the
online encyclopaedia of contemporary british radio comedy
An
Actor’s Life For Me
Radio 2
No transmission dates available
Series One 1989
Series Two 1990
Series Three 1993
John Gordon Sinclair, who has carved out a niche playing
luckless and usually dozy fantasists on television and in films such as
Gregory’s Girl, starred in this sitcom about Robert Wilson, a struggling
actor. The show, which has been credited with restoring Radio 2’s dwindling
reputation for comedy, was written by Paul Mayhew Archer, who also works
as a producer. Robert’s girlfriend Sue was played by Caroline Quentin,
and his agent by Gary Waldhorn. In 1991 the series transferred to
BBC1, where Robert’s surname became Neilson, and Gordon Sinclair’s co-stars
were Gina McKee and Victor Spinetti. This version ran to only one
series (although Sinclair and Mayhew Archer subsequently collaborated on
another TV sitcom, Nelson’s Column, about local journalist Gavin Nelson);
in 1993 the programme returned to radio, with McKee now taking on the audio
role of Sue.
© JB Sumner 1998.
Revised 16/10/98