Richard Ridings

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0:00:02 > 0:00:03TV, the magic box of delight.

0:00:03 > 0:00:06As kids, it showed us a million different worlds

0:00:06 > 0:00:08all from our living room.

0:00:10 > 0:00:13- So funny.- That was state-of-the-art! - Ah!

0:00:13 > 0:00:14I loved this.

0:00:15 > 0:00:16'Each day, I'm going

0:00:16 > 0:00:19'to journey through the wonderful world of telly...'

0:00:19 > 0:00:22- Cheers.- '..with one of our favourite celebrities...'

0:00:22 > 0:00:23'We are going into space.'

0:00:23 > 0:00:25- It's just so silly.- Oh, no!

0:00:28 > 0:00:31- Yeah!- '..as they select the iconic TV moments...'

0:00:33 > 0:00:35- My God. This is the scene!- Oh, dear.

0:00:35 > 0:00:38'..that tell us the stories of their lives.'

0:00:39 > 0:00:40I absolutely adored this.

0:00:40 > 0:00:42- 'Some will make you laugh...' - SHE LAUGHS

0:00:42 > 0:00:44Don't watch the telly, Esther. Watch me.

0:00:44 > 0:00:47- '..some will surprise...' - THEY LAUGH

0:00:47 > 0:00:50No way! Where did you find this?!

0:00:50 > 0:00:51'..many will inspire...'

0:00:51 > 0:00:55It used to transport us to places that we could only dream about.

0:00:55 > 0:00:57'..and others will move us.'

0:00:57 > 0:00:58I am emotional now.

0:00:58 > 0:01:00'Today, we look even more deeply.'

0:01:00 > 0:01:02Why wouldn't you want to watch this?

0:01:02 > 0:01:06So, come watch with us as we rewind to the classic telly that

0:01:06 > 0:01:10helped shape those wide-eyed youngsters into the much-loved

0:01:10 > 0:01:11stars they are today.

0:01:20 > 0:01:21Welcome to The TV That Made Me.

0:01:21 > 0:01:25My guest today is one of TV's most talented and lovable actors.

0:01:25 > 0:01:29- It is Mr Richard Ridings. - APPLAUSE

0:01:29 > 0:01:31- Hello.- Hello, sir. Good to see you.

0:01:31 > 0:01:33- Give us a hug.- Oh, no. Oh, don't hurt me, don't hurt me.

0:01:33 > 0:01:35- Are you not a hugger?- Yeah, go on.

0:01:35 > 0:01:37Give us a hug, give us a hug. Come sit down.

0:01:37 > 0:01:39Take a seat.

0:01:40 > 0:01:43Richard Ridings has been a stalwart on our screens

0:01:43 > 0:01:45for over 30 years.

0:01:46 > 0:01:49You'll recognise him from playing characters like Bernard

0:01:49 > 0:01:51in Common As Muck

0:01:51 > 0:01:54and more recently, Mr Bumble in Dickensian.

0:01:56 > 0:01:59But what you might not recognise him for is one of his biggest roles,

0:01:59 > 0:02:02the voice of Daddy in Peppa Pig.

0:02:04 > 0:02:06The TV that made Richard Ridings

0:02:06 > 0:02:11includes his big break as hard man Mad Mick in The Ritz...

0:02:11 > 0:02:14They are reopening that disco, are they?

0:02:15 > 0:02:18..a four-hour funeral that gripped our nation...

0:02:18 > 0:02:20'19 guns in salute,

0:02:20 > 0:02:25'the first time that a commoner has ever been given more than 17 guns.'

0:02:25 > 0:02:27..and a show that used to have his father in stitches

0:02:27 > 0:02:29back in the '60s.

0:02:30 > 0:02:32Richard, it's great having you here.

0:02:32 > 0:02:35Today's a celebration of some TV classics,

0:02:35 > 0:02:38some wonderful bits that will take you, hopefully, down memory lane.

0:02:38 > 0:02:40Stuff that you've chosen.

0:02:40 > 0:02:41So, we are going to rewind the clock

0:02:41 > 0:02:43and this is a very young Richard Ridings.

0:02:46 > 0:02:51Richard Ridings was born in Henley-on-Thames in 1958 to parents

0:02:51 > 0:02:54Doreen and Robert, who was a headmaster at a residential

0:02:54 > 0:02:57school for asthmatic boys.

0:02:57 > 0:03:00He and his older siblings, twins Jonathan and Sarah,

0:03:00 > 0:03:02had free rein of the school

0:03:02 > 0:03:06and a young Richard was often found playing around the grounds -

0:03:06 > 0:03:08a freedom that allowed him to explore his active

0:03:08 > 0:03:10and creative sides.

0:03:11 > 0:03:14Famed for his voice as well as his acting skills,

0:03:14 > 0:03:16after training at Bristol's Old Vic, Richard

0:03:16 > 0:03:20starred in a variety of roles across TV and film.

0:03:20 > 0:03:22And the demand for his talents has ensured that he has

0:03:22 > 0:03:26remained on our screens for over three decades.

0:03:28 > 0:03:30- So, where did you grow up, Richard? - It's a... Grew up?

0:03:30 > 0:03:32Or have you ever grown up?

0:03:32 > 0:03:35Well, now, that's a good question, actually, because part of me

0:03:35 > 0:03:36really hasn't. No.

