Phil Childs, one of the stars of Only Fools and Horses The Musical, is both nervous and excited to bring the beloved stage show to his home city of Stoke-on-Trent this week.
Set to play the role of Grandad, Childs is thrilled to perform in front of family and friends at The Regent Theatre in Hanley, after the show’s successful West End run.
Although he’s performed in Stoke-on-Trent only twice before, he’s eager to see familiar faces in the audience.
Born in Burslem and with ties to areas like Fegg Hayes and Chell Heath, Childs has a deep connection to the city.
He spoke fondly of Stoke-on-Trent, citing its canals, architecture, and the welcoming atmosphere.
“There’s a warm feeling, you’re always welcome here,” he said, sharing his excitement about performing on familiar turf.
Childs, who shares the role of Grandad with Paul Whitehouse, described playing the iconic character as a “joy.”
He emphasized the importance of capturing the essence of Grandad without doing an impression. Despite appearing in just three seasons of the TV show, the character’s impact remains undeniable.
Sam Lupton, who plays Del Boy (Derek Trotter), described the show as a “love letter” to the original BBC series.
He highlighted the humor and fast-paced nature of the performance, joking that the laughs-per-minute rate is unusually high.
The stage show features two classic episodes, including a Christmas special titled Dates and another where Cassandra meets Rodney.
Tom Major, who plays Rodney, admitted it felt surreal to be cast in the role, especially since he hadn’t watched the original TV series before landing the part.
Despite this, he’s now embracing the challenge of bringing the character to life on stage.
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