do I think it is right that he can't feel comfortable in his home city? Definitely not.

"Whoever takes over from Peter Johnson just has to get it right. It's not just about having a big heart and a passion for your club. I look at Mark Goldberg at Crystal Palace. He is a Palace fanatic, but he is the first to admit that he has not got it right yet. You look at people like Francis Lee and what happened to him at Manchester City. Franny was City through and through, but it all went wrong for him. "I have a lifestyle at present that 99% of the people I meet appear to envy. The image is of a man in London with a plush office and a beautiful partner whose life revolves around film previews and hit shows. I am very happy with my life, but if the Everton deal goes through I will have to give a portion of it up because there is a football stadium in Liverpool that will draw me to it even more than it does at the moment. "I want to play a part in the rebuilding of the Blues, but I have to make sure that everything is right.

I have always said that if there was someone out there with my love of the club and more money than me who could bring a better future to Everton Football Club, I would shake them by the hand as I did with Peter Johnson five years ago. "I repeat that the fans and the media wanted him at that time. It was a sobering experience for me and it's the reason why this is no ego trip. I dislike the glare of the media. The last thing I want and need is to be on the back pages of the national newspapers. I turn down 20 interviews a day. I m not involved in this to get my name in lights. "It's just that I went to Goodison Park as a kid and it instantly changed my life. The love affair still rages, despite the bitter disappointment of losing out on the club in 1994." Clearly, Kenwright is still coming to terms with the dramatic about-turn at Everton. He said: "It is only recently that Peter Johnson has decided that he wants to relinquish his majority shareholding. We have been working hard on a possible takeover. We have been trying to steady the ship.

We have had to deal with the aftermath of the Duncan Ferguson saga and the fact that the team has not been performing well - until Saturday. "Walter Smith and I have spent some time together and we both have the same beliefs. We are building up an excellent working relationship. "I believe that every player, whether at youth, reserve, first team or international level, needs to know that there is a real future for this club and that everyone is pulling in the same direction. This is why we need to settle this matter and demonstrate from the top that everything is flowing forward. Kenwright, a man used to dealing with success from London's West End to New York s legendary Broadway, wants Everton's name back in lights, but he is determined to keep his feet on the ground and provide sensible leadership. He said: "It would be stupid to make rash claims. But what you can do is inspire a spirit of revitalisation which Walter Smith and my chairman Sir Philip Carter can work on. We have to deal with the present situation and get the future mapped out. Leadership has never been so important. We are fourth from bottom, but we are not going to embrace relegation and say we are going down.

"I get dozens of letters every week from fans who are obviously worried about the present situation, but the bottom line is that they love their club and simply want to support it in every way they know they can. Evertonians are remarkable supporters and they truly deserve a club worthy of them. "I can understand why some fans have been getting edgy with no positive news about the takeover. This is why I have spoken to the ECHO to try and explain exactly where we are up to. The fans will be the first to know when we have some positive news. I hope we will be able to give it to them sooner rather than later." Bill Kenwright - Bio, Family, Facts, Age: 71 | Hot Birthdays Bill Kenwright Album2 Pictures About English film and theater producer known for Blood Brothers and Joseph and the Amazing Techinocolor Dreamcoat. He was also a judge on the reality series "Any Dream Will Do". He became the chairman of the Everton Football Club in 2004. He produced a documentary on football legend Dixie Dean. Before fame He acted when he was young, including appearances on the popular soap opera Coronation Street.

Related to He was married to Anouska Hempel from 1978 to 1980, but became involved with Jenny Seagrove in 1994. Film Producer Bill Kenwright born on 04 09 1945 in . Until now, Bill Kenwright's age is 71 year old and have Virgo constellation. Count down 350 days will come next birthday of Bill Kenwright ! Bill Kenwright (End) - Pics, Videos, Dating, & News Bill Kenwright Male Born Sep 4, 1945 Bill Kenwright CBE is a leading West End theatre producer and film producer. He is also the Chairman of Everton Football Club. He attended Booker Avenue County Primary School, and then Liverpool Institute High School from 1957 to 1964 and appeared in school productions on the stage in the Mount St. building. He was also treasurer of the Christian Union at school.

