INTERVIEW WITH "THE WARRIOR" 
Actor Brian Wilde (alias Foggy Dewhirst) 

Reproduced by kind permission of the Summer Wine Appreciation Society. This exclusive interview originally appeared in their newsletter "Deep in the Heart of Yorkshire" during Winter 1994/95. 
We published this interview on the Summer Wine website following the enormous interest by fans in the welfare of actor Brian Wilde. Many have been asking what became of Brian. This interview will bring back many happy memories.  Help from our sponsor GameRoom Magazine made it possible for this interview to be published online.
Patrick, Editor Summer Wine Online, April 2002

THE INTERVIEW..
Last September Brian Wilde (alias Foggy Dewhirst) took time from his very busy schedule to answer a few questions.

Q - First of all Brian may I say 'Thank you' for giving up your valuable time to talk. I know how busy you must be with filming for the new series.

BRIAN - It's a pleasure.

Q - How does it feel to play one of the most popular characters in the series? What can you say about Foggy?

BRIAN - I really don't know. I've never really bothered to disect him or go into him. I've thought, as the part seems to be clear from what is written one just accepts it and says "Yea, I see how to play it - that's the way - that's what Foggy does and this is how we do it - quite how I don't know. It can be fatal to start finding out how you do it because you can start to do it and make a mess of it. Just understand the words, understand the situation and do it.

Q - What do you think makes the programme so popular after 16 series on TV?

BRIAN - If I knew I'd write one myself. I just don't know. People like it - I don't know why. Do they like other shows?

Q - What sort of programmes do you like to watch Brian?

BRIAN- I like a few comedy programmes - a few plays. I like to view racing - like watching cricket - like nature programmes - like various documentaries - things such as 'Crimewatch' .

What else do I like? The news -programmes like 'Panorama' - that sort of thing - it depends what they're dealing with. If its a subject I'm interested in then I'll look at it. I watch rugby as well.

Q  -You've played many parts over the years. Have you got a favourite in TV, film or theatre?

BRIAN - I haven't really. There aren't that many parts that I think I would love to play. Over the years they've been good parts, on the whole, I've played, and I've enjoyed whatever they've been - funny, serious or whatever. There have been very few where I've thought "Oh, I wish it would end soon." The thing is you don't do the parts unless you want to do them and that's probably why I do it. I turn things away I can't play or don't want to play, but once I've said "Yes, I'd like to do it" - I do it because I want to and I enjoy it.

Q - Have you got a particular favourite episode from the series?

BRIAN - Some are better than others. Off hand I really don't remember. I do remember one with a little railway train we did at Keighley (Full Steam Behind). I enjoyed that because of that little red engine.

Some I've enjoyed more than others. We did a Christmas one once with Teddy Turner in a hospital bed, if you remember that (Small tune on a Penny Wassail) - some good dialogue in that one. One or two I thought were a bit daft, but the standard on the whole has been pretty steady and we just enjoy it. It does tend to become a bit vague over the years. It's just a very friendly, happy affair. It's been a good friend to us and we've quite enjoyed it. Although we complain bitterly at times about various bits and pieces, on the whole we are very glad to have done it.

Q - Thank you Brian, and we look forward to the new series.