 In 1976 McKern narrated and presented "The Battle of the Somme", a British Broadcasting Corporation documentary produced to mark the 60th anniversary of World War I battle.He played the Earl of Gloucester in the Granada Television production of "King Lear" (1983) with Sir Laurence Olivier.In 1983 also starring in most episodes of the mini-series 'Reilly, Ace of Spies' as 'Zaharov', director of Vickers with Sam Neill.