AUDIO: A-Team legend at Sheffield Film and Comic Con

I love it when a plan comes together...and the famous catchphrase from iconic 80s hit TV show The A-Team will resonate in Sheffield this weekend.
The A Team's Dirk Benedict, far left, as Templeton 'Faceman' Peck, with co-stars George Peppard as John 'Hannibal' Smith, Dwight Schultz as 'Howling Mad' Murdock and Mr. T as B.A. Baracus.The A Team's Dirk Benedict, far left, as Templeton 'Faceman' Peck, with co-stars George Peppard as John 'Hannibal' Smith, Dwight Schultz as 'Howling Mad' Murdock and Mr. T as B.A. Baracus.
The A Team's Dirk Benedict, far left, as Templeton 'Faceman' Peck, with co-stars George Peppard as John 'Hannibal' Smith, Dwight Schultz as 'Howling Mad' Murdock and Mr. T as B.A. Baracus.

After months of planning the first Sheffield Film and Comic Convention comes to the Motorpoint Arena on Saturday and Sunday.

It will see the Arena floor crammed with TV and film collectable stalls plus a galaxy of stars, to meet fans for autographs and photos - including The A-Team’s own Dirk Benedict, who played James Bond style conman and ladies man ‘Face’.

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He also starred in Battlestar Galactica, and made appearances in shows including Hawaii Five-O and Charlie’s Angels.

The A Team's Dirk Benedict will be a guest signer at the first Sheffield Film and Comic Convention at the Motorpoint Arena, August 30 and 31, 2014.The A Team's Dirk Benedict will be a guest signer at the first Sheffield Film and Comic Convention at the Motorpoint Arena, August 30 and 31, 2014.
The A Team's Dirk Benedict will be a guest signer at the first Sheffield Film and Comic Convention at the Motorpoint Arena, August 30 and 31, 2014.

But it was as Lt Templeton “Faceman” Peck that he is best known. He starred alongside George Peppard, as leader and master of disguise, John “Hannibal” Smith, Dwight Schultz, who as HM “Howling Mad” Murdock, The A-Team’s pilot, and Mr T, as Bosco Albert “BA” (Bad Attitude) Baracus, the musicle of the team.

They played a group of ex US Army Special Forces personnel, righting wrongs on the run for a “crime they didn’t commit’ - a mix of Dirty Dozen, Mission Impossible and The Magnificent Seven, with cartoon-style, over the top violence, where people very rarely got hurt.

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He will be telling fans how the series - which first aired 1983-87 - was as much fun to make as it was to watch.

But Dirk, who played a James Bond type ladies man, blowing up buildings and speeding around in fast cars, admits it was the end of an era as political correctness kicked in.

“We knew it was the end of an American era. I was playing a character they didn’t want any more. Those character are not on TV. It sort of ended my career. A lot of women executives thought I was that character,” he told The Star.

“But it was a blessing to get the role, not a curse. Thirty plus years later here I am talking about it.

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“It was great fun to do. we made a movie every seven days. We crashed cars, blew buildings up, did stunts, high falls, car chasers. And I got to play an over the top silly, funny ladies man - it was fantastic.

“It was lightning in a bottle. I knew how special this was working with those three great guys - funny, irreverent and unusual. The special thing was every day doing battle with them.

“We just laughed all damn day. George sat in his trailer, but Dwight, Mr T and myself were outside laughing.”

These days the 69-year-old doesn’t have any TV or film projects but admits he’s busy living life and meeting fans at conventions like the one coming to Sheffield.

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“I go home. I’ve got sons, meet up with friends; I go to New York, I live in Montana , chop a lot of wood, go fishing, hike in the mountains, have friends who ride and stuff, I’m busy living my life. I’m living the dream.

“Given what just happened to Robin Williams, who I knew...I’ve got the ideal life.

“But I have no woman in my life, which, given my A-Team role , is such an ironic thing.

He laughs: “I’m going to have auditions in Sheffield for the next Mrs Benedict.”

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Movie props, including The A-Team van and Michael Knight’s Kitt car from Knight Rider, will also be at the Arena.

Doctor Who fans can have their photo with former Time Lord Paul McGann and his Tardis. Sylvester McCoy, the seventh Doctor, who preceded McGann, will also be there with other stars of the show including Louise Jameson, Bonnie Langford, Sophie Aldred, Mat Irvine, John Leeson, Terry Molloy, Dan Starkey and Frazer Hines, plus Eve Myles, from spin off TV series Torchwood.

Virginia Hey from Farscape and Mad Max 2, Craig Charles and Chris Barrie from Red Dwarf, plus Jeremy Bulloch, Ian Liston, John Morton, Jack mcKenzie and Paul Blake from Star Wars are coming, along with many other stars.

Tickets £3.30 to £16.50, including booking fees. Buy in person from the Arena Box Office, call 0114 256 5656 or buy online, where you will find latest details and any guest additions and amends, at www.motorpointarenasheffield.co.uk.

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There wil be charges for autographs and official photo shots. Full details, ticket prices and more at www.sheffieldfilmandcomiccon.com, The Star’s web site here and our entertainments and liistings site at www.wow247.co.uk.

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