Some aspects of the Birds Eye story are open to question. That the filming took place is pretty certain, although no one I spoke to actually saw it happen. What is less sure is whether the commercial was ever broadcast. Unilever, who were the owners of Birds Eye have no records. Robert Pickering of their archives department was, ‘unable to confirm whether the TV ad ever took place. We don't actually keep TV ads in the archive, and I have not been able to find any scripts or other media relating to the commercial.’

Dominic Robb’s claim to be the first Captain Birds Eye is again impossible to corroborate. Unilever would justifiably disclaim it, because according to their archives he did not make his first appearance until 1967 with another actor. In 1966 they were looking to an agency Lintas to give new life to the product because by then competitors were launching their own versions. It was probably while Compton Castle was in the arc lights at Kingsbridge, the ad men in London were dreaming up something new. The message was to be the same, high-quality fish with an appeal to children. From these meetings Captain Birds Eye was born. The figure, kindly, jolly, intrepid; a seafaring kind of Father Christmas with a West Country accent. Exactly what Dominic Robb looked like on that day. Maybe one of the executives present for the Kingsbridge commercial was also involved in the ‘new image’ meetings. Perhaps he heard Robb that day talking to Len and this set the idea in motion.

But actor John Hewer who played him in all the TV ads for many years would naturally claim he was the original. It would have been interesting had the two actors ever met. I am fairly confident though, this never took place.