Quotes

Talking about his least favourite role, that of Bert Ramford in the Clive Dunn show Grandad (1979): "Only last year, I was on my way back from Athens and the plane was diverted and didn't land till 5 am. It had been a long flight, I was really tired and in need of a good shower. Then suddenly at the airport, a group of teenagers shouted, "Oi, it's that geezer from Grandad (1979)!. It seems there's no escape from Bert."

Talking about his rise from printer to actor: "I spent my teenage years in South London, dabbling in rock and roll, playing in pub gigs, before going on to become an apprentice printer. I passed my indentures and was somewhat reluctantly beginning a career in printing while harbouring a dream of becoming an actor. But I didn't really know how to go about it. My wife's sister is married to Roy Marsden's brother so I asked Roy what I should do. He told me to go to drama school and at the age of 24, I successfully applied to the East 15 Drama School."

On his directorial debut Tank Malling: "It was my debut as a feature film director and I found it extremely challenging. It exhausted every particle of my being but it was also very rewarding."