Celia Imrie - David Tennant Does a Podcast With…

Summary5 min read

Podcast Summary: David Tennant Does a Podcast With… – Celia Imrie Season 3, Episode Released: March 25, 2025

In this engaging episode of "David Tennant Does a Podcast With…", David Tennant sits down with the beloved British actress Celia Imrie. Their conversation spans Celia's illustrious career, personal anecdotes, challenges, and insights into the acting industry. Below is a detailed summary capturing the essence of their discussion, enriched with notable quotes and timestamps for reference.

1. Introduction and Early Encounters

[01:34]
David Tennant begins by reminiscing about how he first met Celia Imrie. Reflecting on the initial interaction, David shares:

"I described you as a national treasure."
Celia humbly downplays the compliment but acknowledges the warmth in their professional relationship.

[02:35]
Celia recounts her early days in theatre, highlighting her time as an assistant stage manager and understudy:

"I wasn't sure what song, but would I be game?"
This showcases her willingness to embrace opportunities, even with limited information.

2. Career Beginnings and Theatre Work

[04:00] – [07:00]
Celia delves into her extensive career spanning over five decades. She shares her experiences working with Glenda Jackson on a world tour directed by Trevor Nunn for the play "Hedda Gabler."

"Glenda Jackson, I imagine, was the perfect person to lead a company."
Celia praises Jackson's leadership and socialist values, emphasizing the supportive environment they fostered.

3. Overcoming Personal Challenges

[09:04] – [33:00]
A significant portion of the conversation touches upon Celia's personal struggles with eating disorders during her adolescence.

[10:23]
Celia opens up about her time in a psychiatric ward at age 14:

"I was drugged, so I didn't know my own mother when she came to visit me... It was ghastly."
David empathizes, sharing his own experience of losing his mother to cancer.

[29:08] – [32:12]
Celia discusses the stigma surrounding mental health during her youth and the lack of understanding from her father, a radiologist. She emphasizes the importance of seeking help and supporting mental health initiatives:

"People can share that anxiety and... get help, talk. And it's much easier nowadays."

4. The Evolution of the Acting Industry

[11:22] – [13:29]
Celia reflects on the changes within the acting industry over the years. She notes the decline in regional theatre and the challenges faced by aspiring actors today:

"I think it would be unlikely to find somebody who is now doing the path I did."
David adds insights on the decreasing opportunities and the added pressures on female actors in the industry.

5. Collaborations and Influential Relationships

[40:39] – [50:10]
The duo discusses Celia's collaboration with the late Victoria Wood, a renowned British comedian. Celia shares behind-the-scenes stories of their work together on "Acorn Antiques" and "Dinner Ladies."

[45:03]
Celia describes Victoria Wood as a demanding yet inspiring leader:

"Every single comma and every word had to be absolutely accurate."
David praises their dynamic, highlighting the meticulous nature of Wood’s comedic creations.

6. Current Projects and Future Endeavors

[56:37] – [61:06]
Celia discusses her role in the upcoming film adaptation of Richard Osmond's "Thursday Murder Club," alongside esteemed actors like Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, and Ben Kingsley. She shares anecdotes about meeting Steven Spielberg on set:

"I gave him the picture too... he was absolutely delighted."
David expresses his admiration for Celia's versatility and her ability to excel across various mediums.

7. Personal Life and Reflections

[52:30] – [55:10]
Celia talks about her son, Angus, and her grandson, emphasizing the joy and pride they bring to her life. She candidly discusses her worries as a mother while celebrating Angus's achievements:

"Wherever I go, casting directors and people I meet. Oh, your son, he's so good."

[65:08] – [66:10]
Transitioning to her role as a published novelist, Celia shares her journey into writing:

"I thought, well, I better get on with it."
She highlights the differences between collaborative acting and solitary writing, underscoring the challenges and rewards of both.

8. Concluding Thoughts and Legacy

[69:02] – [69:34]
As the conversation winds down, David commends Celia for her enduring energy and positive influence on those around her:

"You have an energy about you that you feel like you are impatient for the next thing."
Celia humbly accepts the praise, reinforcing her commitment to her craft and her supportive approach towards fellow actors.

Key Insights and Takeaways

Resilience in the Arts: Celia's journey from chorus lines to leading roles exemplifies determination and adaptability in a challenging industry.
Mental Health Advocacy: Her openness about battling eating disorders sheds light on the importance of mental health awareness and support within the acting community.
Mentorship and Collaboration: Celia's collaborations with figures like Victoria Wood highlight the significance of mentorship and the collective effort in creating impactful performances.
Balancing Personal and Professional Life: The discussion underscores the delicate balance between personal struggles and professional achievements, showcasing Celia's ability to maintain grace under pressure.

Notable Quotes

On Career Choice:
"There’s nothing wrong with that, is there?" – Celia Imrie [05:16]
On Friendship in the Industry:
"We all stayed friends still, all of us, because we were the other side of the world without mobile." – Celia Imrie [07:29]
On Overcoming Challenges:
"Honestly, I am a very proud person to show myself that it's possible to conquer the whole thing." – Celia Imrie [32:55]
On Collaboration with Victoria Wood:
"If anybody wants to talk, I'm here, I'm in front of you." – Celia Imrie [50:31]
On Personal Growth:
"I hope I was a little bit of that because she’s in every part I play." – Celia Imrie [19:55]

Conclusion

This episode offers a heartfelt and comprehensive exploration of Celia Imrie's life and career, enriched by David Tennant's thoughtful questioning. From early theatre experiences to personal battles and professional triumphs, listeners gain a profound understanding of what makes Celia a treasured figure in the acting world. Her stories not only entertain but also inspire resilience, collaboration, and the continuous pursuit of one's passions.

