Christopher Biggins Interview

Actor Christopher Biggins is synonymous with pantomime and has been labelled by critics as ‘The Country’s Top Dame’ after starring in over 40 productions across the UK. He returns to The New Theatre, Cardiff as Mrs Crusoe in Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates.

Tell us a little bit about Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates

I’ve appeared in the New Theatre many times but never in pantomime. I love Cardiff, I think it’s a great city and it’s had a marvellous regeneration. How do you say ‘Hello Cardiff’ in Welsh?

Shwmae Caerdydd.

I’ll be sure to say that on the opening night… (shouts) SHWMAE CAERDYDD! I heard a wonderful story about a doughnut shop in Cardiff, what’s it called?

I think you mean Krispy Kreme.

Ah yes - they had a bigger queue on their opening morning than the Apple store did (laughs). Sorry, let’s talk about the show! I’m playing Mrs Crusoe, Robinson’s mother, who’s played by (ventriloquist) Paul Zerdin. We’ve done pantomime before and I love working with him. It’s about Robinson’s adventure. I think it starts in Cardiff (shouts over to producer) ‘Jonathon… do we start in Cardiff in this show?’ (Jonathon the producer: No, we’re rehearsing in London) ‘No, no, no… is the port we start in Cardiff?’ (Jonathon the producer: Yes.) ‘Try and keep up!’ So yes, we go from Cardiff to a Caribbean Island and that’s when the pirates come. It’s an adventure – I think it’s going to be really good fun.

How do you feel about being labelled ‘The Country’s Top Dame’?

I really am thrilled by that accolade. I don’t think there are that many dames coming through which is a real shame. I think some actors are almost frightened about doing it. I remember when I was first offered Mother Goose in Darlington, it was my very first pantomime at the age of 24 and I was insulted because all the dames I’d seen were really old men and I thought I was far too young for the role. It’s a wonderful character to play because she’s everybody’s best friend, everybody’s favourite, mother, auntie, sister and so on. There’s a different costume change for every entrance.

How many costume changes are there?

I think there about 11 or 12 this year… maybe 13.

Probably more than Beyonce or Lady Gaga?

(Laughs) I hope so!

When did your love for the theatre begin?

At school I had an elocution mistress who saw something in me and really encouraged me to act so from there I went to Salisbury Repertory Company. Every major city had a repertory company, which of course isn’t the case now, so you were able to learn your trade and I was paid £2 a week. It gave me a wonderful insight into theatre. I was offered one play and ended up staying for two years.

You played the character Lukewarm in the sitcom Porridge. What was it like as a young actor working alongside Ronnie Barker?

When we were making Porridge we didn’t know we were onto a phenomenal success but there are several elements to its success. The writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais are superb and Ronnie Barker was a brilliant, brilliant comedy actor and I use the term comedy actor because his generosity to other actors was incredible. If he were a comedian he would’ve taken all the funny lines himself but if he felt a line was better said by someone else he’d give it to them – he was looking at the whole picture. It was a great lesson.

You recently appeared as a pantomime director in the BBC sitcom Psychoville. Who approached you for the part?

I know (Psychoville writer) Steve Pemberton very well. I’ve worked with Steve before and he wrote the part especially for me. I loved it – the part was so camp! I’ve been in each series they’ve done and I don’t see it as a situation comedy, it’s more of a comedy drama but very clever, wacky, dark, extraordinary and lots of other things in between (laughs).

What’s the hardest thing about being an actor? Did you ever struggle to make ends meet?

I’ve been very lucky in my career. When I did have a period out of work the producer Cameron McIntosh found me work for a lot of his shows but I never struggled to have to work as a waiter or in another profession. I’m of an age now where young actors come to me and ask for advice and my first words are ‘don’t do it’ and I mean that sincerely because it’s such a tough profession and I know so many actors and actresses who just don’t work, but they’re brilliant. These days, talent is so far down on the list for the credentials of becoming an actor - it’s about how you look, where you are and who you know.

Has celebrity played a part in this shift in credentials?

I think celebrity has had a huge part to play and in addition to that it’s played a horrible part. In saying that, I can’t knock it because I was involved in one of the most successful reality TV shows of all time (I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here). I do think it’s a classy show, but I hate almost all other reality shows. I don’t understand the phenomenon behind this particular type of TV and it’s watched by such young people – I don’t know what they see in it.

Your appearance on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Here meant you didn’t appear in pantomime for the first time in 38 years. Was sharing the jungle with loads of insects more appealing than treading the boards?

I took a great risk in doing that show but the main reason I did it was because I thought I could earn a decent pension from it. I thought if I could come within the first four I would make some good money but to then win it and feel the love and affection from the general public was extraordinary. When you’re in there you have absolutely no idea what’s going on, so when (presenters) Ant and Dec come in and announce the results, you’re on the edge of your log thinking it’s going to be you that’s going to be evicted. You may find this an odd for me to say, but it's probably the greatest thing I’ve ever done.

You’re a big art collector. What’s been your most successful purchase?

I love art. I recently went to Italy for (former girlfriend of Sven-Göran Eriksson) Nancy Dell’Olio’s 50th birthday party and we met a lovely girl called Julia who is the muse for (Scottish painter) Jack Vettriano and she’s just given me a signed limited edition print of her. I’ve been collecting art since I was 24 – we don’t have wallpaper in our house, we just have art. When I did (Channel 4 show) Celebrity Come Dine With Me they came to my house and raved about it but the next day the producers said they needed the names of all the artists for the paintings because of copyright. Obviously I don’t own the copyright to the paintings so they found me a cottage and pretended that was my home (laughs). I bought a very famous Hockney print which is 8ft x 4ft called Parade and I bought it for £100 and I was told recently it’s now worth £12,000. I keep wanting to meet Hockney so he can come round the house and sign it (laughs again).

Robinson Crusoe and The Caribbean Pirates is at New Theatre, Cardiff from December 10th 2011 – January 22nd 2012.

Michael Took was asking the questions.