mostly david ephgrave

There’s nothing like the BAFTAs for reminding you how little you’ve achieved in your career. Don’t let it be said that I never set myself unreasonable goals. While there's no golden mask on my mantelpiece, I’ve not faired too badly over the years. I’ve worked in the West End, toured the UK more times than I care to remember - and my various projects with Glyn Doggett have certainly had their moments. There may be a string of two-star reviews to our name, but I like to take this to mean we're two stars in-the-making. Though I may never win a BAFTA - and I’m not sure what I’d get one for anyway: Best Beard, perhaps? - I still have the odd prize to my name. My old group Big Day Out won Best Band in Hertfordshire and Best North Herts Finalist at the 1998 Hertfordshire Music Awards (what do you mean, you’ve never heard of it?). I was also awarded Most Promising Student on graduating from drama school; an accolade I’ve been trying to disprove eve...

I’d question whether a pub carvery in Woolmer Green is world famous. The village isn't that well known. It’s very familiar to me, but then it's been a part of my life forever. My dad grew up there, with my grandparents living in the same house until they died. My dad still owns the house to this day. While Woolmer Green is of major significance to the Ephgrave family, it’s had little impact on the rest of the planet.   (Earth's loss is our gain.) There are three pubs in Woolmer Green. My nan worked them all. Public houses played a big part in her life; she met my grandfather in one on the Isle of Dogs, while she was a barmaid and he was a heavily-drinking contingent of the Navy. Though she died when I was young, I still remember her vividly. We were very close. She once helped me make my own version of Rod Hull’s sidekick Emu, using a pair of old stockings for the head and the neck and a spangly green blouse for the body. It looked really good. She...