0:03:36 > 0:03:40The child is still very much alive within me, I think,

0:03:40 > 0:03:41but my dad was headmaster.

0:03:41 > 0:03:46But he was headmaster of a very, very large school.

0:03:46 > 0:03:49Not a lot of pupils, but just a very, very, very big building.

0:03:49 > 0:03:51So, yeah, the first ten years of my life,

0:03:51 > 0:03:54we had these marvellous grounds, a lot of running around.

0:03:54 > 0:03:57- And you had a telly.- And we had a telly.- Yeah?- We had a telly, yeah.

0:03:57 > 0:03:59And so, where was your telly? Where's your telly situated?

0:03:59 > 0:04:02Telly. Now, I seem to recall it was in the dining room to start

0:04:02 > 0:04:05with, but then later, moved into the sitting room.

0:04:05 > 0:04:07And my earliest memories are...

0:04:07 > 0:04:09- Watch With Mother...- Yes.

0:04:09 > 0:04:12- Andy Pandy.- Andy Pandy and Looby Loo.

0:04:12 > 0:04:13- I had a Looby Loo.- Did you?

0:04:13 > 0:04:16I carried it everywhere. Yeah, first five years of my life,

0:04:16 > 0:04:17I had a Looby Loo.

0:04:17 > 0:04:20You do not strike me as a man who'd have a Looby Loo.

0:04:20 > 0:04:22No, I did I had... I loved Looby Loo.

0:04:28 > 0:04:31- We are going to go to your first memory, Richard.- Right, OK.

0:04:31 > 0:04:33Just have a little look.

0:04:37 > 0:04:41- This is Winston Churchill's funeral. - Yes.

0:04:41 > 0:04:43The TV had moved into the sitting room by now.

0:04:43 > 0:04:46Maybe, maybe in honour of Winston Churchill,

0:04:46 > 0:04:48- it was moved into the sitting room. - Right.

0:04:48 > 0:04:50But I can just remember sitting there going,

0:04:50 > 0:04:53- "Oh, this is a bit grand." - This is 1965.

0:04:55 > 0:04:58'The guns ring out. A salute of 19 guns...'

0:04:58 > 0:05:02A funeral may seem like an unusual first TV memory for six-year-old

0:05:02 > 0:05:05Richard, but that goes to show the magnitude of the event...

0:05:07 > 0:05:10..and also how long the programme was actually on for -

0:05:10 > 0:05:13four hours and five minutes.

0:05:13 > 0:05:15'So, as the pigeons are raised...'

0:05:15 > 0:05:18I can remember sitting there watching it, thinking,

0:05:18 > 0:05:22"God, this is going on a long time!" THEY LAUGH

0:05:22 > 0:05:27- I don't think I watched all of it. - No.- Cos I could never sit still.

0:05:27 > 0:05:30So, I'd be out at the back playing a bit, I'd come in and watch a bit

0:05:30 > 0:05:33more and go, "Where's he got to now, then? Is he at the Mall yet?"

0:05:33 > 0:05:36GUNS FIRE

0:05:36 > 0:05:38This funeral was known as Operation Hope Not.

0:05:38 > 0:05:40- Was it really?- Yeah.

0:05:41 > 0:05:45- Planned for 12 years.- Wow.

0:05:45 > 0:05:47So, who would you watch this with, then, Richard?

0:05:47 > 0:05:48Who was watching this with you?

0:05:48 > 0:05:53I think my mum and dad were watching it.

0:05:53 > 0:05:56And of course, they both had been through the war.

0:05:56 > 0:06:00My dad had been in the Royal Signals, a captain.

0:06:00 > 0:06:03- My mum was in the WAF.- Yeah?

0:06:03 > 0:06:06So, yes, this was a great commemoration of our fantastic

0:06:06 > 0:06:09- wartime leader. - Yeah, he was, wasn't he?- Yeah.

0:06:09 > 0:06:13'It seems almost to be drifting up the last of the tide at high

0:06:13 > 0:06:17'water on its way to Waterloo.'

0:06:17 > 0:06:20- Would you ever have liked to play Winston Churchill?- Crikey.

0:06:21 > 0:06:25Yeah, I suppose so. Yes. Yeah. Maybe.

0:06:25 > 0:06:27I think you would be a good Winston Churchill.

0:06:27 > 0:06:29- AS CHURCHILL: "Never..." - AS CHURCHILL: "Never..."

0:06:29 > 0:06:32- "..in the field of human conflicts..."- "Have so many..."

0:06:32 > 0:06:34- ".. has so much been owed to so few."- I think you should do it.

0:06:34 > 0:06:37- Oh, I think...- AS CHURCHILL: Do you know...- That's good.- No, I don't.

0:06:37 > 0:06:41- I sound more like Bruce Forsyth. - HE BABBLES

0:06:41 > 0:06:43HE LAUGHS

0:06:43 > 0:06:45So, what was Richard like as a boy?

0:06:45 > 0:06:47- Apparently, he never sat still.- No?

0:06:47 > 0:06:50- He was always very, very, very noisy.- Mm-hm.

0:06:50 > 0:06:55- Always interested in the arts?- More in nature and sport than into...

0:06:55 > 0:06:57- Oh, really? It's got to be rugby. - Yes.

0:06:57 > 0:07:01Yes. Yeah, I was very keen on rugby, but also shot putting as well.

0:07:01 > 0:07:03I developed an interest in the shot put and discus.

