Happy to help: Richard Briers will be appearing St Michael and All Angels Church this Saturday
Christmas isn't Christmas without a major TV marathon. But why not take time out from the spangle of X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing this Saturday for a festive concert in aid of Musequality in Chiswick?
David Juritz of the London Mozart Players will be joined by The London Chorus, Colet Court choir and St Paul's Brass Group. And if that weren't enough, legendary Good Life actor Richard Briers will also be taking part.
Briers, 73, who has lived in Chiswick for almost half a century, will be popping across the Green to St Michael and All Angels to perform some special readings between the carols.
Earlier this week, we caught up with him to talk Christmas cards, charity concerts and... Holby City!
You're a busy man at the moment.
"Christmas is always a busy time. I get asked to do a lot of charity events but I try not to do too much locally as I don't want people seeing my face in the local newspaper and thinking, Oh, it's him again!' Last night, I was speaking at another charity concert last night for the Parkinson's Diseason Society. It is a cause that's very close to my heart as my cousin, the great Terry Thomas, had Parkinsons. But I must say, it was a very cavernous draughty church!"
advertisement
What makes Musequality worth supporting?
"It is about trying to teach children something different. Music, drama and art - those are the important things, but now all they teach at school is bloody mathematics. I was hopeless at school, but as long as you leave being able to pay your bills, that's ok."
Why is West London the place to live?
"I'm not quite sure but I couldn't ever live in north London any more than my north London friends could live here. Someone calls me up and says, Let's meet on the Finchley Road' and I feel like saying, Can't we make it the Chiswick High Road?' Of course, West London is marvellous for work. Shepherds Bush and White City were just up the road when I used to do all my old sitcoms at the Beeb. And the Westway took me straight into London for the theatres. I did 22 years in the West End."
Will you be having a Chiswick Christmas?
"Yes and our family will be coming over, too, including my two grandchildren, who are 11 and 14. I am not a Scrooge about Christmas, though I'm always relieved when I've got the bloomin' cards done. I shouldn't complain really. At my age, it's good to hear from people and know they are still alive."
Has 2007 been good to you?
"Yes, it really has. I have got an episode of Torchwood coming out in the New Year and I spent a couple of days filming a small part in Stephen Fry's new programme, Kingdom. And of course there's the Holby City Christmas special on Boxing Day, which is based on that marvellous old film, It's a Wonderful Life. They've stolen the plot - but instead of James Stewart, it's a doctor at the hosptial who is going to commit suicide. Until a dear old chap appears behind him and takes him off to show him why his life is still worth living."
And let me guess, you're the dear old chap...
"That's right. Though who he is exactly you will have to wait and see!"
Carols Plus, St Michael and All Angel's Church, Bedford Park, Saturday, December 15, 7pm, £10, £4, call 020 8748 5728 or email info@londonchorus.org.uk.
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
Print
Email this
Comment
