Martin Shaw opens up about The Professionals feud

Martin Shaw discusses a long running off screen conflict with his former co star during the late 1970s hit The Professionals.

Martin Shaw recounts feud with Lewis Collins on The Professionals

Martin Shaw, now 80, says he carried a long running feud with his late co star Lewis Collins while they rose to fame on The Professionals in the late 1970s. The two played Doyle and Bodie, but Shaw says the off screen relationship was tense from the start. The trouble began before they found mainstream success, dating back to Shaw’s time as a villain in The New Avengers in 1977. Shaw recalls Collins behaving badly on that set and being arrogant, a dynamic that followed them onto The Professionals. He even considered turning down the role but was ultimately cast. On the first day of shooting Shaw tried to put the issues aside and proposed they work together, but Collins reportedly told him to go away and the rift persisted for years.

The Professionals ran from 1977 to 1983 and left a lasting mark on British television. Shaw has continued acting in theatre and on screen and remains associated with the show’s iconic status. The story offers a rare, human glimpse into how a hit series can be built on both on screen drama and off screen tension, reminding readers that fame does not erase personal conflict.

The feud story highlights how on screen chemistry can mask real tensions behind the scenes. It shows that even successful partnerships are not immune to friction, and that time and willingness to forgive can help mend old wounds. This kind of anecdote enriches the legacy of a classic show by adding texture to its history, not just the episodes themselves.

It also underscores how audiences increasingly crave behind the scenes detail. These revelations can shift how people remember a series, casting the performers in a new light and inviting a broader conversation about work culture in television during that era.

Highlights

The behind the scenes voice often becomes part of a show’s enduring story.