The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is the latest step in Paul Nicholas' lengthy career. Here he talks to John Byrne about the key to longevity and some of the opportunities that have come his way.
Paul Nicholas has had one hell of a career. Still having, actually – otherwise I wouldn’t be talking to him. EastEnders fans will remember him as Gavin Sullivan on the BBC soap. But his career has been as varied as it’s been long, ranging from music to theatre, TV to movies. His CV is quite a read.
He’s currently starring in the stage version of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, which is currently playing at Dublin’s Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. Based on the bestseller which inspired one of this century’s most treasured films, the show goes on a journey to India with an eclectic group of retirees as they embark on a new life.
The luxury residence is far from the opulence they were promised, but as their lives begin to intertwine and they embrace the vibrancy of modern-day India, they are charmed in unexpected and life-changing ways.
As well as Nicholas, the cast includes Belinda Lang (BBC 1’s 2point4 Children, ITV’s Second Thoughts) and Tessa Peake-Jones (Raquel in BBC 1’s Only Fools and Horses, ITV’s Grantchester) in author Deborah Moggach’s celebrated stage version of her much-loved book.
This Dublin leg of the show’s tour also features two legendary Irish acting stars of stage and screen, Rosaleen Linehan and Patrick Bergin, in the roles of Norman and Muriel.
The show celebrates positive aging and is a joyous comedy about taking risks, finding love, and embracing second chances. And Paul Nicholas knows all about second chances . . .
John Byrne: I’ve often used the phrase ‘You’ve pretty much done it all’ in interviews and it can be a bit of an exaggeration - but in your case it’s probably an understatement. You’ve packed in a lot . . .
Paul Nicholas: I have to keep on the move. Otherwise they find you out. You dry up in one area and then you move on to another. But I enjoy doing lots of different things. I planned it that way, and I've been lucky enough to do it. For me it keeps it interesting.
And you’re still at it!
I’m nearly 110. And I don’t really have any hobbies or anything like that. I don’t have any other distractions. And I enjoy doing what I’m doing and I think that helps. It’s kind of therapy for me, in a way. I love to get on stage.
I love to jump around and have fun. Do different things. And it gives me that opportunity in performing. So, as long as you enjoy it, it’s not really like working, do you know what I mean? It’s just getting out there and having a bit of fun.
And it also helps if you’re in something that people seem to enjoy. And this particular play, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, seems to be connecting with the audiences. And that’s quite rewarding. They clap along at the end and we do a little dance, it seems to appeal to them – and that, of course, makes it more enjoyable for the people on stage.
It’s been a book, it’s been a movie, then a stage show. The story’s all about second chances, even for the author . . .
It all stems from Deborah Moggach’s book. She didn’t write the film - someone in Hollywood did all that - so this was her opportunity to write the play. For her, it’s been a great success and I think that, by writing this play, as she’s done, it kind of caps it for her as she wrote her own and then got to stage it.
How's the tour going and are you looking forward to bringing the show to Ireland?
It’s been successful on the road, and I’ve been at the Bord Gais before – I think it was Barnum – and it’s a great, big venue. Don’t they have rock concerts there as well?
I did The Gaiety not too long ago, with The Exorcist, and many years ago I did Fiddler on the Roof in Cork. It was great! I enjoy coming to Ireland – and hopefully we get an audience!
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Paul Nicholas on Top Of The Pops back in the 1970s
Can you tell me a bit about your character in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and his place in the storyline?
It’s about all these old people – one of which, unfortunately, I am – and we all go off to India. And I’m married in the play. I’m called Dougie and I’ve got a wife, who’s called Jean.
Our relationship sort of develops . . . I won’t tell you what happens, but there’s a little bit of romance going on, which proves that, in your late seventies, you can still have a little bit of romance.
There’s a lot of laughs in the show as well. But there is this underlying slight romantic theme that my character sort of indulges in, I suppose. And it comes to fruition at the end of the play. That’s when people find out what happens.
And of course, you were in the television series The Real Marigold Hotel, where a group of celebs were packed-off to various parts of the world. You could say that you’ve actually got personal experience of the set-up in the stage show . . .
That’s the one good thing about being a performer. You’re sitting in your living room thinking, ‘What am I going to do next?’ And then you suddenly get a call from your agent saying, ‘How do you fancy going to India, and spending some time there with other actors or celebrities or whatever – the likes of Lionel Blair, Sheila Ferguson and many others?'
It was a nice experience. I’d never been to India before, and that’s the great thing about being a performer You don’t know when you might get an opportunity to do something you otherwise might never have done.
There were subsequent shows where we went to Thailand, and Iceland, and Argentina. We were very, very fortunate to get these opportunities – and now I’m coming to Dublin! So, it kind of goes on, really. It’s very nice.
The show's been on the road for some time now. How much longer is left on the tour?
We’re winding down now. After Dublin we go to Southampton, then I think we go up to Belfast, and a couple more venues thereafter. And then it’s over. And then we’ll all be sitting around, thinking ‘What’s going to happen now? (Laughs.) Because that’s how it is for a performer.
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The Real Marigold Hotel
Most people keep a job for many years. Of course, we change our jobs every so often. It’s the same kind of job, but it’s a different employer. You’ve got to be ready to maybe with a little while, or you might get lucky and someone calls and says, ‘Can you do this?’
It kind of keeps it exciting, but it’s also a bit worrying too – particularly at my age, at 110 as I’ve already told you. The romantic leads aren’t quite like they used to be. But that’s part of the game and I’m lucky to be working at my age.
If you’re lucky enough, as a I have been, and I don’t want to tempt the gods, but I’ve been lucky enough to stay reasonably healthy, there’s no reason why you can’t go on. It’s all down to other people, whether they’re going to book you for a job or not.
So as long as I can eat, walk and breathe, and remember the lines, there’s no reason why I shouldn’t keep working.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel runs at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre until May 20. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster.ie.