0:07:03 > 0:07:05- And I got quite passionate about that.- Yeah.

0:07:05 > 0:07:08- Did you get any good at it?- Well, I did, yeah. Quite good, actually.

0:07:08 > 0:07:13I got... I represented the county and later on, went up to...

0:07:13 > 0:07:17They have these all England sports and it's great fun.

0:07:17 > 0:07:20You turn up at this stadium and the stadium is packed with

0:07:20 > 0:07:22teams from every county in Britain, you know?

0:07:22 > 0:07:24And I was representing Oxfordshire.

0:07:24 > 0:07:26- I came third.- Mm!

0:07:26 > 0:07:28Yeah, I was quite pleased with that.

0:07:28 > 0:07:29And then started doing a bit of drama,

0:07:29 > 0:07:31but it was always that kind of thing,

0:07:31 > 0:07:32"Yeah, I can do a bit of that as well.

0:07:32 > 0:07:34"Of course, yeah, I'd like to be an actor."

0:07:34 > 0:07:37Never really seriously thought of myself as an actor.

0:07:37 > 0:07:39You know... In fact...

0:07:39 > 0:07:42in fact, I still don't. THEY LAUGH

0:07:42 > 0:07:44It's just one of those things that kind of happened.

0:07:44 > 0:07:46- So, your dad was a headmaster. - He was.

0:07:46 > 0:07:50Was he quite strict with you when it comes to watching TV?

0:07:50 > 0:07:53- We certainly... There was certainly a cut-off point, definitely.- Yeah.

0:07:53 > 0:07:56You know, they'd be watching Z-Cars and we would be going,

0:07:56 > 0:07:57"What's going on?"

0:07:57 > 0:08:00"No, you are supposed to be in bed. You should be asleep by now."

0:08:00 > 0:08:03And also until quite late in the '60s,

0:08:03 > 0:08:06I don't think we were allowed to watch ITV.

0:08:06 > 0:08:09- Oh, really?- Yeah, had to be BBC.- Oh, isn't it?

0:08:09 > 0:08:14- So, there's a snobbery there. - Yeah!- Yeah.- Yeah.

0:08:14 > 0:08:18I'm sure of it. Yes, I think it was sort of frowned upon.

0:08:18 > 0:08:21"Oh, they are advertising. No, we will stick with good old Beeb."

0:08:27 > 0:08:29- Your next choice is Dad's Choice... - My dad's choice.

0:08:29 > 0:08:32It's something your dad used to love watching.

0:08:32 > 0:08:36- This gentleman - Mr Harry Worth. - Yes, yes.

0:08:36 > 0:08:37RICHARD LAUGHS

0:08:41 > 0:08:43How many times did we do this?

0:08:43 > 0:08:47- How many times have you wandered along the shops and done that?- Yeah.

0:08:47 > 0:08:48- Had to do it. - HE MUTTERS

0:08:48 > 0:08:51I showed that to my kids only recently. I went, "Kids, have a look

0:08:51 > 0:08:52"at this." Well, they wet themselves

0:08:52 > 0:08:55when I said, "Well, there's a gentleman called Harry Worth,"

0:08:55 > 0:08:56and I'd lost them by that point.

0:08:56 > 0:08:59- They were back on their iPads. - Yes.- But I did have a moment.

0:08:59 > 0:09:02It happens, doesn't it? Just for a split-second, you sometimes get

0:09:02 > 0:09:04- their attention.- Yeah. But your dad loved this?- Loved it.

0:09:04 > 0:09:06I can't remember anything about the show,

0:09:06 > 0:09:08- just that title sequence.- Yeah.

0:09:08 > 0:09:10And the fact that he would sit there roaring his head off.

0:09:10 > 0:09:12I wanted to save money.

0:09:12 > 0:09:13- You want to save money, sir?- Yeah.

0:09:13 > 0:09:16Well, you've come to the right place. You can save money here, sir.

0:09:16 > 0:09:18- Can I really?- Indeed you can, sir.

0:09:18 > 0:09:21- Now, what did you have for breakfast this morning?- Well, let me see.

0:09:21 > 0:09:26Breakfast...a boiled egg, toast and marmalade and cornflakes.

0:09:26 > 0:09:28Right. Now, what can we save on that?

0:09:28 > 0:09:31Well, I could do without the boiled egg. It's true.

0:09:31 > 0:09:34- Reminds me very much of Harry Hill as well.- Yes, yes.

0:09:34 > 0:09:36Well, this is really marvellous.

0:09:36 > 0:09:38Well, I've saved over seven shillings already.

0:09:38 > 0:09:43- You've got the idea, sir. I'll leave you to it.- Thank you very much.

0:09:43 > 0:09:45Ah, what's this?

0:09:45 > 0:09:46South African peaches.

0:09:46 > 0:09:50Not four and 11, not three and 11, not two and 11, but one and 11!

0:09:50 > 0:09:52Must have one!

0:09:52 > 0:09:56So, do you think this was escapism for your father's hectic life of

0:09:56 > 0:09:59- being a...- Yeah.- ..a headmaster? - Could be, yeah.

0:09:59 > 0:10:03He spent a lot of time being very proper and strict and quite

0:10:03 > 0:10:06austere and he was an ex-military man, you know, man of the church.

0:10:06 > 0:10:10So, to see him relaxed and having a laugh was great, you know?

