INTERVIEW WITH NORMAN WISDOM

Norman, a fan of the programme, made a special guest appearance as an aspiring pianist with no confidence, in this season's special Christmas episode. During a break in filming I spoke to him about his involvement in the programme:

Q - First of all, thank you for giving up your time to give us this interview.

NORMAN - It's a pleasure.

Q - How does it feel, you a legend, to be in one of TV's legends?

NORMAN - Oh, it's very nice. It's a privilege and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. They're smashing blokes and it's a very happy company. It's not like work -- it's just fun. You see I'm semi-retired now and don't work all the time, only most of it! ! I do tours and am in a position to say "no" to things I don't want to do, but when I was asked to do this I was delighted to accept.

Q - Have you been a fan of the programme for a long time?

NORMAN - Yes. Anyone who's not a fan of the programme is nuts because it's a very good programme, always good, clean comedy and brilliantly directed, acted, written - an excellent programme.

Q - You are in the Christmas special this year playing a character called Ingleton. Can you tell us a little about it?

NORMAN - Well, it's about a chap who's a bit of a nutcase and an idiot, but reckons he can play the piano and wants to become world famous. He keeps on losing his confidence after the first few bars. Compo, Clegg and Foggy believe that he can play and they set up a concert for him but he loses his confidence just before the concert. First of all they teach him about self-hypnosis to get his confidence, but then he loses his confidence again so they give him a few drinks. I shouldn't tell you the plot really, but it's very funny and I thoroughly enjoyed it, and that’s all I can say.

Q - A little about yourself now Norman. You've made many, many films and it seems all generations enjoy your talent. What is it about your comedy that you think people particularly enjoy?

NORMAN - I think its comedy for children from the age of about three to ninety-three. If anybody hasn't got a sense of humour, a slightly childish sense of humour, they can't be very happy in mine. It's clean comedy, it's all plausible comedy and the things that happen are mistakes and errors that everyone makes. They like to look at somebody else making those mistakes and then its amusing.

Q - Besides comedy, you've also done serious acting as well. For instance, I happened to see you in an episode of "Bergerac".  What was it like working with John Nettles?

NORMAN - Very nice. He's a very nice fellow. We're very chummy and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Of course I've done musicals here in London. I've done a show called "Walking Happy", which is a beautiful version of "Hobson's Choice", which was very successful I'm happy to say, and I got three awards. Going back a long time I also did "Androcles and the Lion" with Noel Coward. I did "Not Now Darling" on Broadway and toured the world - Australia, New Zealand, China, Kuala Lumpur, Canada, South Africa - everywhere. I've been extremely lucky having been in the army when I was a boy of fourteen. I owe everything to the army. I learned all about music. I was in the band as a boy and was taught music and learned to compose. I got into the concert party in the army and it went on from there. I have a new album out now. I was just very lucky. Fancy earning a living enjoying yourself - its nice.