THE Thief, His Wife and The Canoe fans were delighted to see an old face pop up in the latest episode of the drama.
Heartbeat actor David Lonsdale took on the role of a life insurance official in the series, which is based on true events.
David’s latest character was seen telling Anne Darwin – wife of John, who faked his death in ‘a canoe accident’ – that she could not make a hefty claim.
He explained to the meek fraudster: “What I’m here today to tell you, Mrs Darwin, is that unfortunately Mutual Assured is not currently in a position to be able to pay out on your husband’s policy.
“I’m sorry if that comes as a bit of a shock. The problem is that you have no death certificate.”
He added: “As far as the coroner is concerned [John] can’t be declared dead until the requisite period of time has passed.”
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When asked how long it would be, he told Anne (Monica Dolan): “The standard time in a case like this, Mrs Darwin, the usual period is seven years.”
David, 58, is best known for playing comic ‘village buffoon’ David Stockwell in the police drama Heartbeat.
Fans were thrilled to see him back on their telly screens in The Thief, His Wife and The Canoe.
One tweeted: “That insurance bloke is David from Heartbeat. Looking good after all these years. #TheThiefHisWifeAndTheCanoe.”
Another said: “#thethiefhiswifeandthecanoe nice to see David from Heartbeat.”
And a third quipped: “Good to see David from #Heartbeat got himself a proper job EH??”
David’s character David Stockwell initially made fleeting appearances in Heartbeat.
But by series eight, he had become a regular member of the show’s family.
Sadly, the popular drama was eventually cancelled, with the final episodes airing in October 2010.
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David went on to land small parts in Coronation Street, Casualty, and Emmerdale.
In 2019, he snared an unnamed role in the Downton Abbey feature film – which starred Dame Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, and Elizabeth McGovern.
- The Thief, His Wife and The Canoe continues at 9pm on ITV1, Tuesday April 19, 2022