In 2007 Kenwright was a judge in the BBC1 television series "Any Dream Will Do."… Read More related links Soccer Everton And Wigan Agree Compensation For Manager Martinez Bbc Yahoo News - Jun 03, 2013 'LONDON, June 3 (Reuters) - Everton, searching for a successor to David Moyes, have reached an agreement with Wigan Athletic over compensation for their manager Roberto Martinez, the BBC reported on Monday. \"<mark>Bill Kenwright</mark> (Everton chairman) and myself have agreed a deal,\" Wigan chairman Dave Whelan told the BBC. Spaniard Martinez asked to leave Wigan last week having guided the club to FA Cup glory before being relegated from the Premier League. Everton lost Moyes to champions... Bill Kenwright Hillsborough Speech Proves True Football Fans Stick Together Adrian Durham Column Daily Mail (UK) - Apr 16, 2013 'MailOnline\'s hard-hitting columnist on how <mark>Bill Kenwright</mark>\'s remarkable Hillsborough speech moved him to tears on Monday. Plus his forthright views on the disturbing scenes of violence witnessed at Wembley and in the North East at the weekend...

and the problems facing women\'s football.' Bill Kenwright Says David Moyes Will Leave Everton With His Head Held High If He Goes Daily Mail (UK) - Mar 28, 2013 'Everton chairman <mark>Bill Kenwright</mark> says David Moyes will leave with his held high should he quit Everton at the end of the season.' Win Tickets To See Blood Brothers Starring Marti Pellow! The Citizen - Jan 28, 2013 'Blood Brothers returns to The Sands Centre for one spectacular week only. West End star, Wet Wet Wet front man and music legend Marti Pellow will take on the role of Narrator with Maureen Nolan as Mrs Johnstone in the critically acclaimed smash hit musical.\n\nWritten by Willy Russell, the legendary Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with fateful consequences. The superb score incl... Learn about the memorable moments in the evolution of Bill Kenwright. CHILDHOOD 1945 Birth Born on September 4, 1945.

TEENAGE 1957 11 Years Old He attended Booker Avenue County Primary School, and then Liverpool Institute High School from 1957 to 1964 and appeared in school productions (including Shylock in The Merchant of Venice) on the stage in the Mount Street building (predecessor to LIPA). … Read More He was also treasurer of the Christian Union at school.<br /><br /> In 2007, Kenwright was a judge in the BBC1 television series Any Dream Will Do.<br /><br /> Kenwright is one of the UK's most successful theatre producers, best known for the long-running West End hit Blood Brothers and the record breaking tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Other productions have included West End runs of Whistle Down the Wind at the Palace Theatre, Festen in London, on a UK tour and on Broadway, The Big Life, Elmina's Kitchen, Scrooge â The Musical, The Night of the Iguana, A Few Good Men, A Man For All Seasons alongside UK tours of Jesus Christ Superstar, Tommy, Tell Me on a Sunday and This is Elvis.

He produced the London revival of Cabaret at the Lyric Theatre in September 2006, starring Anna Maxwell Martin, James Dreyfus and Sheila Hancock. Read Less TWENTIES 1968 22 Years Old As a young man he became an actor. His early successes included a role in Coronation Street, as Gordon Clegg who was introduced in April 1968. 1969 23 Years Old Kenwright left the show after a year to pursue his producing career in March 1969, although he did return to the show on occasion throughout the 1970s for guest appearances. THIRTIES 1978 32 Years Old Kenwright was married to actress Anouska Hempel from 1978 to 1980 and has a daughter and two grandchildren from his relationship with the actress Virginia Stride. … Read More He is currently in a long-term relationship with the actress Jenny Seagrove. They live in London. The West End theatre publicist Adam Kenwright is his nephew who runs advertising and marketing company aka.

Adam worked with Kenwright before setting up on his own.<br /><br /> He received an Honorary Fellowship from Liverpool's John Moores University and is an Honorary Professor of University of West London in London.<br /><br /> Kenwright was awarded the CBE for his services to film and theatre for 2001. Read Less FORTIES 1994 48 Years Old Kenwright became involved in a consortium to buy Everton in 1994, as his consortium rivalled Birkenhead-based Peter Johnson. … Read More Kenwright's consortium had assurances from the Everton owner's family head Lady Grantchester that the Moores family would sell their stake in the club. Kenwright's proposal was dismissed as the "Manchester Consortium" in the Liverpool Echo, as the rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester was enough to deter supporters' support. Kenwright's consortium included Manchester based Tom Cannon, Tony Tighe (who later went on to create the Everton Collection) and Mike Dyble whilst building magnate Arthur Abercromby was Cheshire based.