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Transcript662 lines

[00:00]
David Tennant
Hey, Georgia.
[00:01]
Georgia Tennant
Hi, David.
[00:02]
David Tennant
Have you ever wished that you could slip into a disguise and travel anywhere in an instant?
[00:06]
Georgia Tennant
Is that a joke?
[00:08]
David Tennant
No, no, seriously, Seriously. I'm talking about NordVPN.
[00:12]
Georgia Tennant
Oh, okay, I see.
[00:13]
David Tennant
Georgia, look, I'm relocating.
[00:14]
Georgia Tennant
Relocating? You're literally on the sofa.
[00:17]
David Tennant
Not physically. Digitally. I'm digitally relocating. Thanks to NordVPN, I can switch my virtual location to 111 different countries with just one click. So now I can access movies, shows, websites from all over the world. And I don't even need to teleport.
[00:32]
Georgia Tennant
And what about security?
[00:34]
David Tennant
Well, NORDVPN encrypts all my online activity, protects against cyber threats, even gives dark web alerts to keep my personal data safe. And I want my personal data to be safe. Perfect for dodgy public Wi Fi's right.
[00:45]
Georgia Tennant
Because nothing screams hack me like a bloke at an airport clicking on free Wi Fi.
[00:48]
David Tennant
Well, exactly, yes. Which is why we highly recommend downloading the NORDVPN app, especially for banking and sensitive data.
[00:56]
Georgia Tennant
Want to stay safe online?
[00:57]
David Tennant
Just go to NordVPN.com tenant, use the code and get four extra months free on a two year plan.
[01:03]
Georgia Tennant
So you're basically getting premium cybersecurity for the price of a cup of coffee per month.
[01:07]
David Tennant
To get the best discount off your NORDVPN plan, go to nordvpn.com tenant. Our link will also give you four extra months on the two year plan. No risk, with Nord's 30 day money back guarantee. The link is in the podcast episode description box. There were little pink marks on the stairs and things. So I was just sort of going. And then I'd look up and go, oh, yes, that's the right person. But how much had they told you that you were going to do? Did you know exactly what was going to be required?
[01:34]
Celia Imrie
Well, I knew. Would I join in with a song with you? Well, you don't need to ask for me, of course I'm going to. I wasn't sure what song, but would I be game?
[01:46]
David Tennant
Yes, of course. Lovely.
[01:47]
Celia Imrie
Absolutely. And that was about it.
[01:49]
David Tennant
And that was about it.
[01:49]
Celia Imrie
Yes.
[01:50]
David Tennant
Cause I still didn't know. Yes. I didn't know how sort of prepped anyone was. No, just that I knew that you and Colman Domingo and. Oh, your headphones broke.
[02:04]
Celia Imrie
Well, I just broke it, I think.
[02:06]
David Tennant
Yeah. I knew who I was doing, but I didn't know how much you'd been told.
[02:10]
Celia Imrie
No, no, hardly anything at all.
[02:12]
David Tennant
Oh, but I honestly, it's a very game.
[02:13]
Celia Imrie
No, no, a game, of course. But just Such a good way to start it all off and walking along in your gorgeous kilt. Oh, Ge.
[02:24]
David Tennant
David Tennant does a podcast with Celia.
[02:28]
Celia Imrie
Imrie.
[02:36]
David Tennant
When I introduced you as a presenter at the BAFTAs recently.
[02:40]
Celia Imrie
Oh, yeah.
[02:41]
David Tennant
I described you as a national treasure. Well, I thought you might react like that. And I remember looking at the script and going, oh, I don't know if.
[02:49]
Celia Imrie
Celia won't like that.
[02:50]
David Tennant
She won't love that, but it's quite hard to deny Now, I think that's where you've got to. Does that make your skin problem? No, I don't know what it means. Other than you are one of those people that make people proud to be a bit British.
[03:05]
Celia Imrie
Really?
[03:06]
David Tennant
I think so. I think you represent something that makes people smile and that makes people a little bit proud.
[03:12]
Celia Imrie
Well, I'm very proud to be Scottish. I like to say that bit.
[03:17]
David Tennant
Well, you're wearing some lovely plaid today.
[03:19]
Celia Imrie
Well, especially. Well, thank you. We share that. You see. I'm very proud of my half Scots plaid, but I don't know. Anyway, look, you gave me a beautiful introduction and also I loved that we both made a fuss of Alexandra Corder for the prize as well, because I think a lot of people didn't know who he was. He was huge in the old days, but no, it was good.
[03:41]
David Tennant
Well, I think that's where you've got. Cause I think you've earned it. You've been working about 50 years now, probably.
[03:47]
Celia Imrie
Isn't that embarrassing?
[03:48]
David Tennant
I mean, I don't mean that to sound anything other than because you only look about 35.
[03:52]
Celia Imrie
Yeah. Yeah. So it's not 26, actually. 26, yeah.
[03:55]
David Tennant
But you've grafted for that time, haven't you? I mean, that's your sort of instinct, I suspect.
[04:00]
Celia Imrie
Well, I started as a chorus girl.
[04:02]
David Tennant
Yes.
[04:03]
Celia Imrie
It took me a long time to get to do a first play, actually. And then if you're shoved into musicals, which I love, but then to try and make the transition. But I suppose it was really just taking anything that came along. That's the truth of it.
[04:18]
David Tennant
Right.
[04:18]
Celia Imrie
There's nothing wrong with that, is there?
[04:20]
David Tennant
I don't think so. And sort of what I do.
[04:23]
Celia Imrie
Yeah, I know you do, yeah. And do you remember also dinner we had with Arabella Weir and Richard Wilson and you and me. And you were just about to do Casanova Casanova. That's right. And you'd got a personal trainer, you don't mind me saying, Steve. And then we all sat down and we thought, well, let's have some wine. And you Said, no, I'm not having it. And I said, go on, David, go on. Absolutely not. And I thought, well, hats off to you, because you were absolutely adamant. No, you weren't going to spoil the personal training you were doing.
[04:56]
David Tennant
And it's true. And I got. I got the sort of fittest and sort of buffest I'd ever been. And then you start filming and I don't understand how people. I don't understand how these superheroes do it, because once you start filming and you're filming for 14 hours a day, then when are you supposed to do all the other stuff? And how are you not meant to have a chocolate biscuit to keep going at 3:00 in the afternoon?
[05:16]
Celia Imrie
Exactly. Exactly.
[05:17]
David Tennant
So, I don't know, I suppose they probably have more relaxed schedules than we had on Casanova.
[05:22]
Celia Imrie
But look at you.
[05:23]
David Tennant
Oh, listen, it's fine, it's fine.
[05:24]
Celia Imrie
It's so fit.
[05:25]
David Tennant
Yeah, yeah, but people do often say that, don't they? They go, how do you choose your roles? And how much of do you feel you've chosen roles? And how much have you just sort of bounced from a conveyor belt to the next thing?
[05:38]
Celia Imrie
Quite a lot of bouncing at the beginning. Certainly just get on with it, just do whatever comes along. But then I was lucky because I've never been a pretty ingenue, so I don't need to worry about what I look like, particularly. But you. So character parts are always more attractive. But then I tried to do a thing as much different to the part that I've just done as I possibly can.
[06:03]
David Tennant
Right, keep guessing.
[06:06]
Celia Imrie
Don't be stuck, don't be put in a corner because people are so happy to do that to you. So you've just got to keep dodging all the time.
[06:14]
David Tennant
So are you quite good at turning things down then getting better? Right. Cause I suspect you're a bit like me when you're always happiest when you know what's coming next.
[06:24]
Celia Imrie
Well, yes, but it's rarish, isn't it?
[06:27]
David Tennant
Yes, well, yes, but. Well, not for. I mean, now you're sought after.
[06:32]
Celia Imrie
But I liked things.
[06:33]
David Tennant
Of course you are, but, yeah, as you see, you started literally going from chorus to chorus to uasm. You were assistant series manager as well, weren't you?
[06:42]
Celia Imrie
Yeah, well, that was a fabulous job, really, which I didn't want to do because it was assistant stage manager and understudying and I thought, well, no, because I want to do a part.
[06:53]
David Tennant
Yes, quite.
[06:54]
Celia Imrie
But it was with Glenda Jackson on a world tour directed by Trevor Nunn. Hedda Gabler.
[07:01]
David Tennant
Hedda Gabler, right. Yes.
[07:02]
Celia Imrie
And I'd never been abroad before now. That's quite rare.
[07:05]
David Tennant
Never at all.
[07:06]
Celia Imrie
Never. Never. I was 22.
[07:07]
David Tennant
Wow.
[07:08]
Celia Imrie
Never been abroad before in my life and found myself on an airplane to Australia.
[07:13]
David Tennant
Right. As far as you could possibly go abroad.
[07:16]
Celia Imrie
Exactly. But, you know, thank God I did do that job. We all stayed friends still, all of us, because we were the other side of the world without mobile. So we all became huge friends.
[07:29]
David Tennant
That's lucky, though. You could have been in a company of awful people. But they happen to be.
[07:35]
Celia Imrie
I could have. But honestly, David, when are the awful people. We all get along, don't we?
[07:39]
David Tennant
There's one or two that creep. There's one or two that show up now and again. I think we can.
[07:44]
Celia Imrie
I think on the whole, we have.
[07:46]
David Tennant
We shan't name names.
[07:47]
Celia Imrie
Best not. Best not. We could talk about it after, maybe.
[07:51]
David Tennant
Yes, we will.
[07:51]
Celia Imrie
Yes, yes.
[07:53]
David Tennant
Yeah, yeah. And Glenda Jackson, I imagine, was the perfect person to lead a company.
[07:58]
Celia Imrie
She absolutely was a real true socialist. Because I was the bottom of the rung and myself, my friend Fidelis Morgan, Bar Penny, who was my boss, who was the dsm. We were, you know, the lowest on the floor. But she always looked out for us and if ever we had to go to a posh lunch or something, you know, she'd pay for us. She'd. No, you're coming. Come on.
[08:23]
David Tennant
Oh, good for her.
[08:24]
Celia Imrie
Oh, she was wonderful.
[08:25]
David Tennant
Yeah.
[08:26]
Celia Imrie
Gave me champagne and flowers on my birthday. I'd never had that before. No, she was adorable. And then the fabulous thing, having been friends sort of through the years, 40 years later, I get to play her daughter as Goneril.
[08:40]
David Tennant
Oh, in King Lear. Right, of course, yes.
[08:44]
