It says a lot for the late, great Sir Patrick Stewart, who has died aged 86, that two wholly disparate contingents of his fanbase are mourning his death. The first, of course, are those who followed his distinguished theatrical career, which spanned several decades and saw him attempt most of the major Shakespearean roles – all of which he played with his customary brio and charisma. The second are those who followed him to infinity and beyond as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek star and inspiration to millions with his award-winning portrayal of quiet, steadfast decency. Forget the womanising and self-regard of William Shatner’s Kirk; Picard was, for another generation, the captain of the starship Enterprise.  

Stewart was, in his own modest estimation, a bald, working-class Yorkshireman who got phenomenally lucky, but this is untrue. He managed a successful Hollywood career for decades – in addition to Picard, he was also Professor Xavier in the X-Men films, and will be making what is sadly his swansong appearance in Avengers: Doomsday this Christmas – and combined this with critically acclaimed work on stage for the RSC and in America. But what he was so good at was an effortless........

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