Tag: acting

  • John Challis: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    John Challis: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    The Steeple Times asks actor John Challis, best known for playing Boycie in “Only Fools and Horses”: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

     

    The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?

    Marlene is my guiding force at all times. Listen to your wife. She knows best.

     

    “Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?

    “Never lose that bitterness”.

     

    Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2013?

    Wind turbines.

     

    Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?

    The energy of my youth.

     

    What might you swap all your wealth for?

    Life in a warm climate.

     

    Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the banking crisis?

    Bloody capitalists!

     

    What phrase or word do you most loathe?

    “Gobsmacked”.

     

    In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?

    I support animal charities especially Tusk Trust. They are fighting to save rhinos and elephants from extinction as a result of poaching. Ronnie Wood and I are the oldest and longest serving patrons of Tusk.

     

    The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?

    Mobile phones are a bloody nuisance, especially on public transport. I have got into fights in the silent carriages of trains. Can’t live with them, can’t live without them. I resisted a mobile for years.

    John Challis and friends
    John Challis and friends

     

    If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?

    Marlon Brando, James Stewart, Kim Novak, Prince Rupert of the Rhine, Tom Graveney, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, Jacques Tati, Marg Helgenberger and Paul Guilfoyle.

     

    If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?

    Gorgonzola cheese with fresh figs and a glass of vintage port on the terrace of the Hotel Splendido in Portofino, Italy.

     

    What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?

    6pm unless out to lunch.

     

    A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?

    A martini, stirred not shaken, with a twist of lemon and an olive for my heartburn.

     

    Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?

    I don’t do parties anymore. My 60th finished me off.

     

    Who is the most positive person you know?

    My brother-in-law, Johnny Palmer.

     

    What’s your most guilty pleasure?

    ABBA.

     

    If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?

    A man with a cricket bat striking a cover drive.

     

    If you were a car, what marque would you be?

    An Aston Martin DB4.

     

    Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.

    I wear Converse trainers.

     

    What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?

    Abby Bobblehead (NCIS), a miniature Trotter yellow van and a packet of lupin seeds sent to me from a Twitter follower in Texas.

     

    John Challis is an English actor best known for his role as Terrance Aubrey “Boycie” Boyce in the long running BBC television comedy series Only Fools and Horses and its spin-off, The Green Green Grass.

     

    To order signed copies of John Challis’ autobiography, Being Boycie and Boycie & Beyond, and to view the list of venues for his show on tour, go to: http://www.wigmorebooks.com

     

    Follow him on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/BeingBoycie

  • Penelope Wilton OBE

    Penelope Wilton OBE

    Penelope WiltonYorkshire born and twice divorced, Wilton is the niece of actor Bill Travers. She’s performed widely but truly came to fame when she appeared alongside Richard Briers in the BBC’s Ever Decreasing Circles in 1984. As Rosemary in Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads 2 and as Mrs Bibby in his The History Boys, she was brilliant but it is as Isobel Crawley in Julian Fellowes’ Downton Abbey that she is now best known. Wilton has most definitely got playing middle-class down to a tee and once commented: “I find talking about acting very boring, having to come out with platitudes about how terribly nice everyone is… I would much rather just do it”.

  • Jules Knight: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    Jules Knight: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    The Steeple Times asks actor Jules Knight: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

     

    The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?

    Vino, feminae et Carmen.

     

    “Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?

    “Ask, believe, receive”.

     

    Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2013?

    I find the fact that we make celebrities of people in reality TV shows unspeakably depressing.

     

    Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?

    I miss my father who died a few years ago.

     

    What might you swap all your wealth for?

    If I had a choice between being wealthy and alone or poor and in love, I’d definitely choose the latter. Preferably someone like Mila Kunis if you can arrange it.

     

    Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the banking crisis?

    I think a lot of people and companies made mistakes driven by greed and no one seemed to learn from historical mistakes. I’m not against big bonuses if they reward success. I believe in a meritocracy.

     

    What phrase or word do you most loathe?

    “We are experiencing high call volumes (today, yesterday and every other day you’ve called). Your call is important to us (so important that we have 2 non English speaking people working to answer 5000 calls a day). Please Hold (whilst you are charged 50p per minute so that when we answer we can tell you that what you want us to do is not possible”.

     

    In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?

    Over the years I’ve performed at a lot of charity events and helped them raise money in all sorts of ways. On a personal level, I think the British Heart Foundation is a great charity and I have a soft spot for WWF. But aside from wrestling, that wildlife charity is good too.

     

    The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?

    They’re a blessing and a curse. I use mine to run my whole life. It practically brushes my teeth for me. But when I lose it or it breaks I feel completely helpless. Sad really.

     

    BBC1's "Holby City" actor and former member of vocal group Blake Jules Knight
    BBC1’s “Holby City” actor and former member of vocal group Blake Jules Knight

     

    If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?

