There is actually very little about V.C.
Wall. I don’t even think there’s so much
as a photo of him. So really, I decided
to play him as a journalist who knew a
juicy story when it presented itself. He
certainly grabbed people’s attention with
his reports from Borley.
Those adults especially those without
kids, might not realise you were also
in a few episodes of Horrible Histories,
my kids learnt much more about
history by watching HH than learning
in school. Is it the writing, the subject,
the actors or a combination of all
three?
“Horrible Histories” was just a joy to
do. We felt like Elder Statesmen, going
in and doing our sketches with them.
They are all so lovely - and have become
good friends. They are all brilliant comic
actors and made those sketches funny
regardless of the “children’s television”
that they were making. The historical
information just sang out so vividly
because the writing and performances
were so brilliant.
How fun, if fun is the right word, was
it to play Malcolm Webster in the
Widower, naturally evil, without having
to be funny. He was a right evil so & so.
It wasn’t much fun to be honest. We
had a sober responsibility to tell that
story - dramatically but with a sensitivity
to the victims and all those involved
in that horrendous story. Webster was
a monster, and our story a simplified
version of the terrible things he did.
But I know the people involved wanted
the story out there. As an actor it was a
fantastic script, and the chance to play
the banality of evil.We interviewed Andy Nyman once and
he said he doesn’t actually believe in
Ghosts, he apologised, there was no
need, so same question to you, do you
believe in ghosts, had any paranormal
experiences?Probably not. I am endlessly fascinated
of course, but no. The only strange thing
that happened once was my wife and I
watched a glass move across a table we
were sitting at in a busy restaurant. It
was ludicrous. It could have been CGI. I
cannot explain it. It was not aquaplaning;
the table was dry. No slope. Nothing. A
ghost did it.Favourite Ghost Story? Favourite
The League of Gentleman character?
Favourite Pyschoville episode?
Favourite Inside No. 9 episode?
Favourite Hammer Horror episode?Ah, I see what you did there, five
questions in one, BUT ok, here goes:Ghost Story: The Woman in Black.
League Character: Geoff Tipps.
Psychoville ep: Maureen and David one
take “Rope” episode that we did.
Inside No. 9: Trial of Elizabeth Gadge
Hammer House of Horror: Twin Faces of
Evil.
We wanted to end on question 13,
somehow seems apt, now just need to
make question legendary. You turn 50
this year, will it be a pivotal age, or just
a number, any regrets, or too few to
mention?I tend not to get hung up on my
birthdays. When I was 40, I went to
Edinburgh in case anyone was planning
on surprising me with something.
(Although I don’t know anyone so I
should have realised I’d be safe). I will
let 50 slip by I reckon. I’ll be on stage in
a play anyway. I’m not that bothered.
I’m content with what’s happened so far
so don’t feel too anxious about feeling
I need to make my mark. If I don’t do
anything else ever again, I can look at the
little pile of DVD’s that we’ve created over
the years and think, “I have no memory of
doing any of that!”“The only strange thing that
happened once was my wife and
I watched a glass move across
a table we were sitting at in a
busy restaurant. It was ludicrous.
It could have been CGI. I cannot
explain it.”Photography: © Matt Crockett