“I was brought up on theatre variety shows and, being a Liverpudlian, loved all the Northern comics,” he says.
“Chaplin is one of my all-time heroes and I also love the poetic whimsicality of Jacques Tati. Ken Dodd in his prime was the most comprehensive and technically accomplished stand-up I've seen.
“I love The Marx Brothers, The Crazy Gang, The Goons, Morecambe & Wise, and The Two Ronnies – I'll stop there.
“I’ve acted many comic parts myself. Shakespeare's Clowns, Bob Acres in The Rivals, and several in TV before Keeping Up Appearances. Humour has to be part of life (otherwise it's death). And it’s fun, finding comedy through character.
“We all hope The Old Guys is a reasonably intelligent comedy about getting on (to put it politely). I’m delighted the writers have been aware of the hazards of ageing: frail bodies, frail minds, regrets, illusions, longings (unfulfilled), memories, fears.
“Roy knows these things, whereas Tom does not want to. Hopefully, many of our ageing population will recognise something of themselves in The Old Guys, and laughter, as we know, is the best tonic of all.”
* THE Old Guys, BBC One, tonight, at 9.30pm
