n The quintessential blonde-haired, blue-eyed Englishman, Edward Fox has often found his chilly looks suited to blue blooded aristos or cool assasins. See Day of the Jackal. This movie shot the relatively unknown rep actor into the international arena as De Gaulle's assassin.

n Edward has pursued a life in direct contrast to that of his younger brother James. Fox Jnr left the industry amid a welter of publicity in 1970 to become a missionary for the Navigators religious group. Edward also pursued a diverse professional life prior to becoming the infamous Jackal or Edward VII in the TV series Edward and Mrs Simpson. There was a brief and unsuccessful stint as a professional soldier in the Coldstream Guards of which he reported: ''I liked that sense of order army life imposed upon one; I'm a very orderly person, I valued the experience but after two years I became bored by it.'' So bored that he went on to become a Marks & Spencer mangement trainee. Thankfully luvviedom beckoned.

n Edward Fox was particularly proud of one award in 1980 - Pipeman of the Year. Voted by the tobacco industry and presented by the Pipesmokers' Council, the actor created a furore after rejecting the winning prize of one year's supply of pipes and tobacco. He asked for a donation to go to Cambodian relief instead.

n So what does a cold-blooded sadistic assassin actor type graze upon? Fox's confessed weakness is a really good steak and kidney pie with a wonderful pastry. ''I would have it with new potatoes and brussel sprouts,'' he told The Herald in 1989. ''I would follow it with a lemon souffle and wash it all down with claret.''

n He confessed some years ago to preferring the life of an eighteenth-century Georgian than a twentieth-century man. ''I love the idea of the Georgians, and that wonderful robust humour'' he recalled. ''Lines like: 'Damn you, sir, with one hand behind my back I'll knock you down.'' What a gent.

The Day of the Jackal is on BBC1 at 11.40pm