Celia Imrie
And she.
[08:44]
David Tennant
And she asked for you.
[08:46]
Celia Imrie
Did she?
[08:46]
David Tennant
Did she ask for you on that? You don't know?
[08:49]
Celia Imrie
I'm not sure.
[08:49]
David Tennant
Had you stayed in touch, the whole. Yes, there you go.
[08:51]
Celia Imrie
She might have.
[08:52]
David Tennant
Yes. Of course, she played King Lear not very long before she left us.
[08:57]
Celia Imrie
80 years. 80 years old. That's a lot. And also having been away for. Yes, 25 years.
[09:05]
David Tennant
Yes. Yes. That's quite an extraordinary career, isn't it, to do, to be at the absolute top of your game as an actor and then go, no, I'm going to become a Member of Parliament.
[09:14]
Celia Imrie
Don't I know. She was marvellous.
[09:16]
David Tennant
True sort of public service.
[09:19]
Celia Imrie
Well, she always said she wanted to, didn't she? I mean.
[09:21]
David Tennant
Right, yeah.
[09:23]
Celia Imrie
Do social work of some sort. Well, she did.
[09:25]
David Tennant
And genuinely, obviously practiced what she preached in terms of looking after the company and. Right, yeah, but you have. Yes. So you properly worked your way up. You have quite a unique perspective on this industry. You've seen every corner of it.
[09:40]
Celia Imrie
The thing is, it does make you appreciate and be grateful.
[09:44]
David Tennant
Right.
[09:44]
Celia Imrie
To, you know, people who come bring you a cup of coffee. It's very important, actually, you know, and I've been a waitress and all that sort of thing, and I can't stand it if people treat people badly. Makes them my blood boil.
[09:57]
David Tennant
No, sure. How was your self belief early on? I mean, when you're understudying, was that. Did you always see that as a means to an end that you could get on board with, or did you get. How frustrated did you get?
[10:10]
Celia Imrie
Well, I was underslidding Pam St. Clement, you know, from EastEnders. From EastEnders, yes. And we're still friends.
[10:16]
David Tennant
Right.
[10:17]
Celia Imrie
And I was hoping that Trevor Nunn might sort of see me in that light as the maid.
[10:23]
David Tennant
Right.
[10:23]
Celia Imrie
I played quite a few maids in my time, of course, but anyway, it didn't. But then, you see, again, what was it, 40, 30 years later, I end up in Acorn Antiques, the musical directed by Trevor Nunn.
[10:40]
David Tennant
Ah, right.
[10:41]
Celia Imrie
And I said to him, and you.
[10:43]
David Tennant
Win an Olivier Award, no less.
[10:44]
Celia Imrie
I did, yeah. But I said to him one day at lunch break, I said, trevor, do you remember I was your tea girl? He said, yeah.
[10:52]
David Tennant
Do you think he did?
[10:53]
Celia Imrie
No, no, he did, he did, yeah, right. I remember, yeah. Weird, eh?
[10:58]
David Tennant
It goes around, comes around, doesn't it? I think there's karma there because, you know, you could have. The fact that you were willing to slog comes, I think, talks to character and talks about why you're still going, getting stronger and stronger as the years go by. And do you. Do you think that. Have you noticed the industry alter?
[11:23]
Celia Imrie
Yes, I suppose. I mean, I think it would be unlikely to find somebody who is now doing the path I did. I suspect people love the glitter and the fame and the being in the papers and things like that. I mean, I know this is. It's been said many times before, but I think possibly they get to thinking that that's a really good part of it all. But actually, David, as you and I know, all those bits of the glitter perhaps, is work, isn't it, really? And I think people thinking, well, if I do assistant stage managing and then I do understudying, then maybe that'll get me to. I don't think that path is very attractive anymore.
[12:14]
David Tennant
There's also less of it, I think, isn't there?
[12:15]
Celia Imrie
Yes.
[12:16]
David Tennant
There's so much less regional theatre, there are less opportun to sort of get in.
[12:21]
Celia Imrie
True.
[12:22]
David Tennant
I also wonder if you've noticed from us as a woman going through that as well, whether that feels different and whether that feels like a. One assumes pre. Me to pre. The turn of the century. It was just harder. You had to sort of bite your lip a bit more as a woman in the industry because there were so few female directors. So few, you know, Glenda Jackson being the exception that proved. Proved the rule, presumably, women with status and power, which meant it was sometimes not an entirely pleasant place to be.
[12:54]
Celia Imrie
Sometimes it was. It did get a bit dodgy. You just had to get on with it, though. I mean, I don't think things have. I don't know that things have changed that much.
[13:03]
David Tennant
Oh, that's interesting.
[13:04]
Celia Imrie
I mean, I don't know.
[13:05]
David Tennant
Right.
[13:05]
Celia Imrie
But then, you know, as a young actress, you've only got to look at Shakespeare, three women's parts, if you're lucky, and 30 men. And even in modern plays as well. So it's always tough. But I honestly think I was at an advantage just not being a pretty blonde because you've got just a longer path to go.
[13:30]
David Tennant
It's interesting you say that because I think of you as a great beauty, a pretty blonde.
[13:35]
Celia Imrie
Don't be darf.
[13:36]
David Tennant
Well, but when I look. But you're so beautiful and glad.
[13:40]
Celia Imrie
Get off.
[13:40]
David Tennant
No, no, true. This is of course true. And then when I look at pictures of you starting out, you were a rare beauty, but that's obviously not something you felt or that was reflected in the kind of parts that you were getting.
[13:52]
Celia Imrie
No, but you know what I did on Sunday night, Sunday afternoon I watched back and I don't know whether you're too young probably to remember the Lewis Grass Gibbon series.
[14:04]
David Tennant
The Sunset Song.
[14:05]
Celia Imrie
Yes, Sunset Song. I was in Cloud Hound playing a maid, one of the best parts I've ever been given. And I watched the whole series. It's brilliant.
[14:14]
David Tennant
Right. It's interesting, you see, you played a lot of maids because obviously one of the things with actors, you don't always know that the sort of version that an actor is presenting to the world reflects their heritage, where they come from. Because, you know, we are, we will often assume, either an accent that isn't ours to prove that we are posher, or indeed less posh than we are. You are proper posh, aren't you? You're. You come from proper posh stock.
[14:44]
Celia Imrie
My mum's side.
[14:45]
David Tennant
On your mum's side.
[14:45]
Celia Imrie
Yes, Yes, I Always used to pretend I didn't, but.
[14:49]
David Tennant
Did you?
[14:49]
Celia Imrie
But, yeah, but no, I. Because I did.
[14:52]
David Tennant
Did you feel a pressure that. That was slightly awkward?
[14:55]
Celia Imrie
Yes. Right. Yes. You know, it wasn't really the in thing when I was starting out.
[14:59]
David Tennant
Right, right.
[15:00]
Celia Imrie
Because it was all, you know, regional accents and 784 and. Yeah, exactly. And. And, you know, I got told off for being too posh, you know, various interviews and things. But then I did who do youo Think youk Are?
[15:15]
David Tennant
And the old bets are off then, aren't they?
[15:17]
Celia Imrie
They don't. But the thing is, I said to the producers, I said, oh, God, I'm so worried about this. Cause I think you're gonna find out that I just came from people all sitting around drinking tea and being so posh all day long. And she said, celia, you wait till you see. You've no idea what's around the corner. And I ended up, my most. My eldest ancestor, I ended up in the Tower of London because I was a poisoner. I'd poisoned my lover.
[15:46]
David Tennant
Wow.
[15:46]
Celia Imrie
That's good, isn't it?
[15:47]
David Tennant
That's great. Yes.
[15:49]
Celia Imrie
So, you know, she said, you've no idea what's around the corner.
[15:53]
David Tennant
Right.
[15:53]
Celia Imrie
So I'm not, you know, all goody.
[15:55]
David Tennant
Two shoes at all. Well. But your mother, reading about your mother, she sounds fascinating. Cause she was, as you say, almost aristocratic and was expected to marry in a certain way and then didn't. Right.
[16:10]
Celia Imrie
Marvellous escapologist like me, and married a wonderful Scotsman, my father, David, who had been married before, 20 years difference.
[16:22]
David Tennant
And she met him in a car park.
[16:24]
Celia Imrie
Is that right? Yeah, yeah. Well, it was during the war and he was a doctor, so he had, as he said, a motor car and some petrol and had been invited to sort of chauffeur some people at this posh dude.
[16:37]
David Tennant
Some posh people.
[16:38]
Celia Imrie
My mother had got fed up with the posh people, went out into the car park, met my father over a bonnet of a car and an apple. It was too Adam and Eve for words.
[16:50]
David Tennant
Brilliant.
[16:50]
Celia Imrie
But.
[16:51]
David Tennant
Yes, but that's quite. For someone coming from that society. And she'd already nearly got married and called it off at the last minute to someone. Oh, no, she sounds fascinating. I wish I'd met your mum.
[17:03]
Celia Imrie
Oh, so do I.
[17:04]
David Tennant
And she. So, because coming from a society which had all the expectations of marrying correctly and properly, so, first of all, she, at the last minute, pulls out of one marriage.
[17:15]
Celia Imrie
Sir George Porter. She was engaged. It was all in the paper. The wedding presents had arrived and by all accounts, her mother A great beauty, Adeline, but terrifying, I think. Right, so, yes. I mean, can you imagine lying in bed thinking, I can't do this, I can't do this. And the wedding was very soon. I can't do this, I can't. And then having to go to her mother and say, I can't do this.
[17:40]
David Tennant
Yeah.
[17:40]
Celia Imrie
And the mother, instead of sort of screaming the place down, said, right, we're off to Monte Carlo. Pack your bags.
[17:47]
David Tennant
How fabulous.
[17:49]
Celia Imrie
I know.
[17:49]
David Tennant
And they just gambled for a bit until the scandal died for.
[17:53]
Celia Imrie
Yes, exactly.
[17:54]
David Tennant
Right. But then she did it again. So then they sort of take her to the proper. The Deb's balls, presumably. Is it that sort of a deal?
[18:00]
Celia Imrie
Yes, I think so.
[18:01]
David Tennant
She nips out to the car park and meets a chauffeur who's 20 years older than her and decides, I'm gonna have him instead. What did her family make of that?
[18:11]
Celia Imrie
