The 5-Minute Interview: John Challis, Actor
'I certainly know nothing about second-hand cars'
John Challis, 64, best remembered as Boycie in ‘Only Fools and Horses’, is appearing in ‘Jack & The Beanstalk’ at the Richmond Theatre from 8 December until 21 January
To play the bad guy you need to be…
A great actor. You need to be very, very talented to get away with it. I’m also tall and quite saturnine. I am playing Fleshcreep – I get all the romantic roles.
If I weren’t talking to you right now I’d be…
Reading and shouting lines at myself.
Phrase I use far too often…
“In the old days” – by that I mean the days of the start of rock ‘n’ roll.
The most surprising thing that happened to me was…
Being part of such a successful series as Only Fools and Horses. I knew it was funny but I didn’t realise what a legend I was.
A common misperception of me is…
That I’m like Boycie. When people realise I’m not like him they seem to potter off. I suppose we share physical characteristics but I certainly know nothing about second-hand cars, except how to drive them.
I am not a politician but…
If I were I’d stop creating wars. It’s terribly upsetting – all this stuff that’s done in our name.
I’m good at…
Making people laugh. It comes from seeing the absurdities in life.
I’m very bad at…
Getting things done. I’m incredibly lazy. I’m the type of person who couldn’t organise a piss-up in a brewery.
The best age to be is…
When you’re young and you’re fancy free and innocent before the world starts getting at you.
In a nutshell, my philosophy is this:
Be prepared to fail and don’t be afraid of it.
Sara Newman
