John Challis: Secrets, stories and anecdotes from my 50 golden years in entertainment
I have news. And you will be the first to hear it. On June 29 I’ll be returning to Shropshire’s beloved county town, Shrewsbury, with my one-man show Only Fools And Boycie. I couldn’t be happier.
It’ll be my third appearance at the venue and the first two both sold out – so I hope to see a lot of my Shropshire friends there, on June 29.
The show will be at the Walker Theatre and it’ll be an intimate evening of laughs - I hope - and stories.
I’ll be explaining how I came to be best known as Boycie in BBC1’s Only Fools and Horses, which is still the most popular British sitcom of all time.
There’ll be secrets from the set with stories and anecdotes from a career that has lasted for more than 50 years. I’ll also be talking about my experiences right here in Shropshire. We filmed The Green Green Grass around my home, just over the Shropshire border, near Leintwardine, but a lot of scenes were also filmed in Ludlow and nearby. I’m sure a few extras will be getting along to the Walker Theatre in June to catch up.
I’m pleased about coming back to Shrewsbury for another reason. My little one-man show began in the town -I think it must have been about six years ago - when I was asked to do An Audience With….
We did three pilot shows, in Shrewsbury, Telford and Hereford. And, much to my delight, they were an instant hit. That led to many, many more around the UK - in fact, since coming to Shrewsbury all those years ago, Only Fools And Boycie has hardly been off the road.
In the show, I talk about my Only Fools and Horses co-stars like Sir David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst and friends and fellow performers like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Oliver Reed and George Best. I recall tales from my time in Dr Who, Coronation Street and other TV classics.
And afterwards, I stop to sign autographs and pose for selfies. So make a date in your diaries. The show is on June 29 and I hope to see you all there.
