Phil Childs Expresses Nerves and Excitement for Hometown Performance in ‘Only Fools and Horses The Musical’

Phil Childs, a prominent actor in ‘Only Fools and Horses The Musical’, has conveyed both apprehension and anticipation regarding his upcoming performances in his native city. Childs is slated to portray Grandad in the theatrical production, which is scheduled to arrive at The Regent Theatre in Hanley this week, following its successful run in the West End. He mentioned having previously performed in his hometown of Stoke-on-Trent on only two occasions and expressed a desire to see relatives and acquaintances among the spectators. Childs stated, “I’ve been looking forward to this ever since I knew I was doing the job – in the last 24 hours I’ve suddenly gotten really nervous about it.” Born in Burslem, Childs subsequently resided in what he described as “wonderful places,” including Fegg Hayes and Chell Heath. He also noted his frequent visits to Stoke-on-Trent for football-related activities. He expressed his affection for the area, remarking, “I love the canals, I love the buildings, I love the beer – there’s a warm feeling, you’re always welcome here I think.” Childs characterized his role, which he alternates with Paul Whitehouse, as a “joy.” He further commented, “Obviously the material is gold dust – so stepping into those slippers, to play Grandad, is fantastic.” Childs also noted, “We said all along we don’t want to do impressions of these people but you want to get an essence of the character.” He highlighted Grandad’s enduring recognition, stating, “Everyone knows Grandad even though he was only in it for three seasons, he made such a mark on the series.” Sam Lupton, who portrays Del Boy, also known as Derek Trotter, performs alongside Childs. Lupton referred to the production as a “love letter” to the initial BBC TV series. He remarked, “I don’t think I’ve ever done a show actually where the laughs-a-minute, if there was a rate, is so high.” Lupton explained that the stage adaptation draws inspiration from two well-known episodes: a Christmas special titled ‘Dates’ and an episode depicting Cassandra’s first encounter with Rodney. Tom Major, cast as Rodney, described receiving the role as surreal and disclosed that he had not viewed the television series prior to his casting in the stage production. The performances are scheduled to continue through Saturday. For further updates, BBC Stoke & Staffordshire can be followed on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.