0:10:10 > 0:10:14And sometimes it would bring out what my mum called

0:10:14 > 0:10:16the giddy goat in him, you know?

0:10:16 > 0:10:19- And he'd get a bit, "Wahey," you know, which was wonderful.- Yeah.

0:10:19 > 0:10:21Yeah, I think that's all I've got from him,

0:10:21 > 0:10:24actually, is the giddy goat bit. THEY LAUGH

0:10:24 > 0:10:27- Sometimes.- I mean, Harry Worth was your dad's favourite.- Yeah.

0:10:27 > 0:10:31But did you have some classics? Did you grow up with some great comedy?

0:10:31 > 0:10:32Comedy, slightly later.

0:10:32 > 0:10:36- I mean, I think earlier on, I was into Thunderbirds.- Yeah.

0:10:36 > 0:10:38- Before that Fireball XL5.- Oh, yes.

0:10:38 > 0:10:41And Stingray.

0:10:41 > 0:10:43# Stingray! Stingray!

0:10:43 > 0:10:45- BOTH:- # Da-da-da-da-da. # - Yeah.

0:10:45 > 0:10:47# Marina

0:10:47 > 0:10:49# Aqua Marina. #

0:10:49 > 0:10:52- I loved her. I was in love with her. - Oh. You was in love with her?

0:10:52 > 0:10:54- I was in love with Marina, yeah. - It was a puppet!

0:10:54 > 0:10:57LAUGHTER

0:10:57 > 0:11:00- And Lady Penelope. She was a puppet too.- Yeah!

0:11:06 > 0:11:09- Time for one of your family favourites.- All right.

0:11:09 > 0:11:13LOUD CHATTER

0:11:13 > 0:11:16- Is it Kojak?- Yes, it is.- Oh-ho!

0:11:16 > 0:11:18- I would try not to miss this. - There he is, Telly Savalas.

0:11:18 > 0:11:21- "Who loves you, baby?" - Telly Savalas. "Who loves you?"

0:11:21 > 0:11:24You let all the other cats go.

0:11:24 > 0:11:26- Hands, behind.- Why I got to get busted?

0:11:26 > 0:11:28'Just check out the acting and the action.

0:11:28 > 0:11:31'It's no wonder that Kojak won a whole host of Emmys

0:11:31 > 0:11:35'and Golden Globes when it blasted onto our screens in the '70s.

0:11:35 > 0:11:37'The flair in the writing

0:11:37 > 0:11:41'and the acting was almost as good as the flares we saw on screen.'

0:11:42 > 0:11:44- And the lollipops.- Yeah.- Yeah.

0:11:44 > 0:11:46He always had a lollipop and you know why?

0:11:46 > 0:11:48He was trying to give up smoking.

0:11:48 > 0:11:50- Oh, is that right?- Yeah.

0:11:50 > 0:11:53Actually, I think... Yes, I remember that. I remember seeing him

0:11:53 > 0:11:55interviewed by Parkinson, talking about it, yeah.

0:11:55 > 0:11:58Meantime, Benny, can you tell me why an expensive piece of manpower

0:11:58 > 0:12:01like myself should be chauffeuring you around, huh?

0:12:01 > 0:12:03It's heavy, lieutenant. I mean, like millions, maybe.

0:12:03 > 0:12:05Millions? Millions of what?

0:12:05 > 0:12:07Diamonds.

0:12:07 > 0:12:10'Kojak's popularity has certainly stood the test of time.

0:12:10 > 0:12:15'"Who loves you, baby?" made TV Guide's top 20 catchphrase list

0:12:15 > 0:12:19'almost 30 years after Savalas' last episode was made.'

0:12:19 > 0:12:22And how old was you when you were watching this?

0:12:22 > 0:12:24- Ten, 11. It was Saturday night, wasn't it?- Yeah.

0:12:24 > 0:12:27It was Saturday night. It was like get all your stuff done.

0:12:27 > 0:12:29Yeah, go and play a bit of sport in the morning,

0:12:29 > 0:12:32run around in the afternoon, get in, have something to eat,

0:12:32 > 0:12:34but make sure that you've finished eating

0:12:34 > 0:12:37and done the washing up by the time Kojak comes on.

0:12:37 > 0:12:41- Yeah.- There they go. Ba-ba! Yeah, great stuff.

0:12:46 > 0:12:49We're moving onto your next clip now. This is a movie.

0:12:49 > 0:12:53This is your biggest influence, and here's the film.

0:12:53 > 0:12:55Oliver!

0:12:55 > 0:12:58Oh, yeah. Ollie.

0:12:58 > 0:13:01- He looks good, doesn't he? Oliver Reed?- Wonderful.

0:13:02 > 0:13:03- Great film, isn't it?- Yeah.

0:13:07 > 0:13:10'Ollie Reed's brooding performance as the villainous

0:13:10 > 0:13:14'Bill Sikes has got to be one of the most famous in film history.

0:13:14 > 0:13:19'Not many actors can make such an impression while saying so little.

0:13:25 > 0:13:28'Based on the Dickens novel Oliver Twist,

0:13:28 > 0:13:33'this 1968 movie adaptation proved its popularity by being

0:13:33 > 0:13:36'nominated for 12 and winning six Oscars.'

0:13:38 > 0:13:39Absolutely magnetic.

0:13:39 > 0:13:42Saw this in the cinema two or three times with my mum, I think,

0:13:42 > 0:13:48and she loved the musicals. And we had the record.

