‘Royle Family’ star Ricky Tomlinson bound for Cork

VETERAN British actor Ricky Tomlinson is looking forward to visiting Cork for the first time to star in Irish Annie’s at The Everyman next week.

“It’s just so well known, Cork, it’s like Liverpool; everyone knows it’s there, even if they’ve never been, so I can’t wait to take a look around and make the most of it,” he told The Echo last week, over a dodgy mobile connection from Halifax.

His stage show , Irish Annie’s, has been touring Britain, ahead of Ireland, where it will be staged at five venues, finishing in Cork on Monday and Tuesday.

Laughing

“The people who have been coming to the shows have loved it, they been laughing in all the right places, and, at the end of the show, they’ve been getting up and dancing at the right places, too,” Tomlinson said.

“It’s great fun and people seem to love it. I’d recommend the show to anyone, because I think you’re in for a real treat.”

Irish Annie’s was written by Irish-Liverpudlian Asa Murphy, who was inspired by his childhood memories of visiting pubs in Fermoy and Mitchelstown.

Set in the titular pub, the show is a celebration of Irish culture and humour, and features a live five-piece band, which performs original tracks and traditional Irish songs.

A well-loved actor and comedian who has lived all his life in Liverpool, Tomlinson plays a version of himself, a celebrity guest in the pub. Best known for his roles as Jim Royle in The Royle Family, Bobby Grant in Brookside, and DCI Charlie Wise in Cracker, he played the title role in the film Mike Bassett: England Manager.

Friends

He counts Irish actors Liam Cunnigham and Lorcan Cranitch among his friends, having worked with both in Cracker.

He also worked with Belfast actor James Ellis in Boys from the Blackstuff (1982). “I learnt a lot off old Jimmy Ellis, a wonderful character to work with.”

A veteran of left-wing politics, in 1973 Tomlinson and a colleague were jailed for two years for picketing a labour dispute.

He recently endorsed Keir Starmer, but he worries that the Labour leader is “ a bit laid back”.

“He needs to get the kid gloves off and get on the bovver boots, does Keir. We need to get stuck in if we’re to rebuild the Red Wall; we need to show working-class people that we mean business.”

Asked if he intends to do more stage work, the 84-year-old said he was practising talking with a stiff upper lip.

“I’m one of the thespians now, I’m no longer a scallywag from the pubs and the clubs of Liverpool, I’m a theatrical darling.

“I’ll tell yer, it’s a good job Laurence Olivier is passed away, because I’d have been after his crown.”

Irish Annie’s plays in The Everyman on Monday and Tuesday, April 8 and 9.

 Some tickets are still available at  https://everymancork.com.