As Henry Winkler prepares to star in panto at the Empire, Laura Davis discovers his thoughtful side

His response to this was to ensure his own children would know he is proud of them “just for being there”. He has three – his daughter is a teacher, his youngest son a film director (he has just completed The Ceremony starring Uma Thurman) and his stepson (who the actor considers to be his own son) has just given Winkler his first grandchild, four-month-old Indya Belle.

One of his mantras is a quotation by the Hungarian Zionist leader Theodor Herzl, “If you will it it is no dream”, which he remembers first reading in 1974.

“It completely resonated with me that it was the truth and every child should know it,” he says, between bites of a supermarket sandwich.

This is the first of three lunches he is offered by members of the Empire crew (he also graciously accepts a cup of pea and ham soup) in what seems to be a genuine expression of their affection for him.

Or perhaps they are just reciprocating his own gesture of kindness – two giant boxes of American Crispy Kreme doughnuts brought to the previous day’s rehearsal.

Since arriving in Liverpool at the end of last month, he has reaped the benefits of the city being on permanent “Winkler watch” – greeting him as he strolls through the streets in a range of colourful attire (today it is a cosy, yellow jumper and dark green trousers).

He finds people’s reaction all the more special, he says, because he has suffered from a lack of confidence for much of his life, triggered by his dyslexia at school.