He’s since become a familiar TV presence from Men Behaving Badly to Waterloo Road and Line of Duty – not to mention scoring two number one hits as the voice of Bob The Builder.
The 63-year-old is just about to clank around as Jacob Marley’s ghost in A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story at Alexandra Palace – a mere 20 minute walk from his home.
We put some questions about his life in North London.
Q: What are you doing right now?
A: We’ve just done a run through of Mark Gatiss’ version of A Christmas Carol and I am playing six or seven people so I’m constantly on the move. It’s great playing a ghost who is supposed to be a bit scary and who introduces the whole point of the story, about Scrooge being visited by three spirits and changing his tune after a lifetime of avarice.
It’s so relevant these days when avarice plays an ever bigger part in society. Plus it’s set in the Victorian era and there’s a whole merry Christmas vibe. Mark loves the Victorian stage tradition of smoke and mirrors and stage tricks – there is a lot of that in this show, blended with modern technology – it’s a great theatrical event and the theatre is absolutely stunning.
I have a seat with my name on there. We gave some money when they were fixing the roof a few years back. And I can walk from the stage door to home in 20 minutes.
Q: Do you believe in ghosts?
A: No I don’t. It’s all rubbish. Why are they always scary and not just Jack the plumber from down the road who popped back to say hello?
Q: You’re a long time north Londoner?
A: Yes we were 25-odd years in Crouch End but when we left we were able to cash in when the bankers arrived. We’ve been in Bounds Green for 12 years, not in the posh bit, but we talk to our neighbours, which didn’t happen too much in Crouch End.
Q: You have owned pubs in the Midlands but what’s your favourite North London local?
A: The Prince in Trinity Road, that’s where I drink. They have a great variety of ales, most of them from London, and a congenial atmosphere with us old blokes sat in the corner making each other laugh. You never know who you are going to run in to, although you know if someone new is in if they come over and ask for a photo. There’s a brilliant band of people in there – from school teachers drinking after hours to my mates, a painter and decorator and a retired accountant – we’ve seen a few of them off, and when they pass away we go to the funerals, lament their loss and talk about them in the pub.
Q: Any shops you like in the area?
A: Myddleton Road is one of the oldest Victorian shopping streets and has lots of great places like the Hillbilly Social which is an independent brewery and has great food. I get my meat from the Hampstead Butcher in Muswell Hill and I prefer a proper bakers like the ones in Bounds Green, or Dunns where they don’t charge you £6 for a tiger loaf like they do at Gail’s.
Q: If you were given mayoral powers for the da,y what would you change?
A: I would banish backpacks on the tube to make room for more people – especially when you are trying to get home in rush hour. I am sick of being smacked by backpacks, it’s my biggest hate. Why are they taking so much stuff around and what the hell are they doing with it?
Q: You were last on TV doing a travelogue with old friend Martin Clunes, what’s next for you?
A: Yes that was brilliant fun, not like work at all; a nice break with one of my best mates in the world. I am trying to put together one with another good friend who is always so busy, but if it happens next year we will be travelling across the states.
Q: Do you prefer working on stage or screen?
A: I would love a nice big fat telly role next year, but sometimes you have to put your cowboy boots back on and get on stage. I don’t really have the fear any more, but there’s trepidation about getting it right – like now I have got a bit of brushing up to do for this, but there’s something wonderful about live interaction. I enjoy the audience being in front of your face, getting out there and doing something real.
A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story runs at Alexandra Palace Theatre from November 21 until January 4. www.christmascarolonstage.co.uk