Abercromby offered a Â£2 million interest free loan to the club for purchase of players.<br /><br /> Kenwright, who had been a director at Everton for ten years, had an opportunity to sway the board members to accept his bid but chose not to because he did not want a public relations battle with the more affluent Johnson. Tighe, in an interview with a journalist David Conn, said: "Bill didn't want a public row, that's why he didn't go to press much. He wanted the board to be unanimous. As he saw it, he didn't want Everton's name to be dragged through controversy." Peter Johnson's bid was accepted by the Everton board. Johnson installed Kenwright as vice-chairman and Sir Philip Carter was re-instated as Chairman. Read Less FIFTIES 1999 53 Years Old Kenwright's consortium bought 68% of Everton F.C. from Peter Johnson for Â£20 million in 1999. … Read More A holding company called True Blue (Holdings) Ltd was formed in January 2000.

The stakeholders in True Blue Holdings included Paul Gregg, Jimmy Mulville, Jon Woods and Willy Russell before it was dissolved in 2004. Mihir Bose reported that Anita Gregg lent up to Â£7 million to Kenwright. Upon completion of the deal, Kenwright said: "Acquiring Peter Johnson's shares is only the first step to restoring a great club to where it belongs â to where it should be. If you are going to run a successful football club you need two qualities: you need to be realistic and you need a plan. I'm realistic and I have a plan." Read Less 2003 57 Years Old In 2003, he attempted to move Everton to the Kings Dock on the riverside but after a public feud with director Paul Gregg over the proposal's finances and sale of Wayne Rooney, the move fell through. … Read More Gregg had wanted to keep Rooney at the club and Kenwright reluctantly felt it was best he be sold to ease the club's financial burden. Paul and Anita Gregg later sold their shares to Florida-based businessman Robert Earl. Kenwright's close-friend Philip Green is believed to have helped him secure the club after being approached for help.

Read Less Show Less On 1 June 2004, Kenwright became chairman of Everton Football Club. … Read More On the same day, Trevor Birch was appointed Chief Executive Officer to replace the outgoing Michael Dunford. Kenwright said that Birch would be his "sounding board" and that the new CEO should "dictate the policy of the football club". Kenwright stated that Birch had not been brought in to sell the club, but that a new investor can have his shares as long as they "have money to run the club". Birch resigned six weeks later. He resigned after a meeting with True Blue Holding (Kenwright, Woods, Gregg and Abercromby) where the board opted to not to sell the club. Gregg claimed there was a refusal to relinquish control by other directors and that it was preventing progress at the club. Read Less In August 2004, it was reported that a Brunei-based fund Fortess Sports Fund (FSF) were interested in buying a stake in Everton. … Read More Following the public fall-out with director Paul Gregg, it was anticipated that Gregg's shares in addition to others would be sold to the fund.

Kenwright and Everton director Jon Woods were in favour of accepting the investment whilst Paul Gregg was sceptical and refused to endorse it. Gregg believed that the fund under-valued his investment, it was reported that the fund's bid was Â£12.8 million for 29.9% of the club.<br /><br /> In February 2005, Keith Wyness stated that the club had begun to look for other potential investors. Read Less 2005 59 Years Old In April 2005, Samuelson stated that "the Fund is completed and registered" but Everton director Paul Gregg publicly questioned the FSF: "As a director I have not received any proof of funds â or that they even exist." … Read More The Liverpool Echo described the FSF situation as a "farce". Paul Gregg stated that he had been "led down the garden path and that the whole exercise has embarrassed the club." Samuelson re-iterated that funds were ready; "The fund is approved and ready to go. I have not received the actual certificate of incorporation of the fund but that is a technicality." He stated that an EGM was necessary to confirm the FSF fund.

"As far as I'm concerned it's a fait accompli â subject to the approval of an EGM of shareholders." An EGM was never called and the question of investment into Everton from the FSF fell away from the public eye.<br /><br /> In November 2005, at the following AGM. Kenwright said that Samuelson "was someone who I believed could have come up with the money, he had his credentials and thought he could come up with a deal that was good for the club... but he didn't, like many many other people, come up with the goods." He added: "I am spending 24 hours a day trying to raise finance for this club. I had a meeting today, three yesterday, all involving money that would dilute my shareholding â but I'm not interested in that." Read Less LATE ADULTHOOD 2007 61 Years Old In 2007, Kenwright announced that he would like to move the club to Kirkby as part of a proposal known as Destination Kirkby which included a Tesco supermarket and a retail park.

