Samuel West talks about his new role on the stage
Samuel West, the esteemed actor from All Creatures Great and Small, has excitedly announced a new role that takes him away from the beloved Channel 5 series.
During a chat on ITV's Lorraine, the 58 year old star shared details about his upcoming project alongside his co-star Anna Madeley.
The talented Mr. West is set to grace the stage in a production of Twelfth Night this holiday season, describing it as a "posh panto" and exclaiming to Lorraine: "I'm going back to the Royal Shakespeare Company! I'm about to play Malvolio in Twelfth Night."
He warmly invited audiences, saying, "From early December until January in Stratford-upon-Avon so please come!" while Lorraine offered her congratulations on his new theatrical endeavour. Samuel will be joined by Gwyneth Keyworth, who will take on the role of Viola, in the festive staging of Twelfth Night.
In a more personal moment of the interview, Samuel spoke about his mother, Prunella Scales, famed for her portrayal of Sybil Fawlty in 'Fawlty Towers', who retired from acting in 2020 due to dementia, reports the Manchester Evening News.
When Lorraine enquired about his parents, expressing her fondness for them, Samuel reassured her: "They're fine, they're fine."
Reflecting on his mother's condition, he recounted: "My mother went on a cruise the other day, I'm not sure if she knew where she was. But she enjoyed getting there. She said: 'I don't always know where I'm going but I enjoy getting there' and I thought if that is her philosophy, that might have to be mine as well."
Samuel's father, the distinguished 89 year old actor Timothy West, is known for his performances in popular series like Coronation Street and EastEnders, as well as the comedy Not Going Out among other screen credits.
At 92, Prunella has openly admitted that although she has stopped acting on stage or screen, she remains active within the industry. In an intimate discussion with The Times, she expounded: "If we're out of work, we get very depressed. As one gets older, one's memory and living from minute to minute changes, doesn't it? You get less efficient. My memory is less good. I mean, I forget to do things and, that's age, the same as everybody else."
Marking a full circle in her illustrious career, Prunella recently breathes new life into her enduring portrayal of Queen Victoria, stepping back into the regal shoes to record fresh voiceovers for a resurgence of Queen at Tabard studio theatre, located in the heart of west London.
She originally assumed Victoria's monarchical mantle over four decades ago in the widely acclaimed An Evening with Queen Victoria, a show which premiered in London and subsequently captivated audiences globally until its final bow in 2007.