Oh, apparently her father, just the night before the wedding, said, must you marry this man?
[18:19]
David Tennant
Right.
[18:20]
Celia Imrie
She was determined, you see.
[18:21]
David Tennant
Yes. Yes. And how. Obviously she did marry that man. And they lived together very happily. But how did, like, did you have a relationship with Granny and Granddad? Did they.
[18:32]
Celia Imrie
No, I can remember that. Grandmother had died.
[18:36]
David Tennant
Right.
[18:37]
Celia Imrie
And my grandfather. I can remember feeling his hand. I was very little, sort of two or three very warm hands, Just like my mother's, actually. But no, nothing further than that.
[18:51]
David Tennant
Did they cut her off or. No, no, no, no, it wasn't like that.
[18:54]
Celia Imrie
But it didn't approve.
[18:55]
David Tennant
They didn't approve. Yeah, she went ahead and your dad.
[18:59]
Celia Imrie
Was a Scottish genius of Glasgow, actually, was a radiologist.
[19:03]
David Tennant
Okay.
[19:04]
Celia Imrie
So he'd done, presumably his first bit and then came down to Guildford and started the Scottish Society. He was very proud of his. Wow. We used to have Scottish dancers in the garden. I can remember it all. I know, but was a radiologist, so he took the X rays and then diagnosed.
[19:27]
David Tennant
Right, yeah. And did the. There was a big age gap as well, but did they make a happy couple? Was this a very. Was that really? You could tell that as a child. Right.
[19:38]
Celia Imrie
And five children.
[19:40]
David Tennant
Yes, five kids, yeah. So. But there's something about your mother that's interesting that that's the route she chose. Something of the unconventional about her. Something perhaps you inherited, do you think?
[19:55]
Celia Imrie
I do hope so. Well, she's in every part I play. Put it like that.
[20:01]
David Tennant
Is she really?
[20:02]
Celia Imrie
And it's rather wonderful, actually, at the moment, because I'm doing this play backstroke.
[20:07]
David Tennant
Yes.
[20:07]
Celia Imrie
For Donmar.
[20:08]
David Tennant
I'm coming to see it. I'm not telling you when.
[20:09]
Celia Imrie
You better not.
[20:10]
David Tennant
No, don't worry, we'll be secret.
[20:11]
Celia Imrie
Can you imagine? Oh, please be secret. But our director, Anna Macame and playwright had a brilliant idea of us all bringing our photographs of our mothers into the rehearsal room. And they're now outside my dressing room door. Because it's all about losing your mother.
[20:30]
David Tennant
Right, Right.
[20:31]
Celia Imrie
Which is colossal.
[20:32]
David Tennant
Yes. It really is, isn't it? Yes. Even though it's inevitable from the moment you're born, and yet it's sort of so fundamental, so existential, isn't it? It feels so impossible.
[20:43]
Celia Imrie
Have you got your mum?
[20:44]
David Tennant
No, I lost my mum. She was 67. So far too young.
[20:46]
Celia Imrie
Oh, dear.
[20:47]
David Tennant
Far too young. And I. It just felt impossible.
[20:51]
Celia Imrie
I know.
[20:52]
David Tennant
I remember realizing the day I realized she wasn't gonna get. She had cancer. And the day I realized she wasn't getting better because she'd had a couple of sort of relapses, that sort of thing of going, oh, but that it's not possible to exist in a world without a parent. Was your mum quite elderly when she.
[21:08]
Celia Imrie
Well, she was either 84 or 86.
[21:10]
David Tennant
But it's interesting how you don't know.
[21:12]
Celia Imrie
No, I don't. And funnily enough, I've wiped out the actual day as well.
[21:18]
David Tennant
Right.
[21:18]
Celia Imrie
Because. Why?
[21:19]
David Tennant
Yes. Well, you know. Yes.
[21:21]
Celia Imrie
But no. She was a cracker.
[21:23]
David Tennant
Yeah.
[21:23]
Celia Imrie
She really was.
[21:24]
David Tennant
Yeah.
[21:24]
Celia Imrie
So I hope I.
[21:25]
David Tennant
And mischievous.
[21:26]
Celia Imrie
Oh, yeah.
[21:33]
Georgia Tennant
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[21:35]
David Tennant
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[21:36]
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[21:37]
David Tennant
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[21:47]
David Tennant
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[21:53]
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[21:57]
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[22:02]
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[22:07]
David Tennant
But we're so used to just getting on with it, aren't we? Like, being stressed is somehow normal.
[22:11]
Georgia Tennant
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[22:12]
David Tennant
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[22:32]
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[23:30]
David Tennant
Have you ever heard of the phrase the imp of the perverse?
[23:33]
Celia Imrie
No, but I'd like to be that person.
[23:35]
David Tennant
I think you. I think you probably are, because it's a way of describ when you have those sort of slightly intrusive thoughts which are sort of spurring you to make mischief. It's like when you're talking to somebody's chatting away and all you're thinking about is, I could pick up that glass of water and throw it in their face.
[23:54]
Celia Imrie
Oh, no, I. Well, since a child I can remember, I'll tell you exactly. A very vivid memory, and I can only have been five and all the easels had been put out and next door to the easels were a little table that had been latched one to the other to the other with powder paints on yellow, red, white, black, little jam, jars of water, paintbrushes ready for the art class and there was probably two rows of them and we were being lined up and being told to go into the next classroom and I thought if I put. Put my foot out and just give this easel a nudge, then what might happen? And I did and the whole lot went down, one after the other after the other.
[24:44]
David Tennant
Wow. It was spectacular. With clothes of powder.
[24:47]
Celia Imrie
Oh God, Yes.
[24:48]
David Tennant
Whoa. It must have been like some sort of glorious celebration.
[24:53]
Celia Imrie
It was. I can't stop thinking of it right now.
[24:56]
David Tennant
Did it give you a real thrill?
[24:58]
Celia Imrie
Of course.
[24:59]
David Tennant
And did you get caught?
[25:01]
Celia Imrie
I can't quite remember the next bit, I probably had to admit.
[25:05]
David Tennant
But you were giddy with the joy of it.
[25:07]
Celia Imrie
I thought it was worth it.
[25:08]
David Tennant
Yes. And how often these days are you fighting the imp of the perverse, then? Does it daily, I think.
[25:17]
Celia Imrie
Will you?
[25:17]
David Tennant
Because you've got a twinkle in your eye and it feels like that's part of what is part of your creative juice, I would say.
[25:25]
Celia Imrie
Well, we're all, you know, we're play. We have to play, don't we?
[25:29]
David Tennant
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
[25:30]
Celia Imrie
We have to kind of hang onto that. I mean, it is quite perverse, really, because when you get to the first preview of a play, you think you're gonna die of fright, don't you?
[25:41]
David Tennant
Yes, absolutely. Did you think, why the hell am I doing this?
[25:45]
Celia Imrie
I know. Cause doing your Scottish play, which I adored, by the way, and I thought you were spectacular, but I wondered to myself as I watched you, and I thought, I wonder if you still get the heebie jeebies, you know, like, each night or just for the first preview or.
[26:02]
David Tennant
I think it depends on the play as well, doesn't it? And actually doing Macbeth was such a sort of supported company, and, you know, it's not. But sometimes if you're just sort of locked on a stage, it can be terrifying, that sense that I can't leave until I've got all this in the right order. Impossible. How are you finding it at the moment?
[26:24]
Celia Imrie
It's fascinating, actually. But each night is quite a mountain to climb, right? It is.
[26:32]
David Tennant
Yes, it is.
[26:32]
Celia Imrie
I'm not joking.
[26:33]
David Tennant
No. Sure.
[26:34]
Celia Imrie
But I'm hoping that as we go along, it can be more play.
[26:41]
David Tennant
And how nervous have you got? Terrified, of course. Yes.
[26:45]
Celia Imrie
And the worst bit is that I don't speak for a little while, so I'm not to spoil anything too much, but I'm lying in bed thinking, christ, when's my turn?
[26:53]
David Tennant
It's my turn, Right? Yes. And do you think that has got easier or more difficult, as the years have it? And why is that? Cause you've got more to lose?
[27:05]
Celia Imrie
Possibly, yes. Cause you don't really know at the beginning, do you? But also, I think it's fair to have to admit my age and more difficult to learn.
[27:16]
David Tennant
Is it? Right.
[27:18]
Celia Imrie
That's the truth.
[27:19]
David Tennant
Right.
[27:20]
Celia Imrie
Yeah. But, you know, once you can get going, then it's joyous of Course. But, yes, it is more difficult.
[27:31]
David Tennant
But you started out wanting to be a dancer. That was your sort of childhood dream. Yeah. And then you applied to Royal Ballet School and that you did not get accepted for Royal Ballet School.
[27:43]
Celia Imrie
No. Because they said. Oh, actually, she's very advanced for her age, you know, because I was passionate about it. But I'm afraid she's going to be too big. And my darling mother. This'll give you an idea.
[27:54]
David Tennant
Yeah.
[27:55]
Celia Imrie
My darling mother got the letter and hid it.
[27:58]
David Tennant
Right.
[28:00]
Celia Imrie
But I wondered why I'd not heard. I think I was told. No, but I found the letter.
[28:07]
David Tennant
Oh, you. So your mother said it hasn't worked out.
[28:10]
Celia Imrie
I think she might have done. I'm trying to work out what happened, but maybe I was told, maybe I wasn't told. But in any case, the point is, I found the letter in her desk.
[28:22]
David Tennant
Right.
[28:23]
Celia Imrie
Saying I was going to be too big because maybe I wanted to know the reason.
[28:26]
David Tennant
Sure.
[28:27]
Celia Imrie
Nobody told me.
[28:27]
David Tennant
Well, sure.
[28:28]
Celia Imrie
So I thought, oh, I see. Oh, well, if that's the only reason, then I'm gonna get small. And you know what happened then.
[28:36]
David Tennant
Yeah. And you stopped eating. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Do you think your mother was. Why she kept the letter? She didn't dispose of the letter. What do you think was. She presumably knew how hurtful it would be, I suppose, but didn't dispose of it. What do you think was her sort of endgame with that?
