The Character

Marty Hopkirk was murdered in a hit-and-run while investigating what seemed to be a fairly routine divorce case, but refused to take death lying down and came back as a spirit to help Jeff find his killers. The small fact that he's dead doesn't stop Marty from being just as much a worrier than when he was alive. He worries about everything - his car, Jeff's driving, the business... but most of all about his wife - now widowed - Jeannie.
Marty has an intensely jealous streak that surfaces frequently when another man comes anywhere near her, and was almost literally beside himself when Emil Cavallo-Smith took a liking to Jean ("Vendetta For A Dead Man"). Of course, any hint of a romance between Jeff and Jean is off-limits - just a word said can be taken out of context by the ever-protective Marty, who will spring to 'defend' her.
Generally, though, Marty is likeable, intelligent and cheerful, and is usually the one who gets Jeff out of trouble - whether it's getting him fished out of a river, or out of a dank cellar. Needless to say, he is sometimes the contributing factor to how Jeff got there in the first place!
As a ghost, Marty has the unequalled ability to be invisible and therefore uncatchable - although he was very nearly exorcised by a crafty psychic! His abilities include shattering glass or mirrors, creating near hurricanes, walking through walls and the annoying propensity to vanish into thin air if he finds he's losing an argument with Jeff! His persistence usually wins over even the sceptical Jeff, while his paranoia ensures the pair never become too complacent.

And now for a brief insight into what makes Marty (and by proxy, Jeff) tick. I hereby refuse to accept the consequences of such happenings. OK, Marty, let's start with the basics...

Name: "Marty Hopkirk."
Age: "Never you mind!"
Born: "Yes."
Eyes: "Two! Sorry. Blue."
Hair: "Black."
Interests: "Oh, football. Definetly. Did I tell you about the time I helped England win their semi against Germany? The left back had a clear sight on goal, and I blew the ball over the crossbar! Hah! The look on his face was fantastic!" Mmm, quite. Jeff gives his ghostly friend a sidelong glance. Am I missing something? Apparently I am. "Yes, I recall, all right, you were busy watching the second leg while I was up to my neck in trouble!" Jeff snorts.
Oh dear. I think I'd better intervene - is there anything you enjoy in particular? I ask. "Annoying me!" cuts in Jeff before Marty can reply. He's on the receiving end of a glare. Jeff ignores him. "And backseat driving! The last time I borrowed Jeannie's car he wouldn't let up for a minute!"
Another glare, and I get ready to duck.
"The last time you borrowed MY car it ended up in the garage with one of the doors off!" yelps an agitated Marty.
"It's Jeannie's car!"
Marty folds his arms and turns away from his friend in a huff. Jeff appears to be counting the tiles on the floor. I ask if we can get back to the interview, rather timidly. Marty's face brightens and he pipes up with, "Well, I like typing. I can do it, you know. It's easy for me. The typewriter always gets on Jeff's nerves." He grins mischievously. Jeff's expression is decidedly weary.
What about dislikes? "Horses. I can't stand horses. And I hate lilies. They're so morbid." He grimaces accordingly.
You're very protective of Jean. "Well, I have to be," shrugs Marty,"there are a lot of people - " "Men," corrects Jeff, who earns an accusing look from his friend - "who would hurt her. If I'm going to be stuck here for a hundred years then I want to be sure my wife - " "Widow." A glare. "-wife is safe. It's a dangerous business, detective work."
Jeff nods in agreement. Phew, something they both agree on. Although I can't help sensing a friendliness about their bickering. For all their arguing, Marty Hopkirk and Jeff Randall are inseparable - although they don't really have a choice about that, seeing as Marty is haunting his friend for the rest of his natural life. Together though, they are a formidable detective team.

The Actor

Kenneth Cope was born in Liverpool, son of an engineer, and is a devout Evertonian. He first made people laugh when he was in Boy Scouts - his best friend was Norman Rossington (The Army Game), and both are still patrol leaders to this day - "although we don't wear the shorts anymore!" he laughs. "Norman and I did these crazy sketches for concert parties which, amazingly, proved popular. Norman was asked to take part in a youth production of The Merchant of Venice, but he wouldn't go without me because he was too shy. Twelve months later, we both did auditions for the Bristol Old Vic."
The pair were so poor they had to live on chips and single cigarettes. But on his two-year assistant stage manager course, Ken managed to get training in fencing, country dancing and ballet - even if it did mean staying up all night shifting scenery! One of his first TV roles was in The Adventures of Robin Hood in the episode "An Apple For The Archer," as Timothy Cox (the man who introduced the Cox's Orange Pippin to England!!). An episode of Ivanhoe with Roger Moore and a bluff about being able to ride led to Kenneth being taken for one - quite literally - by the horse in question. "Its ears went forward as it saw this straight and it was off...I then proceeded to lose both stirrups and it was a mile before I managed to stop the beast. My legs were shaking with the physical effort of gripping a horse with thin tights...I trotted it back and the others said, 'Jesus, Ken, we didn't know you could ride...'!"
Other TV roles included an army deserter in Dixon of Dock Green and, through a cheeky retort to Ena Sharples, ("Givvus a kiss!") got a regular role in Coronation Street as cap-wearing Jed Stone. "I wore it to avoid typecasting. It was my prop. As soon as I took it off, I lost Jed. I wouldn't have got Randall & Hopkirk if I hadn't worn a cap in Coronation Street."
At the same time, Kenneth landed That Was The Week That Was on Granada, which meant a hectic schedule. "I'll never forget the time the floor manager for TW3 took me to one side and said, 'Kenny, you've lost the first two pages of your script and the last three. Good luck.' It had been ripping as it passed through the autocue. Thankfully, I always had a script with me and as it was a kitchen sink sketch, I put the script in the sink and read it as I washed the dishes."
Kenneth also added a couple of new talents to his bow after Corrie, making a record entitled, 'Hands Off, Stop Mucking About,' ("It got very high in the hospital charts!") and then a twice-weekly show on Radio Luxembourg for a year. Ken's films include Yangtse Incident, The Lady is a Square, Hammerhead, Genghis Khan, Carry On At Your Convenience and Carry On Matron as well as a Doctor Who story ('Warrior's Gate').
Also a keen writer, Ken has penned episodes of Village Hall, The Squirrels and A Sharp Intake of Breath, and created a children's series Striker.

Ken is currently starring in Liverpool soap Brookside.

Click here for a snippet from "Hands Off, Stop Mucking About" (255K .wav; courtesy Karen Raizor)

Ken's ITC Appearances

The Adventures Of Robin Hood: 'An Apple For The Archer' as Timothy Cox
The Adventures Of Robin Hood: 'The Mark' as Diccon
The Adventures Of Robin Hood: 'Elixir Of Youth' as Alwyn
William Tell: 'The Bandit' as Marco

Mailing List & Forum | The Episode Guide | Memorable Quotes

Main Page | The Characters | R&H Fanfiction | R&H Media

Gallery | Humour | Links

Material included from Geoff Tibballs' 'Randall & Hopkirk (deceased)' book, published by Boxtree 1994.