12 questions for... Bernard Wrigley

Bernard Wrigley is a much loved comedy actor, writer and folk singer. He played the teacher in Alan Clark's film "Rita, Sue & Bob Too" and also featured in several plays Alan Bennett wrote for TV such as "A Day Out", "Sunset Across The Bay" and "Afternoon Off". You may also have seen him in TV soaps such as Emmerdale and Coronation Street, or his guest appearances in comedy classics such as "Phoenix Nights", "Dinner Ladies", and (Steve) "Coogan's Run". Superbad asked him 12 questions...

Superbad Magazine: Has life been kind to you - Have you had good health and been lucky in love?

Bernard: "Touch wood - no complaints so far."

Superbad: Almost all school children do a bit of acting and learn an instrument - why do you think you carried on rather than getting a 9 to 5 job? Did you have encouragement from your family?

Bernard: "When I left school I worked for the Customs & Excise for 2 1/2 years until it started interfering with the singing. I was away in places such as Southend and Suffolk, whilst Dave (with whom I sang) was up here doing a 9 to 5 he wasn’t that interested in. When Robin Pemberton-Billing at the brand new Octagon Theatre asked us to write and perform songs in their documentary we packed the jobs in. Not much encouragement was needed!"

Superbad: What can you tell me about Bob Williamson? I only recently discovered some comedy records he made many years ago and was impressed. Are you still in contact with him?

Bernard: "I remember meeting Bob in the bar at the Octagon Theatre in 68/69. We’d heard of him because he ran a folk club at the Cattlemarket pub in Bolton. He went on to become nationally known in the north west. We’re very much in contact with him (he’s in a nursing home near us) and a few years ago I asked him to pick his fave tracks off his 3 LPs. We made this into a CD called “Born, Bred & Buttered” which is a great tribute to him."

Superbad: You've performed on stage in Waiting For Godot. Are you a Samuel Beckett fan and do any lines from his plays stay with you?

Bernard: "I was intrigued by Beckett, and that strange world in his head. When Mike Harding and I did Godot it was just as Beckett ordained - he recommended that comedians or variety performers should undertake the roles as opposed to serious actors. It seemed to work really well. Perhaps the line I most remember is the climax of insults that Estragon & Vladimir verbally threw at each other. It was topped with the word “Critic,” being the greatest insult one could give another person. It shows what a low opinion Beckett had of such people - he’d obviously had a lot of criticism levelled against him."

Superbad: Did you ever get to know the late Colin Welland? Were you impressed by his writing or acting?

Bernard: "I met Colin in the bar at the Octagon (again!) when I was asked to sing the "Jute Mill Song” at the start of “Roll On Four o’Clock” in 1970. I kept saying my voice wouldn’t suit it, but he and Kenith Trodd (producer) insisted it would. God bless them! Colin was a great writer, and an inspiration to many."

Superbad: You've worked with Peter Kay, Victoria Wood and many other comedians over the years. Are most comedy writers and performers much fun when they're off stage? Do they tend to be shy and reserved?

Bernard: "It varies. Some love the limelight, others try and avoid the over exposure. Then again, I met them when I was working on their programmes, so our relationship was different to someone who is only a fan. Despite the fact that I am a fan!"

Superbad: Alan Clark made his name with very hard hitting films like Scum, and The Firm. You acted in his last film "Rita, Sue, and Bob Too" which has some very funny moments. What kind of director was he? What was special about him?

Bernard: "I didn’t know how revered Alan was until afterwards. At the time he was just another director to me, as I would have been just another actor to him. As often happens, a person’s death can seriously heighten their profile. He was a maverick who made a serious contribution to the content of film in Britain."

Superbad: Do you worry about the future of the BBC? Bennett, Potter, Welland, Leigh and many others got their big break with The Wensday Play and Play For Today. Is there money around to find the next generation of writers and performers?

Bernard: "As with so much these days, the future is in the hands of the money men. It will be difficult to function as the independent BBC in the face of multi national companies which have more clout than governments. The money’s there but it’s increasingly in the hands of the wrong people."

Superbad: Which current comedy performers impress you - who would you like to see given more exposure?

Bernard: "There are too many comedians all trying to do the same approach. The public always miss the point that the best and most talented performers are in a club or hall or theatre near them - not on the telly. My favourites are Jeremy Hardy, Tony Hawkes, Ross Noble, Andy Hamilton, Jack Dee and such. What they have in common is that they’ve all guested on the greatest comedy programme ever - “I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue.”

Superbad: What are you working on at the moment?

Bernard: "Trying to dry out during this bloody awful wet November."

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Superbad: Are you looking forward to Christmas?

Bernard: "Yes. I like Christmas. I completely ignore the media’s part in it and make it advert free."

Superbad: What are your dreams for 2016?

Bernard: "Apart from the obvious end to terror crime, my dream is to keep on keeping on. When people say “Oh, I don’t want to be old” I remind them that it’s a privilege denied to many. That usually shuts them up!"

For more on Bernard visit http://bernardwrigley.com
Drawing of Bernard by Adrian R. Shaw