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Nine black and white photos from the 1970s

Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews filming Brideshead Revisited in 1979
Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews filming Brideshead Revisited in 1979

Here we look at archive photos from the Oxford Mail from the 1970s.

In 1979, actors Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews were filmed in the Botanic Garden for scenes featuring in the popular TV series Brideshead Revisited.

Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews won critical acclaim for their performances in the TV adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's novel Brideshead Revisited.

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It follows, from the 1920s to the early 1940s, the life of Charles Ryder, and his friendship with the Flytes, a family of wealthy English Catholics who live in a palatial mansion called Brideshead Castle.

Some of the action takes place in Oxford and scenes for the 1981 Granada Television series were filmed in the city.

Pictures from our archive show the two actors on set at the Botanic Garden and the photos are from 1979.

Oxford Mail:
Oxford Mail:

Film makers returned to Oxford for a movie of the book, which came out in 2008, starring Ben Wishaw, Matthew Goode and Emma Thompson.

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Kevin Loader, the film's co-producer, said in 2008: "Oxford is a beautiful place to work. It has its own challenges, one being that it is full of tourists.

"During the shoot in Oxford, the film makers needed to quickly establish key points in the story. We had to really establish the sense of wonder of Charles's first experiences of the architecture and the hustle and bustle of Oxford and then the difference between Sebastian's world and the one that Charles has come from, which is reflected a little in the difference between their two colleges.

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"Sebastian's college, Christ Church, is one of the grandest and richest, with the largest quadrangle, where as Charles's at Lincoln is much more intimate and domestic."

For many years movie star Mr Irons has shared a home in Watlington with wife Sinead Cusack and over the years they have both devoted time to various projects in the local community.

Read more from this author

This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF