| The End of Cullen |
| Cullen's last episode was broadcast last night (Tuesday 20/8/02) in the UK. The Cullen Campaign didn't keep him on our screens but it certainly gave Ged a lovely send-off. I don't know how he went - I'll wait until Australia sees it in 11 months time - but I do know that it was a tragic waste of a brilliant character. Avon |
| Here are a few tributes from UK fans. (With thanks to Shona for collecting them) |
| For nearly two years Cullen doesn't seem to do very much at all in the way of actual policing in fact the only episode I remember him investigating anything in was 'Juliet' (corect me if I'm wrong). He marched around the office offering advice, briefing and adding the odd scolding to a junior officer, mostly Kate Spears, and then just sit back. He certainly wasn't a John Boulton but more of an Andrew Monroe by-the-book type. I don't blame Ged Simmons though, he's a fine actor as we've seen when he used to pop up in The Bill during the mid 90's, I just think he's been given hardly anything to do while the main focus was on Kate Spears or Debbie McCallister. He is quite an upbeat and funny man. When I met him for the first time in November 2001 he stopped to talk to us even though he was on his way to the doctors and indeed I think he gave most of us his germs (the ultimate souvenir). In an interview with George Rossi on The Big Breakfast at the begining of the year he even said that the reason for his leaving was that they wouldn't give him a uniform, which would of suited Alex, he was after all a bit of a Andrew Monroe type, but perhaps some story-lines would of been better. On the forum some have affectionately nicknamed him 'Beaker' after the character from The Muppets. What I think happened is they just abducted Russell Boulter and gave him a few hours stretching on the rack. I sometimes wonder what he would of been like in the half hour episodes and not just him but perhaps Paul Riley, Vik Singh and some of the rest that were pushed to the back a bit, maybe they would of had a better chance to shine. Sometimes being enigmatic speaks volumes but if only we could've seen more of it. DS Thompson [edited to remove spoilers] |
| I'll miss Cullen a lot. Ds Angry |
| Cullen was underused, but like you say, this added to his no-complications, man-of-mystery character. He got on with the job, and was an ever-present source of order in a changing station. I will miss him. Guv |
| Three quiet cheers for Sun Hill's most inscrutable, mysterious, mild-mannered-but-with-hidden-depths, Baggies-fan DI! Hip-hip...HOORAY! Hip-hip...HOORAY! Hip-hip...HOORAY! Seriously though - DI Cullen was wonderfully acted by Ged Simmons- plus Ged's a really nice person. I wish that we had seen more of him, but he was always there in the background with his Baggies mug- Sun Hill's highest ranking regular TREV. Looking forward to seeing Ged in Holby! B eeaitch |
| Cullen was great!!... I'll miss Cullen the most. Dodgy Don |
| Debbie McAllister should of gone tonight instead of Cullen. Snowman |
| Cullen left in a fairly understated way but then again that is very fitting with his character Dodgy Don |
| .. and will def miss Cullen. Didn't realise I liked him until last night!! MrsTaviner |
| I'm sorry to see Cullen leaving I always thought he was quite a decent chap. Mamajaycee |