    Ricky Gervais, Stephen Fry, Anthony Hopkins, Christian Bale and Jennifer Aniston. A few drinks, a few laughs and then perhaps make love. Not all together. There isn’t room in that bar.

     

    If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?

    I have a feeling they’d make me have it in prison but if they were foolish enough to allow me to have it in, let’s say, The Fat Duck, I’d do that and then have a couple of pints in a pub in Bray, chill out for a few hours and then, well, go home and relax. Phew that was close.

     

    What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?

    I never really drink before 6pm unless there is a plan to start early. In which case, I can be persuaded.

     

    A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?

    A vodka martini with Grey Goose and a twist. That gets things started nicely.

     

    Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?

    There is a yearly polo party that Audi put on for about 200 people that is the best of the year. Talented, interesting guests from the world of sport, acting and music, lots of champagne, cocktails, amazing food. It turns into one big house party in a field.

     

    Who is the most positive person you know?

    My old boss, Nigel Evans MP. He’s a lovely chap.

     

    What’s your most guilty pleasure?

    Pickled eggs.

     

    If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?

    “Get it Here”.

     

    If you were a car, what marque would you be?

    A Range Rover Evoque. A fusion of classic and contemporary, urban and rural.

     

    Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.

    I wanted to be in the army. Now I prance around treading the boards.

     

    What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?

    My Classical Brit is wedged between my two degree certificates: a woeful 2:2 MA in Art History from St Andrews and my MA in Acting for Screen from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

     

    Jules Knight is an actor and former member of the Blake, the vocal group widely known for having been formed on Facebook in 2007. He appears in BBC1’s Holby City from 14th May 2013 as Dr Harry Tressler.

     

    Follow him on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/MrJulesKnight

  • Richard Griffiths OBE (1947 – 2013)

    Richard Griffiths OBE (1947 – 2013)

    Richard GriffithsMost recognised for having played Uncle Monty in Withnail and I and Vernon Dursley in the Harry Potter films, this Yorkshireman truly was a larger than life actor. (more…)

  • A cock-up by “Cock Roache”

    A cock-up by “Cock Roache”

    The latest in a series of bizarre comments from actor William Roache

     

    William Roache MBE, who plays Ken Barlow in Coronation Street, is no stranger to controversy.

     

    The grandson of a Freemason who was interested in hypnotism, theosophy and esotericism, Roache is a vegetarian and spiritualist who was photographed participating in Druid rituals in the 1970s.

    (more…)

  • Sandi Toksvig

    Sandi Toksvig

    Sandi ToksvigIn 2013, this Danish-British former Liberal Democrat author and presenter stated: “The Duchess of Cambridge lacks a single [relevant] opinion”. The nation were far from impressed. “Toxic Toksvig”, as some refer to her, is a Cambridge educated lesbian and mother of three whose works number Hitler’s Canary and Heroines & Harridans. She started her career on the appropriately named Motormouth and once stated: “When I see comedian – and ‘comedienne’, of course I hate it – I think ‘Oh, really?’ because I think of myself as a writer and broadcaster”. Miaow!

  • Justin Timberlake

    Justin Timberlake

    Justin Timberlake 250This child star has morphed via a stint on the Disney Channel and in boy band ‘N Sync into an internationally known singer-songwriter, actor, record producer, dancer and businessman. (more…)

  • Josh Henderson

    Josh Henderson

    Josh Henderson 350This Texan actor and singer is a rising star who first found fame in Desperate Housewives before taking a lead role in the TNT revival of Dallas. Henderson is heterochromatic and has one green eye and one blue eye. He lists his style icons as James Franco and Ryan Gosling and of them states: “I take a lot of my fashion tips from those two. In my opinion, they’re the ones getting it right”.

  • Michelle Dockery

    Michelle Dockery

    Michelle Dockery 300This Golden Globe and Emmy nominated actress came to prominence as Downton Abbey’s Lady Mary Crawley in September 2010 and is now considered “one of the most chattered-about women on television”. Born in Romford, Essex, Dockery has also appeared in television series’ including Heartbeat and Dalziel and Pascoe and films such as Anna Karenina with Jude Law and Keira Knightley. Of her future ambitions, she states: “I love singing live, actually. And I’m dying to sing in a role, whether it’s in a musical or a biographical film about a singer. It’s always been one of my aspirations”. In the meantime, the nation will continue to celebrate watching this rising talent as she morphs into Downton’s merry widow.

  • Jack P. Shepherd: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    Jack P. Shepherd: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    The Steeple Times asks actor Jack Shepherd (“Coronation Street’s” David Platt): “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

     

    The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?

    Patience and optimism.

     

    “Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?

    Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

      (more…)