0:13:48 > 0:13:50You couldn't get videos and DVDs in those days.

0:13:50 > 0:13:53Yeah, when they started showing this on telly, it was, "Oh, yes."

0:13:53 > 0:13:57I loved anything Ollie Reed was in, I just loved his ability to

0:13:57 > 0:14:03kind of be on screen and not say much and just exude such power.

0:14:03 > 0:14:07- Charismatic.- Very charismatic.

0:14:07 > 0:14:09Oh, there he is again.

0:14:09 > 0:14:11There's Jack Wild, God bless him.

0:14:15 > 0:14:16Oliver is back.

0:14:16 > 0:14:18Look at his togs.

0:14:18 > 0:14:21'Even the younger members of the cast gave brilliant performances.

0:14:21 > 0:14:23'Jack Wild as the Artful Dodger

0:14:23 > 0:14:28'who was nominated for an Oscar, a BAFTA and a Golden Globe.'

0:14:28 > 0:14:29Cor, look at this!

0:14:33 > 0:14:34I'll bank it for you.

0:14:35 > 0:14:36What's that?

0:14:38 > 0:14:43- That's mine, Fagin.- No, no. No, my dear. Mine.

0:14:43 > 0:14:45Ours. You shall have the books.

0:14:45 > 0:14:48You hand it over, you avaricious old skeleton.

0:14:48 > 0:14:50Do you think Oliver Reed inspired you?

0:14:50 > 0:14:52Oh, yeah. Definitely, yeah.

0:14:52 > 0:14:54This movie in particular?

0:14:54 > 0:14:55I think so, yes.

0:14:55 > 0:14:58But did it make you think, "Do you know what,

0:14:58 > 0:15:00"this is what I want to do. I want to be an actor"?

0:15:00 > 0:15:01No, I mean, I didn't know you did that.

0:15:01 > 0:15:03I thought... Now and again, I thought,

0:15:03 > 0:15:04"Ooh, I'd love to be a singer,"

0:15:04 > 0:15:07but I don't... I didn't know anybody who did it

0:15:07 > 0:15:10or how you did it professionally. No.

0:15:10 > 0:15:12I mean, even later, when I went to college

0:15:12 > 0:15:14and I was studying drama,

0:15:14 > 0:15:18even then, I was thinking, "I wonder what I'm going to do," you know?

0:15:18 > 0:15:21It was only, I think, in the final year of my degree, I thought,

0:15:21 > 0:15:24"Oh, maybe I'll have a crack at that."

0:15:24 > 0:15:26- Yeah?- Yeah.

0:15:32 > 0:15:35We're going to move onto your break now. This is your...

0:15:35 > 0:15:40an early TV clip of yourself as Mad Mick.

0:15:40 > 0:15:42Oh, yes.

0:15:44 > 0:15:47# If you're blue and you don't know where to go to

0:15:47 > 0:15:49# Why don't you go where fashion sits?

0:15:51 > 0:15:52# Putting on the Ritz. #

0:15:54 > 0:15:58- Came out of a stage show called Bouncers.- Yes, I remember.

0:15:58 > 0:15:59- I did go and see that.- Right.

0:16:04 > 0:16:05So...

0:16:05 > 0:16:08they are reopening that disco, are they?

0:16:08 > 0:16:10Look at that. What an entrance.

0:16:10 > 0:16:13Let's see how long it stays open this time, shall we?

0:16:15 > 0:16:19The last two others lasted five hours

0:16:19 > 0:16:21between them.

0:16:21 > 0:16:23It's a good look, Richard.

0:16:25 > 0:16:28Anyone who takes my costume is going to finish up

0:16:28 > 0:16:30in the end bed of the infirmary.

0:16:31 > 0:16:32Hey.

0:16:34 > 0:16:37If you happen to be passing the hospital,

0:16:37 > 0:16:39stitch this up!

0:16:40 > 0:16:43LAUGHTER

0:16:45 > 0:16:49I wouldn't like to cross you, Richard.

0:16:50 > 0:16:54- Wow.- I mean, what do you base characters like that...?

0:16:54 > 0:16:55Cos you're not like that.

0:16:55 > 0:16:58You are kindly Richard that we all know and love.

0:16:58 > 0:17:01But where does that come from?

0:17:01 > 0:17:04Got it playing in the front row of rugby, I think, yeah.

0:17:04 > 0:17:07"Come here, then. Let's go." HE MUMBLES

0:17:07 > 0:17:09Maybe a bit of that.

0:17:09 > 0:17:11I remember...

0:17:11 > 0:17:16I haven't seen that for about 30 years or since it was on, really.

0:17:16 > 0:17:21- Yeah, fun times, fun times.- Yeah. - But he was a complete psychopath.

0:17:21 > 0:17:23LAUGHTER

0:17:23 > 0:17:26- Him or you?- The Ritz. No, him, him. Yes, yes.

0:17:26 > 0:17:28No, I think you captured it there.

0:17:28 > 0:17:30I mean, you are suitably evil enough.

0:17:30 > 0:17:31Did you love playing that part?

0:17:31 > 0:17:35Yeah, great fun. Great fun. I think it was quite popular.

0:17:35 > 0:17:37Oh, no, it was very popular. I remember seeing it.

0:17:37 > 0:17:40I remember somebody told me it got something like...

