Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
Distinguished character actor for TV's Pennies from Heaven and films The Long Good Friday and Mona Lisa.
On the island
Eight records
Cliff Edwards and The Hall Johnson Choir
It was like when I first heard this, it was a real lesson in cool. I thought, well, that crow is the coolest thing I'd ever seen in my life. It was wonderful.
At school the only person I ever really respected was a teacher called mister Jones. … he said to me, Listen, why do you make everybody think that you're such a bad penny? And at the time Bear Penny Blues was playing, and I've never forgotten it.
Ray Charles actually linked Pop and jazz for me. And the first time I ever heard this, it just sent shivers up my spine that I thought of are still going today.
The first time I ever saw Mick Jagger on television I couldn't believe it. … And Onki Tonk Women was just bore. That was a real expression.
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Bernard Haitink
Jonathan introduced me to this. … he said, This is extraordinary, listen to this … It is one of the most extraordinary operas I've ever ever heard in my life.
I love it. It's a wonderful song. John Lennon was like a friend. … the first time that I'd ever felt grief for someone I didn't know. But every time I hear this, it just breaks me up.
Not so long ago I I met Annie Ross. She's been one of my idols ever since I got interested in real jazz.
Adagio for StringsFavourite
Academy of St Martin in the Fields, conducted by Sir Neville Marriner
To me this is the most religious music I've ever heard. … when I heard this piece of music, I dunno, it made me think, Well, you never know.
In conversation
Presenter asks
0:31What constitutes happiness for you?
Well, two things I think. If you have a good job and you're happy in your work, most people are very happy to have a career. or if you have like a happy marriage. Like, they're very happy to have a happy marriage. That's just an element that makes their life worthwhile. I've got both. Yeah, which is extraordinary.
Presenter asks
1:50It's not a sexy movie star image, is it?
Well, whatever descriptions they make, I'm a short, fat, middle aged man with a broken nose and a bald head. That's me. So it's not really Sean Connery, is it, is it?
Presenter asks
2:38Tell me how you're facing up to being a castaway on our desert island.
I would absolutely hate it. I I can't stand it without people. I get so lonely without people.
Presenter asks
4:34How did you fall into acting?
Well, what happened? I A mate of mine was auditioning at Unity Theatre for the Featherpluckers. And I went along with him. And they said, right, you're next. And I went up and read the part and got the lead. I was pretty far gone. I said it was just my mate who was supposed to audition. I got the lead in the play and the first night an agent came to see it, Sarah Randle. And she said, Listen, you've got to take this up professionally. I said, Well, get us a job and I will. And she did, and that was I've never been out of work since.
The keepsakes
The book
Joseph Heller
After that long, I was funny, I was saying catch twenty-two, that's what I'd like.
The luxury
I've really got fascinated with looking at the moon. It's extraordinary. I can think of no better pastime.
Presenter asks
5:25Are you a genuine cockney?
Now I was born in Scilly, Suffolk. I was born in Bury St Edmunds. I was only I was only embarrassing Edmund for two weeks. I was all brought up in Finsbury Park. You know, so from two weeks old.
Presenter asks
15:06Tell me about your friendship with Jonathan Miller.
I suddenly met him in a bar. Obviously, I was standing at a bar in New York. And he suddenly walked in. There was this enormous fella. He's like talking to a palm tree, you know, he's enormous. He sat looking down so he said, Would you like to be an Orthello? I said yeah, with you, yeah. He said that Iago. Fine. And I I never saw him again. And then then the sort of It came to the point of doing it. and The Long Good Friday came out at the same time. as we started rehearsals. And I was sort of rehearsing in the morning and then going and doing publicity for the Longwood Friday in the afternoon. and coming back in the morning and playing Iago like Harold Shand. And Jonathan said, Right, that's it. You are not going to read a newspaper. You are not going to the pub, you are not going to watch the television. You're going to come and live in my house. Until we until this is finished. And he's alright, like he kidnapped me basically. I said, all right, fine, okay. And it was wonderful it was extraordinary.
“I'm a short, fat, middle aged man with a broken nose and a bald head. That's me. So it's not really Sean Connery, is it, is it?”
“I would absolutely hate it. I I can't stand it without people. I get so lonely without people.”
“There's not one duck here paid for a ticket. I've got a theatre full of him in there. Get in.”
“It's extraordinary, being a cockney. … But I've found that actually being a cockney is a big bonus.”