[28:55]
Celia Imrie
I'm not sure. Not sure. But it was all.
[28:59]
David Tennant
She maybe didn't know herself. I mean, maybe the sort of. You would want to protect your child.
[29:05]
Celia Imrie
From that, or maybe she didn't realize it would have such an effect. I don't know.
[29:09]
David Tennant
No, because this was. I mean, we're talking ages ago. Well, some years ago, certainly before eating disorders were understood or recognized in the way they are now. But you got very sick.
[29:20]
Celia Imrie
Yes, I did. And it's funny because for a long time I didn't talk about it, but funnily enough, now, if I can be of any help, then I'm willing to say whatever I can. But not only for the young girls and boys, I believe.
[29:39]
David Tennant
Yeah, yeah.
[29:40]
Celia Imrie
But for their mothers. But fortunately, now there are people that can help charities such as beat. And it's very important that, you know, people can share that anxiety and, you know, there is somewhere they can go, and then with their help, they can get themselves better. And it is possible not to have it all the way through your life. Go to these marvellous charities, get help, talk. And it's much easier nowadays. So always seek Help and get yourself better. Because actually the thing that I hate most about the whole thing, first of all, it's so self destructive.
[30:27]
David Tennant
Sure.
[30:28]
Celia Imrie
Secondly, it was the worry and the anxiety I gave my mother, which I hate.
[30:34]
David Tennant
Presumably even more difficult then when it was a condition that wasn't particularly talked.
[30:39]
Celia Imrie
About or rather hardly. Hardly given a name.
[30:41]
David Tennant
Yes. Your dad is a doctor. What was he making of all this?
[30:47]
Celia Imrie
Very embarrassed. Embarrassed, I think.
[30:49]
David Tennant
Right.
[30:50]
Celia Imrie
A doctor's daughter. What on earth's going on?
[30:52]
David Tennant
Right.
[30:53]
Celia Imrie
I don't think he quite understood it either because, you know. What do you mean you're not eating? Mystery to him, but a bit of an embarrassment as a doctor's daughter.
[31:04]
David Tennant
Yeah. And there weren't resources and there weren't precedents, which I suppose makes it easier at least to know what you're dealing with because the world sort of didn't know what to do with you. Right, yes.
[31:17]
Celia Imrie
No, it's very interesting. I can remember when I was in Swaziland filming with Richard D. Grant in his film Wawa, I met a mother and daughter who. And the daughter had anorexia and the mother, in desperation had got a witch doctor to come in to talk to her.
[31:38]
David Tennant
Right.
[31:39]
Celia Imrie
And apparently this is true. The witch doctor arrived at the house, went in, talked to the girl and then just came out again, as if. I don't know what you're talking about. You know, my country people are starving. What do you mean she's not eating? To him it was an anathema.
[31:57]
David Tennant
Yes.
[31:57]
Celia Imrie
He couldn't get it into his head.
[31:59]
David Tennant
Yes.
[32:00]
Celia Imrie
And I think a lot of people thought that.
[32:02]
David Tennant
Yeah.
[32:03]
Celia Imrie
But the sad thing is, I learn now, today, 1 in 50 people have got some sort of eating disorder, which is very distressing.
[32:13]
David Tennant
Very distressing. Yes. How sort of long a shadow has that cast? I mean, you got yourself better or you got to a stage where you were eating again. But often people who've been through that say, this is a condition that lives with you.
[32:27]
Celia Imrie
Well, I was first of all 11 and then, I'm afraid to say it happened again when I was 14 and this time I had to go to a psychiatric ward, which was terrifying. So I suppose there is a shadow. But I'm also, you know, a very proud person to show myself that it's possible to conquer the whole thing. But I do think it's very often you'll find somebody who goes up and then goes down and up.
[32:56]
David Tennant
Yes, yes, yes. It's a pernicious thing. Yeah.
[33:01]
Celia Imrie
But. Terrible waste of life, David. Honestly. Of course, honestly, yeah. And the worry for your family.
[33:08]
David Tennant
Yeah. Yeah. The treatment you were offered was not particularly helpful. Hellish it sound. I read some of what you wrote about it. It sounds like a sort of medieval.
[33:18]
Celia Imrie
Well, the doctor was misunderstanding. Yes. Yes. And also I was only 14, you see, I was so young, so I had to be in a adult ward. No, it was misery. I mean, hell, but, you know, I was drugged, so I didn't know my own mother when she came to visit me and things like that. It was ghastly. But there comes a time when you're faced with. For instance, when I was 11 and in great Ormond Street, I remember the staff nurse saying to me, you do realize you're taking up the bed of a really sick child, don't you?
[33:58]
David Tennant
Right.
[33:58]
Celia Imrie
But for me, David, that was the best thing she could have said. Because I suddenly thought, you know, it was exactly right for me.
[34:08]
David Tennant
For you, not for everybody. No. Because these things are. And it's probably not best practice from the nurse, to be honest, but yet in that moment, it's what you needed to hear. Yeah.
[34:17]
Celia Imrie
And you can do it. But really, honestly, you have to decide. Yeah, I'm sure that's true with a lot of illness.
[34:27]
David Tennant
I guess so. Yeah. But I suppose it's just finding your way through that forest. Yeah.
[34:34]
Celia Imrie
And it's a dark forest.
[34:36]
David Tennant
Yeah.
[34:37]
Celia Imrie
You can get out into the light.
[34:39]
David Tennant
Yeah.
[34:39]
Celia Imrie
I promise. And I'm a very good example.
[34:42]
David Tennant
You are, absolutely. So that was the end of your aspirations as a dancer? Sadly, you didn't sort of try and find a way back to that.
[34:52]
Celia Imrie
No. But I did do chorus lines and musicals and stuff, and that's never left me. In fact, I danced to the Blue Danube before I came to. Just in the kitchen.
[35:01]
David Tennant
Oh, how lovely.
[35:02]
Celia Imrie
Nobody can see me fall over, but I can. You know, music. Music is the great cure all, I think.
[35:11]
David Tennant
Right.
[35:11]
Celia Imrie
People do believe that.
[35:12]
David Tennant
Yeah.
[35:12]
Celia Imrie
Yeah, yeah.
[35:13]
David Tennant
Oh, I think so.
[35:14]
Celia Imrie
Aren't you?
[35:14]
David Tennant
Do you know what? If I get very, very stressed about something, very worried about something, I will go into a room and put on loud music and just thrash around like a lunatic.
[35:23]
Celia Imrie
Or even Jimmy Shand. Are you too young to remember?
[35:26]
David Tennant
No, I know exactly what you're talking about. Well, there's nothing better than a Ceilie to Blow the Cobwebs Away is one.
[35:31]
Celia Imrie
Of my desert island discs.
[35:32]
David Tennant
Was it Jimmy Shard?
[35:34]
Celia Imrie
Yeah. Blue Bell Polka. Of course.
[35:36]
David Tennant
Lovely.
[35:36]
Celia Imrie
But, you know, I say, you know, everything's marvellous, but I would like to say there are some up moments, but there are some on the floor moments in Regard to carrying on with life.
[35:52]
David Tennant
Right.
[35:52]
Celia Imrie
You know, at the moment, you know, the sunshine is out. But there are days when I'm on the floor. And so I think everybody has to go through those times. It's not all marvelous.
[36:07]
David Tennant
Yes. Are you quite a victim to your moods, then? Do you feel like they can?
[36:13]
Celia Imrie
Every now and again it catches up and I find myself on the floor and I don't quite know how that's happened.
[36:19]
David Tennant
Right.
[36:19]
Celia Imrie
But I can get myself back again.
[36:22]
David Tennant
And do you have specific things you'll reach for? I mean, literally, Jimmy Shand or something slightly more esoteric or, you know, what are your music?
[36:33]
Celia Imrie
Honestly is my friend.
[36:35]
David Tennant
Right.
[36:36]
Celia Imrie
But I only say that, not for any other reason, in that, you know, sometimes everything's marvelous. And in this life, this mad, mad life that we've chosen, it's not all marvelous, is it? You know.
[36:53]
David Tennant
Yes. It's defined by sort of highs and lows, isn't it? Yeah. Which I think is probably something of what we're chasing. I guess there's a bit of a kind of drug rush you're looking for, I suppose, which cannot be there the whole time. Inevitably, it's going to be peaks and troughs. Yeah. So did acting just sort of emerge then, as the thing you could do? Right.
[37:19]
Celia Imrie
Yeah.
[37:20]
David Tennant
But were you always imagining when you went into. Cause you did start in sort of chorus lines, didn't you? So there was singing and dancing. Did you imagine a kind of musical theater world or what were you aspiring to?
[37:32]
Celia Imrie
I suppose by then I wanted really to do a part, you know, in a play. But it did take a long time.
[37:40]
David Tennant
Right.
[37:40]
Celia Imrie
Really a long time. But, you know. But then do everything that comes along. Yes, everything that comes along. And, you know, you learn as you go, don't you?
[37:51]
David Tennant
And you did rep up and down the country and you did the sort of.
[37:54]
Celia Imrie
I'm a total fraud. Because I wasn't formally trained in drama school. I did, for my father's sake, who didn't approve. I promised him I'd do a dancing teacher's course, which I did.
[38:06]
David Tennant
Okay.
[38:07]
Celia Imrie
And got a few qualifications. I mean, I wouldn't be allowed out to teach now because you'd have to go through university, probably, which is something I wish I'd done but didn't. And always felt a bit worried on both counts, actually. No drama school, no university, no way. Lord. So you know what I mean?
[38:27]
David Tennant
Right.
[38:27]
Celia Imrie
So. But anyway.
[38:28]
David Tennant
And Daddy didn't think that was.
[38:31]
Celia Imrie
It wasn't a very good idea, was he?
[38:33]
David Tennant
Was he. Was he a kind of slightly Flinty Scotsman, a sort of Presbyterian, sort of stick in the mud in that.
[38:42]
Celia Imrie
In some ways. No, not really. But the great thing is being one of five, I had two nursing sisters, right. And that was a joy for him. And I do think they're angels, actually, both of them. And so that was a good idea. And then I could sort of do what I was doing, do what my path was.
[39:01]
David Tennant
And were you quite individual in the five siblings? Were you different?
[39:06]
Celia Imrie
