Why so many recasts for Hugh Beringar?

...I can't answer your question about why he didn't return - I can only guess he had other commitments (as the son of Jon Pertwee I'd like to see him in Doctor Who - he'd be a good new 'Brigadier' for UNIT).

In the books, Hugh was described as short and dark - which makes it all the more odd that Sean was replaced by tall, blond Eoin McCarthy. Anthony Green was at least the right shape again.

But then I've always said Philip Madoc should have been Cadfael (he played the role in a radio series) - I can see why you'd cast (Ellis Peters' choice) Derek Jacobi in the role of a detective monk, but Madoc is Welsh and looks like he might have been a crusader/sailor in an earlier life (in fact he was - as a German U-boat captain in Dad's Army).

On your train of thought, I think I just caught the caboose.

I don't know why he didn't come back. I was also very taken with him. The other two guys who played Beringar were not as good, I didn't think. They weren't nearly as charismatic, and they didn't have the same chemistry at all with Cadfael.

If you look at his list of credits you'll see he was comitted to other jobs.

I completely agree, bunnellius! I was extremely disappointed when the second series began with a different actor playing the part of Hugh Beringar. Sean Pertwee was so much better in so many ways. Unfortunately, it really ruined the rest of the series for me. It was OK but I just never enjoyed it as much as I did after the first season. And the fact that Pertwee more closely resembled the author's description of Beringar than the actors who replaced him just made matters worse. Whenever I re-read Ellis Peters' novels, I always picture Sean as Hugh!


Morse's Law: There's always time for one more pint.

I have to admit that I wasn't aware of the third actor who played Hugh Beringar, although we saw all the episodes on TV, and are now playing them on DVD. Before watching the series, my husband and I had read all the books--20, I think. The first time I saw Sean Pertwee as Hugh, I knew in an instant that he was Sheriff Berengar--he was that perfect in the role. I don't know why he left the series, but we missed him every time we saw someone else playing Hugh. Eoin McCarthy was no more Hugh than I am--but he was very good later, as Thomas Pitt in Anne Perry's Victorian mysteries. Does anyone know why these episodes were run so totally out of order? It's mind-boggling to see Abbot Heribert in one episode, followed the next time by Abbot Radulfus, then Heribert again several episodes later. I thought they were both ideal for their parts, but clearly out of order. In general, we enjoyed and appreciated the portrayal of almost all the characters from the books, and thought the opening artwork and music were superior. The books take place in the 1100s, which is a little startling when one realizes that it wasn't that long after the Norman Conquest. They do have to bow to modern custom and morals, though, as in the episode showing the little boys splashing around in swim trunks!

I'm almost sure that Sean Pertwee had to give up 'Cadfael' because of film work. I don't know which film drew him away from the series. But I liked him as Hugh Beringar. This was the first time I had seen this actor in anything. I was looking for some resemblance to his father Jon Pertwee. Not obvious at first. Bu then in some shots there is those telltale likeness's about the mouth and eyes.

Perhaps Hugh Beringar is a Time Lord?

The first recast was ok at least. The last one was terrible.