0:17:40 > 0:17:46It was BBC Two and I think it got 4.2 million one week, but...

0:17:46 > 0:17:50- I don't think the top brass at the Beeb liked it.- Really?

0:17:50 > 0:17:53Yeah, they were going to make a second series called

0:17:53 > 0:17:58The Continental and then halfway through preparation for that,

0:17:58 > 0:18:00they said, "No." They decided they didn't want the series.

0:18:00 > 0:18:02They are just going to do a Christmas special.

0:18:02 > 0:18:06Said, "OK, fair enough." Onwards and upwards, on to other things.

0:18:06 > 0:18:07And you have gone onwards and upwards.

0:18:07 > 0:18:09I mean, Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

0:18:09 > 0:18:12- That was straight after this, actually.- Was it, really?- Yes.

0:18:12 > 0:18:16- Yeah, yeah. - And you enjoyed that?- Very much.

0:18:16 > 0:18:18A very different way of working.

0:18:18 > 0:18:21- Cos half the characters weren't there, were they?- That's right.

0:18:21 > 0:18:22Exactly. And it took...

0:18:22 > 0:18:27Because of that, the filming was that much more complicated.

0:18:27 > 0:18:31And not only that, we were filming on stages which had

0:18:31 > 0:18:37a kind of a gap underneath for puppeteers and they had gantries

0:18:37 > 0:18:39for puppeteers above us.

0:18:39 > 0:18:42And then we had to film at different speeds.

0:18:44 > 0:18:46Roger.

0:18:46 > 0:18:48'Who Framed Roger Rabbit really pushed the boundaries

0:18:48 > 0:18:51'when it came to mixing live action and animation.

0:18:51 > 0:18:55'And considering the actors often had to play to cartoon characters

0:18:55 > 0:18:59'that weren't even there, the quality of acting is incredible.

0:19:01 > 0:19:03'Pretty hair-raising stuff for Richard

0:19:03 > 0:19:06'who played wisecracking Angelo

0:19:06 > 0:19:07'and there he is.'

0:19:07 > 0:19:09# I...I love to... #

0:19:09 > 0:19:11I forget how many scenes I was in.

0:19:11 > 0:19:13What, five, six, seven scenes, something like that.

0:19:13 > 0:19:16I was there for about two or three months, I seem to recall.

0:19:16 > 0:19:18- Really?- Yeah, it was very, very detailed.

0:19:18 > 0:19:20Imagine what Bob Hoskins must've been going through.

0:19:20 > 0:19:23Oh, he was delightful, but, yeah,

0:19:23 > 0:19:26going slightly loopy with the acting to fresh air, you know?

0:19:26 > 0:19:30So, those sort of tough roles, you know,

0:19:30 > 0:19:33- I mean, you've done of few of them. The Planet Of The Apes.- Yes.

0:19:33 > 0:19:37How did that come about? I mean, did you have to go and now study apes?

0:19:37 > 0:19:38How I got the role was, I think

0:19:38 > 0:19:43I'd been working with Andy Serkis on video games with

0:19:43 > 0:19:47performance capture, the thing that he made famous with Gollum

0:19:47 > 0:19:49and Weta Workshop in New Zealand.

0:19:49 > 0:19:51What is performance capture?

0:19:51 > 0:19:55It's this thing where you're put in a very tight, very tight suit

0:19:55 > 0:19:57and they put dots on all of your joints

0:19:57 > 0:19:59and they put dots all over your face.

0:19:59 > 0:20:01And then you have, I think,

0:20:01 > 0:20:05it's something like 360 cameras surrounding you.

0:20:05 > 0:20:06It's called The Volume.

0:20:06 > 0:20:09It's a technical word, The Volume.

0:20:09 > 0:20:12And they track your movements and they track your face.

0:20:12 > 0:20:16So, everything you do can then be captured on computers

0:20:16 > 0:20:21and mapped onto a puppet, which is an amazing way of working.

0:20:21 > 0:20:24- Well, shall we have a look at you in Planet Of The Apes?- OK.

0:20:24 > 0:20:26- Let's have a little look.- OK. Yeah.

0:20:30 > 0:20:34'2011 saw the release of Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes,

0:20:34 > 0:20:37'the first reboot of the world-famous franchise.

0:20:39 > 0:20:43'And here comes Richard as the silverback gorilla Buck.'

0:20:47 > 0:20:48HE GROWLS

0:20:48 > 0:20:51What is going through the gorilla's mind at this point as he's

0:20:51 > 0:20:52let out of the cage?

0:20:54 > 0:20:57This is freedom for the first time for him for years.

0:20:57 > 0:20:59- Yeah.- From Caesar.

0:21:05 > 0:21:08HE GRUNTS

0:21:10 > 0:21:11Go on, then. Go on, then.

0:21:26 > 0:21:28So, that's you running around?

0:21:28 > 0:21:30Hey, listen now. Now then, steady on.

0:21:30 > 0:21:32Some of it is.

0:21:32 > 0:21:35But some of it is also a wonderful Canadian gymnast,

0:21:35 > 0:21:40part of the Canadian Olympic team who did a lot of very fast

0:21:40 > 0:21:43stuff and a lot of up the tree and things like that,

0:21:43 > 0:21:45but, yeah, they got me to do it as well.

0:21:45 > 0:21:48So, how do you master the moves of being a gorilla?

0:21:48 > 0:21:50Some of the performers worked with Cirque du Soleil.

