Christopher Biggins

Just Biggins: My Story

John Blake, 2008.

The Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park is one of the great joys of an English summer, but from the company's point of view it can take some getting used to... It has the most wonderful gem of a location, tucked away within the inner circle of that beautiful royal park. But it also offers every hazard known to an actor. Flocks of birds fly overhead, or land in front of you. Ducks waddle across the stage. At matinees tourists sometimes seem to miss the fact that the ordinary rules still apply. So they will send children on to the stage for photos in the middle of the action.

The author, a showbiz stalwart for forty years, came to national attention when he was crowned King of the Jungle on the TV show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!

On stage rain can play havoc with a performance...In a scene in that year's Midsummer [Night's Dream], I was prostrate at Kate O'Mara's feet when the rain started to fall. It began slowly. A single drop hit one of her surgically enhanced bosoms. Ping. I tried to ignore it. Then a drip hit her right tit. Pong. Then two drops. Ping, ping. And then the drops began to land on each tit in turn...The audience couldn't have heard it. But I couldn't hear anything else. So my shoulders started to shake as I started to laugh. Fortunately for me, Kate was having to do all the talking. She made her big speech...But soon I knew my lines would come. Could I spit them out through the laughs?

Just in time the drops turn into a downpour, bringing the performance to an end.

Later that year another fit of giggles threatens a royal occasion. On a backstage tour after a performance of The Dark Lady the Queen is fascinated by a minor item of costume: '"Look, Philip," she exclaimed, turning to where her husband was jammed in the doorway. "Puck's shoe." And then I really did lose it'