Character: Michael Richards
Actor: Kevin Doyle
Episode: Casualties of War
Michael is an unloved, heavy drinking, compulsive gambler who has been known to beaten his scornful wife Evelyn. A redundant school teacher he now takes 'home school' whilst his wife goes out to work. Michael is in debt to Hendry's gambling ring and is being threatened for payment. He suspects his wife of being unfaithful and dies in very suspicious circumstances.
February, 2007; Publicity Release
Kevin Doyle enjoyed playing the wronged husband in Foyle's War.
"I was very keen to take on the role. It's about the frustration of Michael and how he deals with his wife's infidelity. On paper, it's a similar part to my role in The Lakes but this man is much gentler than my previous character and I wanted to make him cope with that situation very differently. Fortunately the writer of Foyle's War wrote a different outcome.
"Michael doesn't think his relationship with Evelyn is beyond repair, although he knows they are going through difficult times. He goes to see her all dressed up, with flowers, but it's a honey trap."
Kevin was impressed with the way the wartime period was recreated for television.
"It was great having all those lovely old things on set. The art directors were very impressive and they got all the right period touches - the right books on the shelves and the right clothes.
"Everyone is dressed in shades of grey and brown and you realise the poverty of the time. It was similar in feel to the drama I did called The Rotter's Club although that was set in the 70s."
He adds: "Foyle's War was a great experience even though I didn't get many scenes with Michael Kitchen, and I really enjoyed working with Abigail as my wife."
Kevin lives in the Yorkshire countryside.
"I don't need to live in London so I moved up to West Yorkshire. Now if I go to London, I know it won't be a waste of time. It's really James Herriott country and much more affordable. We live surrounded by horses and sheep on what was a working farm - animals rather than arable. We have a lovely old farm cottage near Hebden Bridge, where Ted Hughes lived with Sylvia Plath."
Kevin's many other credits include Holby City, Murphy's Law, Blackpool, Midsomer Murders, Big Dippers, Afterlife, The Brief, Poirot and Wild At Heart.