… Read More The pursuit of this project led to minor shareholders of the club calling for an Extraordinary General Meeting in 2008. After it was confirmed that the EGM would go ahead, Keith Wyness resigned and was replaced by Robert Elstone who was promoted to the position from within.<br /><br /> At this meeting, Kenwright revealed that he took business advice from retail industry leaders Sir Philip Green and Sir Terry Leahy. The EGM vote determined that the club should not pursue the project due to a growing number of concerns. Read Less The Big Interview: Bill Kenwright - Yorkshire Post The Big Interview: Bill Kenwright Sheena Hastings Have your say HE says his long-time partner, the actress and animal rights activist Jenny Seagrove, is very tolerant and accepting of the fact that in his life she comes only equal first with Everton Football Club and music. When the impresario Bill Kenwright appeared on Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs some years ago his eight choices ranged from The Searchers’ Needles and Pins to Anthony Newley’s Why and Victor Young’s The Call of the Faraway Hills.

But the disc he said he would rush to save from the storm and waves was Call to Arms by Blueknowz – also known as the theme to the 60s police series Z Cars and as the Everton FC song. As a small boy growing up in Wavertree, Liverpool, life revolved around match day – which always ended with the family singing songs around the piano. Even when Bill’s dad’s building business took off and they could afford to move away from the house with the outside loo to something more upmarket, still the epicentre of the world was Goodison. Now 66 and living between homes in London and Suffolk, he’d still have to be prostrate with illness to miss a match. But then nowadays he is the chairman and major shareholder of Everton FC – and the target of many a barb by some who believe he’s not the man for the job. Especially after a 0-3 reverse at Anfield in the latest Liverpool derby. He and the board have been looking for a buyer for the club to put in the millions needed to bring in the right players and take it to the top at home and in Europe.

In the meantime, the fans who don’t like him gather to shout jibes like “Kenwright out” before every match. As he says, if only life was as simple as having enough spare cash to pay off all the debt and invest in the club himself – more, that is, than the £20m he and his partners put together to become the biggest stakeholders 10 years ago. However, he says he doesn’t. “I’ve been a fan for 59 years and I’ll still be there whatever happens, whether I’m in the directors’ box or paying for my ticket with everyone else. We need a buyer to take Everton where it needs to be, but it’ll never be a minnow whatever happens.” His voice becomes thick with emotion when he talks about the club.

“They say about being an Everton supporter that they are not manufactured, they just are – and it’s so true.” He may throw in the odd “darlin’” at the end of a sentence, but Bill Kenwright still glories in being a Scouser, and although he is one of the UK’s most successful theatre producers (with 16 productions currently touring the UK and the world, including Blood Brothers, now in its 23rd year) the ferocious work ethic learned from his hard grafting family is as active as ever. The seemingly endless list of his productions, co-productions and shows he has also directed more recently in the West End runs from the award-winning Three Days in May to The Pitmen Painters, The Wizard of Oz. The Country Girl and On The Waterfront to The Canterbury Tales, The Glass Menagerie and A Man For All Seasons. His crowd-pleasing musical shows include recent smash hits Dreamboats and Petticoats (coming to Bradford Alhambra later in the year) and Save The Last Dance For Me, which will be at Hull New Theatre next month. He has also produced films, including Don’t Go Breaking My Heart and Cheri, starring Michelle Pfeiffer.

Then there’s the phenomenally successful co-production Elvis – The Concert arena tour. It seems that Bill Kenwright must never sleep. “I work 24/7 and always have. I don’t do holidays because I love work, whether it’s the shows or the football,” he says. “I don’t watch much TV, but I could never just sit and enjoy a programme. I sit there surrounded by scripts, spreadsheets and a calculator. I’d feel guilty otherwise. “I don’t sleep very well, so I lie there quietly listening to my music – mostly stuff from the 50s and 60s. Jenny’s very tolerant and has got used to sleeping through it. I have this feeling for that era of music. To me it’s as important as the Berlin Wall coming down. Suddenly teenagers had a voice and a sound of their own.” The young Bill Kenwright was a bright spark who’d been at the Liverpool Institute high school at the same time as Paul McCartney and George Harrison. Before turning to acting, he toured local pubs and clubs with his R and B band, The Chevrolets.