0:21:50 > 0:21:55There is a lovely guy called Terry who developed these adapted

0:21:55 > 0:21:56- crutches.- Right.- Yeah.

0:21:56 > 0:21:59- To make your arms longer.- To give you that stance, yeah.

0:21:59 > 0:22:01To give you that... Because it's quite hard to do the movement

0:22:01 > 0:22:04unless... A lot of it was just learning to work with these crutches

0:22:04 > 0:22:06and learning how to walk and move.

0:22:06 > 0:22:08When I got a phone call from Andy Serkis, saying,

0:22:08 > 0:22:10"Do you fancy coming out to Vancouver

0:22:10 > 0:22:11"to be my silverback on Planet...?"

0:22:11 > 0:22:14I was like... HE STAMMERS

0:22:14 > 0:22:17This is King Kong asking me if I want go...

0:22:17 > 0:22:19I mean, what an honour, what an accolade.

0:22:19 > 0:22:23And we had lots of resource material to watch as well.

0:22:23 > 0:22:25Just get the movement right.

0:22:25 > 0:22:29Did you ever think you'd be playing a gorilla?

0:22:30 > 0:22:33- What do you think your dad would have said?- I don't know.

0:22:33 > 0:22:35- I think he might have quite liked it.- Yeah, yeah.

0:22:35 > 0:22:38The idea of me being an actor. A lot of fun.

0:22:38 > 0:22:41I think I would've just said, "Dad, let your giddy goat out.

0:22:41 > 0:22:45- "Go with it. Come on!"- Yeah.- Yeah.

0:22:45 > 0:22:49So, Richard, Buck the gorilla is not the most famous animal you

0:22:49 > 0:22:53- have played.- Now, would you be referring to a certain pig?

0:22:53 > 0:22:56I would be. You played Daddy in Peppa Pig.

0:22:56 > 0:22:57The voice of Daddy Pig. Yes.

0:22:57 > 0:23:01Daddy Pig. And so, how did this come about?

0:23:01 > 0:23:03Through a mutual friend.

0:23:03 > 0:23:06I met Phil, the producer, at a gig, actually.

0:23:06 > 0:23:09I think his daughter was playing drums

0:23:09 > 0:23:11and my friend's daughter was playing drums.

0:23:11 > 0:23:13They were big friends at school.

0:23:14 > 0:23:18And he said, "Hold on, we've got something that I think you

0:23:18 > 0:23:22"might be right for. Will you come in and have a test?"

0:23:22 > 0:23:23I said, "I'd love to, yes."

0:23:23 > 0:23:26And soon as you saw it and read the script, you thought,

0:23:26 > 0:23:28"Oh, this is a bit special. This is a bit lovely."

0:23:28 > 0:23:30And he said, "Well, we'd like you to do it."

0:23:30 > 0:23:34But I was just about to start work on Terry Gilliam's Brothers Grimm.

0:23:34 > 0:23:37I said, "Well, I'm...I'm flying out to Prague

0:23:37 > 0:23:39"in about three days' time."

0:23:39 > 0:23:43He said, "Well, we better book a studio, then."

0:23:43 > 0:23:45- So, we did all of the first series in one day.- Really?

0:23:45 > 0:23:48I think we started at about 7.30 in the morning.

0:23:48 > 0:23:49We went through till about eight.

0:23:49 > 0:23:52I mean, they're only five-minute episodes, but even so.

0:23:52 > 0:23:54Um, it was great.

0:23:54 > 0:23:57And did you ever think it would be as successful as it is?

0:23:57 > 0:24:00I thought it was going to be successful, but wow!

0:24:00 > 0:24:05I mean who can...who can prophesy that kind of...success?

0:24:05 > 0:24:09- Yeah, should we have a little look? - Go on, then.- Peppa Pig.- Yeah.

0:24:09 > 0:24:11Richard Ridings.

0:24:11 > 0:24:13- PEPPA GIGGLES - Daddy, can we help put up the

0:24:13 > 0:24:15picture?

0:24:15 > 0:24:18You can watch and then you'll learn how to do it properly.

0:24:18 > 0:24:20First, I need a tape measure.

0:24:22 > 0:24:26'Here's a typically hilarious example of Daddy Pig's antics.

0:24:26 > 0:24:29'Trying to do the right thing to help out around the house,

0:24:29 > 0:24:32'but as usual, it doesn't go quite to plan.

0:24:32 > 0:24:34'Poor Daddy Pig.'

0:24:34 > 0:24:36DADDY LAUGHS

0:24:36 > 0:24:39Feels like the character was written for you, Richard.

0:24:39 > 0:24:40It does, doesn't it?

0:24:40 > 0:24:44Stand back, children and watch a craftsman at work.

0:24:44 > 0:24:47'So clever, the guys who write... Mark and Neville who write this.'

0:24:47 > 0:24:50- SHE SNORTS - Don't break the wall, Daddy.

0:24:50 > 0:24:53DADDY LAUGHS Don't be silly, Peppa.

0:24:53 > 0:24:55LOUD BANG

0:24:55 > 0:24:57HE SNORTS Easy as pie.

0:24:57 > 0:25:01CRACKING Oh. It's not meant to do that.

0:25:01 > 0:25:03Why are they so clever to write?

0:25:03 > 0:25:08I think to find something for a preschool audience that appeals

0:25:08 > 0:25:11so much to parents as well...

