There was a time when television dictated the rhythm of our evenings, when families gathered around a single screen and the arrival of a familiar theme tune promised an hour of escape.
For those of us who grew up in 90s Britain, Star Trek: The Next Generation on BBC Two and Sky One became something approaching essential family teatime viewing.
Patrick Stewart belonged to that wonderful era when a television character could become part of the family.
Television has changed immeasurably since then. The shared anticipation of waiting for a favourite programme that almost everyone watched has largely disappeared with so many satellite channels to choose from.
We had known William Shatner’s James T. Kirk as the captain of the Enterprise. Then came Patrick Stewart’s Jean-Luc Picard, a Yorkshireman with the bearing of a Shakespearean king, a magnificent voice and an authority that seemed entirely natural.
He made the captain’s chair his own with his catchphrase ‘Make it so number one!’ And who will ever forget those opening words?
Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before.
A fun fact is that Star Trek: The Next Generation was the most popular TV programme when I was at Theological College. Everyone and everything stopped early on a Wednesday evening when it was aired.
It was popular, I think, because it was wholesome TV with a morality that echoed Jean-Luc and his crew. It was also ‘other worldly’ which fitted in with a Christian view of Jesus bringing a Godly morality of ‘kingdom values’ that was ‘out of this world.’
Stewart, of course, was an actor of extraordinary distinction. From the Royal Shakespeare Company (who can forget his mesmering Shylock in ‘The Merchant of Venice?) to Professor Charles Xavier in X-Men, the Marvel Universe and his cameo in ‘Extras’ – Stewart’s was a career enriched by intelligence, dignity and immense versatility.
His farewell performance in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is yet to be seen – it is due to be released on 18 December 2026.
Stewart’s compassion extended beyond the stage, particularly through his work supporting victims of domestic abuse – a response to growing up with a violent father in Mirfield, near Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.
Stewart often said his proudest moment was when he was appointed Chancellor of Huddersfield University.
A remarkable actor, a magnificent captain and a cherished companion to countless evenings. His death at 86 years of age on 29 October 2026 seems like the passing of an old family friend.
Rest in peace, Sir Patrick Stewart. Your mission is complete.
