WELL-known British actor John Challis will be visiting Westway Cinema in November for a special evening of amusing anecdotes.
John is best known for playing dodgy second-hand car dealer, Boycie, in the classic comedy sitcom Only Fools and Horses.
On Sunday 15th November, John will be reading anecdotes from his latest autobiography ‘Being Boycie’ and whether you are a diehard Only Fools and Horses fan or not, it’s sure to get you laughing.
In an exclusive interview with the Frome Times, John said, “I’m really looking forward to visiting Frome. Only Fools and Horses is enormously popular in Somerset. We did the Only Fools and Boycie show at two county venues last year and it was terrific; people in the South West know how to have a good time. Also, my family come from the West Country and so I spent a lot of time in Somerset as a boy.
“I know the people of Frome have one of the most wonderful accents in the UK – and that’s no joke. I perfected my West Country accent when I was growing up and I’m looking forward to seeing what the locals think of it.
“I get around the UK a lot, particularly on my tour, and I enjoy visiting new towns. I started my career in repertory theatre, where it was a different town ever week. In many ways, I’ve gone full circle. I love the gypsy lifestyle of being on the road.
“The Westway cinema is a really important part of Frome and has been for many years, especially with encouraging local musical and theatre talent. It’s also enormously important for the development of talent and I’d encourage people to support it, not just by attending my show – though that would be great – but by supporting it all-year-round.
“It’s a great shame that we’ve lost so many theatres and arts centres in recent years. I know that that’s a sign of the times, but there are wonderful examples across the UK of local communities coming together to keep them alive.
“The Westway appears to be a classic example of that and I’m happy to support it by playing there. Hopefully, it will last for many, many years.
“The best advice I would give to someone starting a career in theatre or television is to believe in yourself and never give up and to just keep going.
“Things have changed a lot since I started out, which is more than 50 years ago. Back then, you didn’t need to train or attend a drama school, as you do today. So I sort of fell into it. I did funny voices and got a job. Before I knew it, I was off to Birkenhead to play in a touring theatre.
“Today, I think it’s probably best that people get a drama school training and pursue it in that direction. But stickability is really important, too. You have to never give up.”
The evening starts at 7.30pm and tickets cost £15 which can be purchased from the cinema. For more information call 01373 467088