Well, it's quite interesting. Cause Rosalind, my eldest sister, was my father's favorite, of course. Because, I mean, that's. I'm saying favorite that he didn't really. But firstborn, Right. Roslyn. Andrew was my mother's favorite. Only boy, Juliet. Notice all the Shakespearean names, by the way.
[39:27]
David Tennant
Loving it.
[39:28]
Celia Imrie
Juliet was. And this is where the posh bit, which I didn't like to ever admit, are Nanny's favorite because she was the first born to. When Nanny came to Harney, then I was wished to be Charlie. Already thought my name might be Charlie, but then a bit disappointing. And then Katie Catherine, my littlest sister, is five years later.
[39:59]
David Tennant
Right.
[40:01]
Celia Imrie
So I was in the middle going, hello, by the way. Hello. Which I've been doing ever since.
[40:06]
David Tennant
So nobody else went into the arts in the same way, right?
[40:09]
Celia Imrie
No, but my mother, a boyfriend of mine once said at the cocktail hour, he afterwards said, you know, your mother is a better actress than you'll ever be. And I knew what he meant.
[40:24]
David Tennant
Right.
[40:24]
Celia Imrie
Because storytelling after a couple of gins. No one better. She's adorable.
[40:32]
David Tennant
Yeah.
[40:40]
Celia Imrie
This episode is brought to you by Amazon. Sometimes the most painful part of getting.
[40:44]
Unknown
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[40:46]
Celia Imrie
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[41:11]
David Tennant
One of the things of course you did early on is sort of one of your social circle was Victoria Wood.
[41:17]
Celia Imrie
Yes.
[41:17]
David Tennant
Who sort of was going off and doing funny little songs on the telly every now and again and ended up becoming one of the great comedy legends of the uk and took you with her on that. I mean, you became part of her unofficial rep companies throughout her career. I'm not sure anyone listening to this outside the UK probably doesn't have a sense of how significant Victoria Wood was in British culture. She was pretty unique as a woman who generated her own comedy world, really and she did sketch shows and you were part of them. Sitcoms, you were part of them. Was that. What was your relationship with her like? What was she. Did you always know that she was something special?
[42:11]
Celia Imrie
I think I said, first of all, back in 75, when I met my friend Fidelis Morgan, who was on the world tour, she was at university with Victoria Wood in Birmingham.
[42:25]
David Tennant
Right.
[42:26]
Celia Imrie
That's how I first met her. And I was rather intimidated by all the university set because I didn't feel as if I, you know, knew what they were all yakking on about, very often in critical terms of what they'd seen, what they'd read. I was thinking I so much to catch up on. And Victoria, I think, came to see me in a pantomime in Derby, I seem to remember. And then she saw me in some poetry reading thing in Derby also. And I have a feeling, this is my theory may or may not be true, that she sort of saw me as a rather awful rep actress, you know, some rather, you know. And therefore when she wrote Equine Antiques, she thought, oh yes, no, I know. Cause I, you know, I fell over when she was in the audience, I remember. Cause I was nervous and this Sylvia Plath poetry thing was ghastly. And I think she thought of me as a sort of rep actress and therefore would be perfect as Ms. Babs in acorn Antiques. Because that was my background. This awful.
[43:43]
David Tennant
Yes. For anyone who doesn't know, Acorn Antiques is a sketch of a sort of terrible soap opera, a daytime soap opera. And you're sort of watching the mistakes and how awful it all is and the terrible acting.
[43:55]
Celia Imrie
But I'd pick up the telephone and it would still be ringing, so I'd have to bash it and everything. I mean, it was bliss. And also Ms. Babs was sort of trying to keep the whole thing together. So she was furious if things went wrong. Yes, but my theory, it may or may not be true, is that I think Victoria saw me as that sort of rep actress and so be perfect in the part of this rather awful daytime actress. But then it turned out that, you know, I could do other things as well. So I have a feeling that's how it began. Because Vic was very clever and she took sort of essences of people.
[44:36]
David Tennant
Yes.
[44:37]
Celia Imrie
And exaggerated.
[44:39]
David Tennant
And she wasn't an actor. I mean, she did do some acting, I suppose, in sketches. And latterly she sort of came to acting, didn't she? Yes, but she wasn't coming from a sort of drama background. She was sort of picking people up and putting them in sketches. What was she like as a boss? Was she very much the. How collaborative was it, and how much was she handed down the sketches and.
[45:04]
Celia Imrie
Well, first of all, I'm thrilled to have been in her team. I mean, because everybody wanted to be, and I was. Yeah, exactly. But she was quite tough.
[45:14]
David Tennant
Was she?
[45:15]
Celia Imrie
Yes. And every single comma and every word had to be absolutely accurate. Well, fair dos, you know, Spent a long time, you know, deciding on this word and that bit of rhythm. Cause she wrote, like, music, I think. And also, if you think about it, you know, she wrote some fabulous jokes and gave them away. Gave them away to us.
[45:41]
David Tennant
I was interesting. I watched A bit of Dinner Ladies, which is the sitcom that she wrote, again, for yourself and her sort of unofficial company of players. And she plays the kind of straight woman in it. She gives all the funny jokes, all the funny lines away. And they are beautifully crafted. I mean, it's like PG Wodehouse or something, the way she crafts a line. So I suppose that's why you are drilled to honor every full stop.
[46:06]
Celia Imrie
Oh, absolutely.
[46:07]
David Tennant
Yeah.
[46:07]
Celia Imrie
And in Dinner Ladies, strangely, I'd never done this before, but we did it on Friday night in front of an audience. Then Victoria and Jeff Posner, the director, would watch it on Saturday morning. We'd come in on Saturday afternoon, and things would be changed.
[46:22]
David Tennant
Right.
[46:23]
Celia Imrie
Jokes might be dropped, lines might be put in. So I can remember Julie Walters and I on the Saturday night. It was like being on an ice rink. You couldn't remember uncle did, which. Which bit was, you know.
[46:34]
David Tennant
Yeah.
[46:35]
Celia Imrie
So it was scary, actually.
[46:36]
David Tennant
So you'd rewrite and do it again.
[46:38]
Celia Imrie
Yes, but not. Not a lot. But nevertheless, there were changes to make.
[46:42]
David Tennant
Your bum tighten a little bit. Yes, sure. Yeah. But. And again, like, some of her most famous sketches, she's not in. Like that one where Julie Walters serves you soup.
[46:53]
Celia Imrie
Oh, God.
[46:54]
David Tennant
Which. Honestly, I watched it again the other day. I was.
[46:57]
Celia Imrie
I know.
[46:57]
David Tennant
Tears rolling down my cheeks.
[46:59]
Celia Imrie
Well, tears rolling down your cheeks. Blood rolling in my mouth. Cause I. Honestly, David.
[47:04]
David Tennant
Well, you don't look up. I noticed you.
[47:06]
Celia Imrie
I can't. No, because we did it live. And if Duncan and I had laughed during the sketch, it would have absolutely ruined it. Yes, because it was the amount of.
[47:17]
David Tennant
Time she took coming to the kitchen. I can't believe how endless it is.
[47:21]
Celia Imrie
And we never got through it in rehearsals.
[47:23]
David Tennant
I bet you didn't. Yeah, but that's. There's. Cause she's a bit of an enigma, I think. Victoria Wood. I don't think we feel we love her stuff.
[47:32]
Celia Imrie
Yes.
[47:32]
David Tennant
I don't feel like the nation ever got to know her. And partly that's cause so much of her material was sort of channeled through you guys.
[47:40]
Celia Imrie
Yes. But she was a great friend, actually. And she did, you know, she was very kind. I can remember driving her lorry from Morecambe to London. Was it. We drove some. Or was it Morecambe to Silverdale where she lived. Anyway, she hadn't passed her driving license enough to drive a lorry, so I drove it. And I can remember.
[48:05]
David Tennant
Was this when she was on tour or something?
[48:06]
Celia Imrie
No, no, she was moving from somewhere to somewhere. Perhaps it was to Morecambe or something. Anyway, I can remember Geoff Durham and I trying to get her piano upstairs and getting a terrible temper.
[48:17]
David Tennant
Right.
[48:17]
Celia Imrie
But she was very kind and we'd been friends for years.
[48:21]
David Tennant
Right? Yes.
[48:22]
Celia Imrie
You know, and it was wonderful, actually. And. But shocking when she. When I found out I was in America at the time when she died, because I had no idea she was ill.
[48:34]
David Tennant
Right.
[48:35]
Celia Imrie
And bizarrely, I was talking to Les Brotherston, our designer on this play.
[48:39]
David Tennant
Oh, yes.
[48:40]
Celia Imrie
And we both said how shocked and sad we were that we didn't know she was ill because we thought we were good friends.
[48:48]
David Tennant
Right.
[48:48]
Celia Imrie
And it was a terrible shock. But now in my grown up head, I realized that, you know, people don't want to be seen when they're ill. Of course they don't.
[48:59]
David Tennant
Yeah. So, yeah, she went very quickly. Yeah, yeah.
[49:03]
Celia Imrie
But nevertheless, I'm mighty proud to say I was in her gang. Oh, my goodness. Because it was a great time.
[49:10]
David Tennant
It is some of the funniest stuff. It's absolutely. And you. Yes. You suit her work. There's something about the way you can turn the line which I think is.
[49:18]
Celia Imrie
Well, I think I had to spend quite a lot of time being the straight girl too. But me and Duncan often had to be the straight men to Julie and Victoria. But, you know, that's a skill too.
[49:31]
David Tennant
Yeah. And then it became a musical, didn't it? The Corner Antiques became a full. As you talked about earlier, with Trevor Nunn directing it in the West End.
[49:39]
Celia Imrie
But can you imagine Trevor Nunn, you know, Shakespeare itis all his career and then suddenly doing Acorn Antiques, the musical in the West. I mean, it's so weird and bizarre.
[49:50]
David Tennant
Was that a glorious thing to perform in? Was it that doing a big old splashy West End musical?
[49:55]
Celia Imrie
It was. But when she first rang me and said she was gonna do it, I'm afraid to say I was honest. And I said, really? But Vic, you know, because it was only seven minutes each episode, right? Yes.
