Afraid I haven't got any on video, but I was lucky enough to see a couple of episodes two years ago, while working on a pilot show at the BBC. It was fantastic -- for me the best thing Nigel Planer's ever done, Young Ones included. One episode I saw was a workshop for politicians on how to appear on TV, including very clever, lovingly and painstakingly researched archive footage of real politicians. A gem.

Incredibly under-rated, yes. The Question Time one where he taught the importance of the phrase 'in this country'. Loved it.

There was a book tie in for it that read beautifully - the show was gloriously written (can't remember the guy's name). Made a fantastic present for any AmDram friends, alongside "The Art Of Coarse Acting" by Michael Green.

>Incredibly under-rated, yes. The Question Time one where he taught the importance of the phrase 'in this country'. Loved it.


And also how it's essential to emphasis the plosive 'b' at the start of 'billion' ("Fifty *b*illion pounds of new investment"). Every politician does it.

Is that 'cause "b" and "m" are produced at the front of the mouth by the lips and otherwise people might underestimate your commitment to funding?

>There was a book tie in for it that read beautifully

"I, An Actor", written by Planer and Christopher Douglas. (Dedication: To Stagehands Everywhere.)

>Is that 'cause "b" and "m" are produced at the front of the mouth by the lips and otherwise people might underestimate your commitment to funding?

Precisely.

Someone recently told me about the book, but my investigations proved fruitless - any tips for tracking it down?

I too have a strong memories of the "b-illion" one, I also remember a weather forecasting one, but my memory of it is foggy (ho ho) - any one recall any good bits? "Nicholas, perhaps... perhaps you could help?"

>Someone recently told me about the book, but my investigations proved fruitless - any tips for tracking it down?

Out of print, I believe. But here are the details in case you might be able to track it down on the web, or via Pan Books.

Nicholas Craig
"I, An Actor (Another Great Actor Explores Himself)"
Written by Christopher Douglas and Nigel Planer
First published in 1988 by Pavilion Books Limited
Second (paperback)edition published 1989 by Pan Books Ltd, Cavaye Place, London SW10 9PG

ISBN 0 330 30972 2

Thanks for that Simon, you're a thoroughbred darling of Craig proportions!

By the way, as a slight diversion, but still on the topic of overt actor-lyness, just how hammy was Shelia Hancock on last night's Eastenders?!

(To be read in the voice of professor from Futurama):

Great news, everyone! Just been on amazon, and "I, An Actor" is being reprinted by
Methuen Publishing Ltd, out in paperback on
13 September! I'm off to organise a workshop to improv exactly how pleased this has made me feel.

"I, An Actor" was great - in a different league to tatty tie-in books. Lots of thespy in-jokes, but never too obscure for outsiders to understand. Actually, I think the book may have existed first, before the radio series that spawned the TV transfer (he did on stage a few times as well).

David Quantick dismissed it as unfunny in the NME once, that's the only thing I hold against him.

I gave a copy as a birthday present to a friend of mine who was off to do a Drama degree in 1990, and I like to think that it's thanks to me he ended up working in a clothes shop.

"'My Dear McTavish' - the letters of Sir Walter Scott to his publisher..."

A couple of wee bits from the book.


Little things that dismay one somewhat:
People who don't appear to have done any rep.
Warm Beaujolais.
The threat of nuclear war.

Surprising little things:
Charles Dance played a badger at Swindon in 1971.
The sheer number of people who seem to think that acting is *easy*, for God's sake.

Things which are brilliantly funny:
Gerard Hoffnung.
That piece of old film that shows Little Tich dancing in big shoes.

Things which seem to be appallingly complex then take on an autumnal wryness and finally turn out to be quintessentially feisty:
Terence Stamp.

All of this has also reminded me of the gloriousness of Fry and Laurie's Shakespeare Masterclass, from the 1981 Footlights revue.

STEPHEN: Wo wo wo. Where do we gather from, Hugh?

HUGH: Oh, from the buttocks.

STEPHEN: Gather from the buttocks, always from the buttocks. So...

The photos in the middle of the book were priceless, too.

>Has anyone got any episodes of this Nigel Planer gem on video?

I wake up in the night screaming about this. Only the 'TV Hell' inserts (1992) circulate.

B-last and b-otheration, so it's rarer than an unslapped back on a first night.
Suppose it's futile to think that the Beeb repeating / releasing it in the near future? What about the above-mentioned radio version, does that exist anywhere? And has Christopher Douglas written anything else?

This is why I love this forum.

I'd completely forgotten about Nicholas Craig, but now I'm getting Proustian rushes about it.

The book is a genuine work of art. I was doing A-level drama when it came out, and my drama teacher used to read aloud from it, tears pouring down her face from laughing so hard.

And so many great lines - "Farce, of course, is a completely tragic form".

And now I learn I can buy it again - thanx all.

The book is so funny it makes my ears weep. The list of first night presents (Kenneth Branagh: Money, Roger Rees: Food, Corin Redgrave: Doesn't believe in all this, so just a nice card and a big hug for good luck) still brings a smile to my face several thousand porings-over later.

I also have fond memories of the Nicholas Craig 'Weather Presenting' masterclass. I love Nigel Planer.

"Clever old you! Who else is in it?"

Talking about how difficult acting is: 'Of course, it's heaven on bloody toast when you get it right...'

And the whole Peter Brook pastiche thing - absolute genius. And the section on writing letters to casting directors - bliss.

I love the fact that The Stage gave it a really grumpy, negative review, showing how horribly near-to-the-mark the book was.

>>Someone recently told me about the book, but my investigations proved fruitless - any tips for tracking it down?

Nottingham City Library has a copy...