“At that time all Liverpool bands played the same sound, copying the American rhythm and blues records we got from merchant seamen coming in to the docks.” At 18, he won a place at Manchester University to study English and Drama. On the day he was to start, he waved his proud parents goodbye and got on the train. But, walking up Deansgate and with some time on his hands, instead of turning right towards the university something made him turn left towards the Granada TV studios. In a window was a sign saying “Room 501 – Casting”. In he went and blagged his way into the audition with “I’m an actor – got any jobs?” Within minutes he’d landed the role of an 18-year-old office boy in a series called The Villains at 65 guineas a week. “I got back in the lift and rang mum from downstairs, saying ‘It’s easy, you just walk in and ask...’ She was so happy for me and didn’t ask about university.” Not long after that, Bill was cast as Gordon Clegg, son of Rover’s Return barmaid Betty Williams in Coronation Street.

He stayed a year, leaving to become a theatre producer, but has reprised the role occasionally over four decades – and will appear at Betty’s funeral in the show next month. “Originally, I was given three weeks off Corrie to play Billy Liar on stage with Oldham Rep. Shortly beforehand, they rang to say the show was off because they’d double-booked the theatre. I still wanted to do the play, so I lured a few friends into helping me and we put it on in Buxton. That was it, really. My company started the idea of plays touring provincial theatres. Before that you just had panto and the odd Easter season.” His early coup was to get Pat Phoenix out of the Rovers and onto the stage to star in The Miracle Worker, which broke box office records everywhere it played. “Mind you, I had to put up signs asking people to stop talking during the performance – they all thought they were in their own living rooms watching Elsie on the box and could just chat away.” He followed up by putting Anne Reid from Corrie in Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall’s Come Laughing Home.

The shows he has had the longest association with are Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, and Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers, the nature/nurture story of twins born in Liverpool who were separated at birth but end up at opposite ends of the social divide and fall in love with the same girl. “I just had a feeling about that show even though it took a while to become a big hit,” says Kenwright. “If anyone had told me back then that it would still be running 23 years later I’d have called them daft. It really touch me then and it still touches me. I feel so blessed that it came along.” A panoply of female stars have queued up to play Mrs Johnstone, from Barbara Dickson and Stephanie Lawrence to Kiki Dee and Mel C. Getting Americans to love BB wasn’t so easy, though, as Kenwright recalls. “Blood Brothers got the worst reviews ever in New York, and no show in history had survived savage reviews there. I lost a lot of money but I saved it by launching an ad campaign.

By the end of 16 weeks over there with the English cast, we’d lost double the amount I’d put up for the show. “So I got David and Sean Cassidy and Petula Clarke in and the following week it went from 50,000 dollar loss to 150,000 dollar profit. Suddenly it was ‘the miracle of Broadway’ and it saved David Cassidy’s career.” Kenwright was recently called in by Andrew Lloyd Webber to iron out direction problems with the Phantom of the Opera sequel Love Never Dies, and among the many plates he successfully spins (“but don’t make it sound like it’s all been success...no-one has that, and I have the diaries to prove it.”) he indulges his love of classic pop and R&B music with shows like Save The Last Dance For Me. He describes it as “Dirty Dancing meets Yanks meets Dreamboats and Petticoats” and the tour is packing them in around the country. “Like me, there seem to be loads of people who love a romantic story and loads of songs from when they were young. “Someone asked me once about who I thought would miss me most if I wasn’t around any more.

I listed the dancers, choreographers, actors, theatre owners, writers...’ and this guy said ‘No, it would be the audience’. “Maybe he’s right. If I’m good at doing anything it’s being a member of the public and understanding what people like. “One thing I’ve learned along the way is that if you do anything just to make money it won’t work. And you can only get there, wherever you want to be, by working hard. That’s my philosophy, if I have one.” Save the Last Dance for Me, Hull New Theatre from April 23-28. 01482 300300.

Question: Actor and theatre producer Bill Kenwright became chairman of which English football club in 2004?
Answer: Everton FC