[50:08]
David Tennant
There were mini sketches, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[50:10]
Celia Imrie
And I said, what do you mean you're gonna do? Really? And she was quite fierce and said, well, if you don't want to do it, I'll look elsewhere.
[50:18]
David Tennant
Oh, wow.
[50:21]
Celia Imrie
And then Julie and I decided, well, if you do it, I'll do it.
[50:24]
David Tennant
Right, okay.
[50:25]
Celia Imrie
But then I'll tell you how good she was, how great she was. She did in the rehearsal room, say, you know, if anybody wants to talk, I'm here, I'm in front of you.
[50:36]
David Tennant
Cause she wasn't in it that time, was she?
[50:38]
Celia Imrie
No.
[50:38]
David Tennant
Right.
[50:38]
Celia Imrie
No. So we got to quite late on rehearsals and I. I dared myself to walk up to her one lunchtime and I said, Vic, Ms. Babs hasn't got a number.
[50:53]
David Tennant
Did that feel like you had to slightly take a deep breath? Oh, huge.
[50:58]
Celia Imrie
And literally dare myself. And she said, oh, well, you know, there's no time now. Cause we've got far too many. But she didn't have a song. Now, I'm not a singer either, but Ms. Papps had to have a number. And to her great credit after that, and it was practically at the band call, she presented me with this song.
[51:21]
David Tennant
For Ms. Babs just @ the end of rehearsal.
[51:24]
Celia Imrie
Absolute last minute.
[51:25]
David Tennant
Wow.
[51:26]
Celia Imrie
So that's how great she was.
[51:28]
David Tennant
Right.
[51:28]
Celia Imrie
And Ms. Babs had her number.
[51:31]
David Tennant
And you won the Olivier Award without it.
[51:33]
Celia Imrie
I'm not sure I would have.
[51:34]
David Tennant
Well, you can't be Best Actress in Music without a number, can you?
[51:37]
Celia Imrie
Exactly, yes.
[51:39]
David Tennant
Was that. Did you look forward to that then? Every night. Was there something joyous about a musical?
[51:43]
Celia Imrie
Yes.
[51:44]
David Tennant
You don't get from a straight play.
[51:45]
Celia Imrie
It's true.
[51:46]
David Tennant
Yeah.
[51:47]
Celia Imrie
Actually, yes, it was great.
[51:49]
David Tennant
I've never been in one, but I just.
[51:51]
Celia Imrie
Well, you will be now.
[51:53]
David Tennant
Oh, no.
[51:53]
Celia Imrie
Would you like. Would you like.
[51:55]
David Tennant
I just always think I'd love it if there was something like Acorn Antiques, which had a slightly heightened quality, maybe the idea of going into the world of people who. Cause when you see those people who can really. I know, you know, the Idina Menzels and the. I know these voices, all these musicals.
[52:14]
Celia Imrie
Of people who can really sing and dance to perfection and act. Yes, fantastic.
[52:20]
David Tennant
Well, as you can. You are the defined triple threat, I think it's fair to say. I'd like to talk to you about your lovely son, Angus.
[52:31]
Celia Imrie
Oh, yes, please.
[52:33]
David Tennant
You've always been very honest about how he came into your life. You sort of decided, correct me if I'm wrong, But I think you sort of got to a point in life where, having thought children were of no interest to you, you suddenly went, oh, no. Oh. Oh, now, no, no, that's. That's not right. Go on.
[52:49]
Celia Imrie
Since 16.
[52:50]
David Tennant
Oh, right.
[52:52]
Celia Imrie
Oh, yes, No, I would love. I suppose I was thinking of many, but definitely I want to.
[52:59]
David Tennant
Okay.
[53:00]
Celia Imrie
But then, yes, I got 42 and I thought, wait a second, hold on. You can't go on forever. I'm afraid so. It is what I wanted more than anything in the world, actually, then.
[53:14]
David Tennant
No, a very successful actor.
[53:16]
Celia Imrie
Terrifically successful, yes. Wherever I go, I'm so proud of him. But I'm also very glad he's not a girl.
[53:24]
David Tennant
Why is that?
[53:25]
Celia Imrie
Well, because I get quite envious, I think. Do you think success? I'm afraid I think I would.
[53:30]
David Tennant
Wow. That's interesting. No, well, it's very good that you can admit that. I don't think that's unusual. It's unusual that you would be able to admit it. Maybe you wouldn't admit it if it was a carol, though, because you'd have to be very.
[53:43]
Celia Imrie
I know. No, but I am proud of him.
[53:45]
David Tennant
Yeah, I bet.
[53:47]
Celia Imrie
Very.
[53:47]
David Tennant
Yeah.
[53:48]
Celia Imrie
And wherever I go, casting directors and people I meet. Oh, your son, he's so good. And he's so polite, you know, he's an angel.
[53:58]
David Tennant
I think I've. Well, I met him when he was tiny and I met him again quite recently. He was delightful.
[54:04]
Celia Imrie
I know. He really is.
[54:05]
David Tennant
He's a proper. He's a proper, lovely human. And that's all down to you.
[54:11]
Celia Imrie
Well, and his dad.
[54:13]
David Tennant
Yes, but. But, you know, you had a very. Presumably it was just you and him growing up a lot of the time, and that must create a very special born.
[54:23]
Celia Imrie
No, he's a darling.
[54:24]
David Tennant
Does he come to you for acting advice?
[54:28]
Celia Imrie
Not. Not really, no. I mean, I was quite nervous, him coming to see the play.
[54:32]
David Tennant
Where are you?
[54:33]
Celia Imrie
Yes. And I hadn't told him anything about it.
[54:35]
David Tennant
Right. And you knew when he was in?
[54:37]
Celia Imrie
Yes, because I thought, well, the first night is so scary anyway, so he might as well come then.
[54:42]
David Tennant
Okay. Okay. Do you worry about him?
[54:45]
Celia Imrie
Worry about him, yeah.
[54:48]
David Tennant
Are you a worrier?
[54:49]
Celia Imrie
Generally, yes. Long. If he's driving. A long time. I also have a grandson, by the.
[54:55]
David Tennant
Way, aged six, which is adorable.
[54:59]
Celia Imrie
And he's a marvelous father, actually.
[55:02]
David Tennant
Right.
[55:02]
Celia Imrie
I watch them together. Yes, of course. You worry. You must worry.
[55:07]
David Tennant
Yeah, of course.
[55:07]
Celia Imrie
Worry four times over, or is it five times over?
[55:09]
David Tennant
Five times over.
[55:10]
Celia Imrie
Five times over, yeah.
[55:11]
David Tennant
Yeah. Would you have rather he became a doctor or A lawyer or a.
[55:15]
Celia Imrie
No, I went, I went. He was at Dulwich College and I was doing a play in the West End. So I said to the drum teacher, please can I come and see a rehearsal? They were 10, age 10, all boys school and they were doing a version of Sweeney Todd with songs and Queen Victoria was in it and everything. Anyway, I sat in the dark watching these 10 year old boys doing this rather marvelous production and suddenly I heard swishing behind me and I turned around and thought, oh, and there was a little statuesque figure in black with a sticky out dress, pearls and lipstick. Gee, it was Angus and he was Queen Victoria. And he marched down the aisle, marched up and down the. And bossing everybody about, everybody roaring with laughter.
[56:12]
David Tennant
Well, that was him hooked. That was it. He got the laughs. Yeah, exactly.
[56:17]
Celia Imrie
And honestly, I think still to this day, speaking for myself, I'd do anything for a laugh.
[56:23]
David Tennant
Well, do you know what I mean? It's intoxicating, isn't it?
[56:26]
Celia Imrie
Well, it is. And I mean, you know, people can say, oh, it's marvelous. When the audience goes quiet. Yes, quite nice. But if they're screaming with laughter, it's even better.
[56:37]
David Tennant
Yes. Cause you've done a fair, you've done a range of things. You've done from the deeply tragic to the uproariously comic. Do you find that the tug of comedy is just pulling a little?
[56:50]
Celia Imrie
Of course. And actually in the play that I'm doing at the moment, there is both.
[56:54]
David Tennant
Yes.
[56:54]
Celia Imrie
Shakespeare knew, like the Scottish play, he knows when the tragedy. And then suddenly you've got to have both actually, you can't have one.
[57:05]
David Tennant
It's also the reality of life, isn't it?
[57:07]
Celia Imrie
Yeah.
[57:07]
David Tennant
That often the most tragic moments have some sort of moment of dark comedy, funerals. Yeah, yeah.
[57:13]
Celia Imrie
Or weeks.
[57:14]
David Tennant
Yeah, yeah. We do have to talk about the big film that you've got coming out.
[57:22]
Celia Imrie
Well, we've got.
[57:23]
David Tennant
Well, coming out, we have. You're a bit higher up the cast list than I am.
[57:26]
Celia Imrie
Come on.
[57:26]
David Tennant
But you're one of the quartet of the mystery solving team from Richard Osmond's multi, multi, multi million selling book, the Thursday Murder Club. You are one of that quartet.
[57:39]
Celia Imrie
I am. How's that happened?
[57:41]
David Tennant
It's you, Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan and Ben Kingsley.
[57:45]
Celia Imrie
What's up, Ben? We had some fun, didn't we?
[57:48]
David Tennant
I have a part in it, but I'm not near the. When Steven Spielberg visited the set, that was the. I did not get introduced.
[57:54]
Celia Imrie
Oh no.
[57:55]
David Tennant
Oh no, that's terrible. David, did you tell him your Jaws story. I'm slightly saying this because I know you did. I want you to tell your Jaws.
[58:04]
Celia Imrie
Not only that, but I gave him the picture too. The thing is, I knew he was coming.
[58:09]
David Tennant
But the helicopter, it was very, very Hollywood, wasn't it? The helicopter landed in the car park.
[58:13]
Celia Imrie
But then I thought, well. Cause I'm so starstruck as I am at this moment with you, David.
[58:18]
David Tennant
Of course I am. I understand that.
[58:20]
Celia Imrie
I understand. So I thought, well, you know, if I know, I know he's coming, I've got to talk about something.
[58:28]
David Tennant
And she prepped, like for an interview, like for a talk show.
[58:32]
Celia Imrie
Exactly. So I thought, well, just cause I get nervous and just have something up your sleeve. And on this said world tour with Glenda Jackson Years ago, 75 we're talking about. I was 22 and Glenda was double Oscar winner. So she was feted wherever she went. And we were in Los Angeles and we were given a special tour of Universal Studios. We had been, as I'd said, in Australia and I'd had an absolute obsession with sharks. God knows why. I used to go to sharkariums and throw Maltesers at them, hoping they'd jump up.
[59:08]
David Tennant
Wow. We don't recommend that to our listeners.
[59:10]
Celia Imrie
Best not. And so we got to Universal Studios and we were going along on this little train. And then I looked down to the side and there were three gray bits of something.