0:25:11 > 0:25:13LAUGHTER

0:25:13 > 0:25:16- Oh, Daddy. - SHE SNORTS

0:25:16 > 0:25:18Now you really have broken the wall.

0:25:18 > 0:25:20Hm.

0:25:20 > 0:25:22Do you think Mummy will notice?

0:25:22 > 0:25:24Oh, yes, I think she might.

0:25:24 > 0:25:27LAUGHTER

0:25:27 > 0:25:29He seems to get himself into a lot of scrapes, Daddy Pig.

0:25:29 > 0:25:33- Oh, absolutely. Yeah.- Yeah.- And... HE LAUGHS

0:25:33 > 0:25:36I mean, that seems to be one of the central movements of the series,

0:25:36 > 0:25:38isn't it? "Daddy will do it. Watch Daddy.

0:25:38 > 0:25:42"Daddy knows how to do it. Oops. Oh, yeah.

0:25:42 > 0:25:45- "I'm a bit of an expert in this," isn't it?- But he loves his kids.

0:25:45 > 0:25:47- He ADORES his kids.- Hm.

0:25:47 > 0:25:50I think it's beautifully conceived, beautifully written

0:25:50 > 0:25:52and I'm very proud to be involved with it, actually.

0:25:52 > 0:25:55Do you ever get recognised for your voice? You ever...?

0:25:55 > 0:25:57It's funny... In the early days...

0:25:57 > 0:25:59Say, "Hang on, you're not Daddy Pig, are you?"

0:25:59 > 0:26:02Do you know... I mean, these days, I think most people sort of say...

0:26:02 > 0:26:04HE MUMBLES

0:26:04 > 0:26:07They kind of know and I love leaving little messages for people.

0:26:07 > 0:26:10But very early on, I remember

0:26:10 > 0:26:12I was in Sainsbury's with Freya, my daughter,

0:26:12 > 0:26:15and out of the corner of my eye, I saw this little girl going,

0:26:15 > 0:26:17"Mummy."

0:26:17 > 0:26:20You know, tugging on Mummy's dress going, "Mummy."

0:26:20 > 0:26:24And then you've got the, "Excuse me, you sound very similar to...

0:26:24 > 0:26:25"to Daddy Pig."

0:26:25 > 0:26:29"Well...I am, you know?"

0:26:29 > 0:26:32You do a little bit of the voice for them.

0:26:32 > 0:26:35The thing that always slightly gets me is the mummies

0:26:35 > 0:26:38and daddies that want to get a photo of you.

0:26:38 > 0:26:40I say, "No, no, don't do that. Don't do that.

0:26:40 > 0:26:43"What would your children or your nieces and nephews want

0:26:43 > 0:26:47"with a photograph of a, you know, balding 50-year-old?

0:26:47 > 0:26:48"They want Daddy Pig."

0:26:48 > 0:26:51- So, I do little voice messages. - Mm-hm.

0:26:51 > 0:26:54So, is it one of the roles that has given you the most satisfaction?

0:26:54 > 0:26:56- Yes.- Really?- Yes. Because it...

0:26:56 > 0:27:00You know, every week, sometimes every day of every week,

0:27:00 > 0:27:03you know, somebody will say, "Would you mind?"

0:27:03 > 0:27:05- "Of course, I'd love to."- Ah.- Yeah.

0:27:05 > 0:27:08- And of course, we have seen you in Dickensian.- Yeah.

0:27:08 > 0:27:11- And have you enjoyed that playing Mr Bumble?- Very much.- Really?

0:27:11 > 0:27:15- It's very...- She's giving you a hard time.- She is giving me a hard time.

0:27:15 > 0:27:17Oh... Ugh!

0:27:21 > 0:27:23What are you watching at the moment?

0:27:23 > 0:27:26At the moment, watching a bit of War And Peace.

0:27:26 > 0:27:29Watching a bit of Jericho cos I'm in that as well with ITV.

0:27:29 > 0:27:32- There's nothing wrong with that.- No. - You a fan of Sherlock?

0:27:32 > 0:27:34And Sherlock, of course!

0:27:34 > 0:27:35- Really?- Oh, crikey, yes.

0:27:35 > 0:27:38Yeah, wonderful. Wonderful.

0:27:38 > 0:27:42Can I ask you now to pick a theme tune for us to play out with?

0:27:42 > 0:27:45Oh, there are many, many, many I could pick,

0:27:45 > 0:27:48but I think, I think it's got to be The Monkees.

0:27:48 > 0:27:52- The Monkees?- The Monkees!- Really? - Oh, why not? We've had gorillas.

0:27:52 > 0:27:55- Yeah.- The Monkees. I used to love The Monkees.- Yeah?

0:27:55 > 0:27:58The Monkees or The Banana Splits, but I think The Monkees.

0:27:58 > 0:28:00All right, we're going to go out with The Monkees.

0:28:00 > 0:28:03And my thanks to you and my thanks to YOU for watching

0:28:03 > 0:28:04The TV That Made Me.

0:28:04 > 0:28:06We'll see you next time. Bye-bye.

0:28:08 > 0:28:11# Hey, hey, we're the Monkees

0:28:11 > 0:28:14# And people say we monkey around

0:28:14 > 0:28:16# But we're too busy singing

0:28:16 > 0:28:21# To put anybody down

0:28:21 > 0:28:23# Wahoo! #