[59:26]
David Tennant
Yeah.
[59:27]
Celia Imrie
I don't know what they were. And I said to the driver, I said, oh, can you stop a minute? What is this here? This sort of mechanical thing here? And he said, oh, it's a mechanical shark. Some film called Jaws or something. You never see the light of day, but anyway. And suddenly you realize that there was a shark's mouth and another set of.
[59:51]
David Tennant
Just sort of cast aside. Absolutely.
[59:53]
Celia Imrie
On the side of the road. The tail and the body and the mouth. And my friends knowing my obsession with sharks. Oh, seals, get out, have your picture taken inside the mouth. So I did. Inside Bruce.
[60:04]
David Tennant
Brilliant.
[60:05]
Celia Imrie
The jaw's mouth. And this picture is very precious to me and I love it. I thought, oh, that's what I'll do. I'll get it blown up and I'll show it to him.
[60:17]
David Tennant
Yeah.
[60:18]
Celia Imrie
And I did. And he was absolutely delighted.
[60:20]
David Tennant
What a lovely full circle.
[60:22]
Celia Imrie
He was thrilled.
[60:23]
David Tennant
Was he? I bet he was, yeah. Yeah.
[60:31]
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[61:07]
David Tennant
So now that you're having started in the Chorus Line and now you are the top line in the cast, how are you. How aware, and it's interesting, you talk about Glenda Jackson and how considerate and careful she was. Are you aware that the atmosphere on set is now, in part, led by you? Is that something you have a consciousness of?
[61:28]
Celia Imrie
Well, the good thing about Thursday, Murder Club, there's four of us.
[61:32]
David Tennant
Sure.
[61:32]
Celia Imrie
So it's not just me.
[61:33]
David Tennant
No.
[61:34]
Celia Imrie
Which is a happier position for me, actually.
[61:36]
David Tennant
Okay.
[61:37]
Celia Imrie
Interesting to be that. I don't know why, but just to be one of four or one of.
[61:43]
David Tennant
Two shared load rather than.
[61:45]
Celia Imrie
Exactly.
[61:46]
David Tennant
Okay.
[61:46]
Celia Imrie
But I mean, you know, stepping into my trailer, I mean, honestly, the luxury, it's just ludicrous, but I loved it.
[61:55]
David Tennant
Was that the biggest trailer you ever had?
[61:57]
Celia Imrie
Ever had.
[61:57]
David Tennant
Right, right. I mean, deserved, of course.
[62:02]
Celia Imrie
Anyway, it was thrilling.
[62:03]
David Tennant
Yeah.
[62:03]
Celia Imrie
The whole thing.
[62:05]
David Tennant
I suppose I'm. I think you probably won't admit it because you probably can't, but I wonder if you can see it that as someone that is now looked up to by the cast, your example is important and has repercussions all the way down to the T girl, which you once were. I just wonder how, if that's just instinctive and natural, that you are the person that you are or whether you have a. A cognizance, that that's something you want to make sure is okay.
[62:39]
Celia Imrie
I suppose, Yes. I mean, I think. I think, you know, the way I was brought up, you know, be polite and kind and things. But. Yes, it's. When people ask my advice, I suddenly. Gives me a bit of a jolt.
[62:57]
David Tennant
Does it?
[62:57]
Celia Imrie
And think, oh, yes, I suppose. Well, they would. They would. Because of my age now, I suppose.
[63:04]
David Tennant
Right.
[63:04]
Celia Imrie
But it's. I just remember those days of bringing people cups of tea and coffee and things and how important it is that you just, you know, we're all in this game together. Honestly.
[63:21]
David Tennant
Yeah.
[63:21]
Celia Imrie
And why not all just get along? On the whole, I think, you know, actors are very good at that. They have to be, because chances are we're gonna meet again.
[63:32]
David Tennant
Yes, quite.
[63:33]
Celia Imrie
Whereas I've noticed sometimes in the Literary world, it's a very different story because they're singular and they're by themselves. So I have noticed that there's not quite the generosity.
[63:48]
David Tennant
That's interesting. Cause you are also a published novelist, so you traverse both those worlds. Yeah.
[63:56]
Celia Imrie
And I've noticed there's a big difference.
[63:57]
David Tennant
That's interesting. And you think that's because one is about a kind of collective creative experience and one is about a singular one.
[64:04]
Celia Imrie
Yes, I do. I do think so. And also sometimes I don't know whether you found it, but. For instance, directors are not necessarily particularly generous about each other. Because in my head, they think, oh, he's doing something in a closed room over there, in the rehearsal room. What's he up to? Because they never see each other work. Whereas you and I have got to make prats of each other quite publicly.
[64:29]
David Tennant
Quite. And we see lots of directors, whereas. Yes, you're right. A director never gets to see another director.
[64:34]
Celia Imrie
And they're suspicious.
[64:35]
David Tennant
Yes. Yes. So how are you with that kind of. Because you talk about feeling most comfortable when you're sharing the load. You strike me as someone who enjoys the collective act of creating something, whether that's in a play or on a movie shoot or whatever. So when you thought, no, I'm gonna write a novel, that's a very different experience.
[64:57]
Celia Imrie
It is. And it began because somebody said to me, have you ever thought of writing your life story? And I said, oh, Lord, no. And they said, well, if you don't do it, somebody else will.
[65:08]
David Tennant
Right.
[65:09]
Celia Imrie
God blame me. I don't want all my secrets out. So I thought, well, I better get on with it. But my good friend Fidelis Morgan is a writer and she's helped me throughout all the books.
[65:20]
David Tennant
Right.
[65:20]
Celia Imrie
She does a lot of collaboration. It's a collaboration, really, but it is a very different world. And you're on the whole, on your own. And it's marvelous having done it, but it's quite hard work to stick at it.
[65:44]
David Tennant
Right.
[65:44]
Celia Imrie
Do you know what I mean? Cause you're sort of your own rules.
[65:47]
David Tennant
Yes.
[65:48]
Celia Imrie
Whereas when you and I go to rehearsals or a film set, we just do as we're told.
[65:52]
David Tennant
Yeah. How easy do you find it to sit down and start?
[65:55]
Celia Imrie
Quite hard.
[65:56]
David Tennant
Yes. And once you start, are you okay?
[65:59]
Celia Imrie
Yes, more or less. And I love the dialogue bits, of course, because actors. And also, I went on a writing course called. I'm sure you've probably heard of it, Story structure.
[66:11]
David Tennant
Right.
[66:11]
Celia Imrie
That Robert McKee. And not having gone to university, I was thinking, oh, Lord, it'd Probably be too much. But a friend of mine persuaded me to go. And honestly, it was one of the best things I ever did. Because for an actor, also, I was taught story is all. Now, for instance, in the play that I'm doing at the moment, at the last minute, one of my favorite speeches. Cut. Why? Because it didn't push the story along. And that's what you learn. Tough if your favorite speech has gotta go because the story is all right. And it was a very good lesson to learn.
[66:56]
David Tennant
Do you think the fact that you've been a writer made that moment a little bit easier to cope with? Right, I do. Cause you could agree with the concept of why it was being removed. I'm going back to the baftas now, where I saw you absolutely rocking it on the red carpet. I think of all the people that, you know, when everyone goes, oh, didn't so and so look marvellous. Everyone talked about how glamorous and fantastic you looked, and you appeared to be loving it. Yes. And are you. How comfortable are you with that?
[67:30]
Celia Imrie
A lot of it was acting. Sure. But. But I do have a fantastic team. And if you're gonna do it, you might as well do it properly. Yes, actually. Yes. And, you know, it's a long evening and you have to. It's work. It's work, actually. But because I had a beautiful dress to wear, I did enjoy it.
[67:53]
David Tennant
You did, yeah. Yeah.
[67:55]
Celia Imrie
But then, you know, you have to do your bit, and that takes a long wait, you know, until you go out and do your.
[68:02]
David Tennant
Yeah.
[68:02]
Celia Imrie
But on the other hand, it's lovely to be asked.
[68:05]
David Tennant
You have reached National Treasure status, despite how you might feel about that. I think it's been done to you, and I don't think you get to choose. And I think that's. I think you're a joy to people. People are. I'm certainly thrilled to see you in anything, especially in the same room. Cause you've got an energy about you that you feel like you are impatient for the next thing.
[68:31]
Celia Imrie
Well, I'm slightly running out of time. That's not meant to be dramatic.
[68:35]
David Tennant
Okay.
[68:35]
Celia Imrie
But it is a reality.
[68:36]
David Tennant
Right.
[68:37]
Celia Imrie
And there was a marvellous thing on Hacks. Do you watch Hacks?
[68:41]
David Tennant
Oh, it's good, isn't it?
[68:42]
Celia Imrie
Well, there's a episode that's just come and gone.
[68:45]
David Tennant
Right.
[68:46]
Celia Imrie
She's the same age as me. I think she's absolutely wonderful.
[68:49]
David Tennant
Jean. Smart. Yes. Brilliant.
[68:51]
Celia Imrie
And she talks about, you know, your one day. And I can say this to you, David, your one day, I'll do Da, Da. Da da is my now.
[69:02]
David Tennant
Right.
[69:02]
Celia Imrie
I've got to do it now. So I'm not being dramatic, but I am slightly running out of time, so I've got to get on with it.
[69:09]
David Tennant
Well, you're squeezing it in.
[69:10]
Celia Imrie
Mm. Might as well while you've got squeeze.
[69:12]
David Tennant
So you're not envision. You don't envision a retirement on the coast somewhere.
[69:17]
Celia Imrie
Best not. No, best not.
[69:19]
David Tennant
Nobody wants you to retire, so I don't think. I don't think that's in your gift anyway. That seals. Thanks for doing today.
[69:26]
Celia Imrie
Thank you.
[69:26]
David Tennant
You're such a joy always to be around.
[69:29]
Celia Imrie
You are.
[69:29]
David Tennant
And you talk with great alacrity and it's been a joy. Thank you.
[69:34]
Celia Imrie
Thank you for having me.
[69:52]
David Tennant
David Tennant does a podcast with is a Sony Music Entertainment and no Mystery production produced by Matt Smith. The assistant producer was Rani Prescott. The sound engineer was Matthias Torres Solly. The executive producers are Alex Lawless, Sarah Camlett and Georgia Tennant.