JIMMY NAIL EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW.
The Official Auf Wiedersehen Pet Fan Site is incredibly
honoured to have touched base with legendary Jimmy
Nail AKA Leonard Jeffrey ‘Oz’ Osborne to bring fans a
never before exclusive three-part Q&A!
Having had little experience in the acting world in 1982,
Jimmy attended an open casting session in Newcastle upon
Tyne as an ‘extra’ in a new television series to be made by
Central Television. His somewhat unconventional interview
would ultimately catapult him to overnight stardom. On 11th
November 1983, the first of thirteen episodes of Auf
Wiedersehen, Pet was aired and Jimmy Nail was to become a
household name.
For the first time in 22 years, Jimmy tells us about his time
on and off set. Over the coming months, we’ll share his
answers to your questions received via the Official fansite
and social media platforms.
Copyright: Jimmy Nail 2021. This article is not to be
reproduced without consent.
Auf Wiedersehen, Pet 1983 -2021
In the first of our three-part exclusive, we find out
how he felt when first setting foot on the ‘BECO Building
Site’ film set as a novice actor with a leading role that
would soon make him an instant household name.
We ask Jimmy what, if anything, he would change
about his performance throughout Series 1 and 2 as a
‘young Oz’ and how on earth he sustained that
substantial bruise as seen during the opening scenes of
series, 1 episode 11, ‘The Lovers’.
We spoke of his recollection of his characters first
encounter with Big Baz (AKA John Strachan / Ying Tong
John) in episode 2, ‘Return of the Seven Pt 2’ when one
aggressive head-butt knocks Baz clean to the floor with
such conviction fans are left feeling his pain.
In part 2 of our exclusive we ask whether there was
any discussion amongst cast and crew of a third series
following the enormous success of the second series
despite power struggles, internal politics, press
intrusions and of course the untimely passing of Gary
Holton AKA Wayne Norris.
We dig deeper and discover not one, but three of
Jimmy’s personal favourite exchanges of AWP dialogue
and, following 38 timeless episodes across 4 series plus
a two-part special we find out which was his favourite
episode and why.
We discuss the fascinating origin of one stand-out
hilarious scenes in Series 2, Episode 3, ‘A Law for the
Rich’, when a disgruntled Oz is quick to terminate Arthur
‘Tiger’ Pringle’s jukebox in the ‘Barley Mow’ with one
sharp kick with his hobnailed boot when ‘Aga-bloody-
doo’ by Black Lace plays out to the bewilderment of all.
In this, the third and final part of our exclusive
interview, we saved the best until last! During these
incredibly difficult and challenging times, Jimmy offers a
little advice to those wishing to follow in his footsteps in
performing arts. We discover one of Jimmy’s fondest Auf
Wiedersehen, Pet memories off screen and learn of not
one, but three pieces of AWP trivia fans couldn’t possibly
know!
We also discuss fans fascination with filming locations
and discover his favourite filming location and why. We
touch upon his passion for the north east and ask how it
feels to have played a part placing Newcastle, its people
and its unique dialect, firmly on the map.
And, we ask Jimmy to share one of his memories
working with his dear friend and colleague, the late
great Pat Roach, AKA Brian ‘Bomber’ Busbridge.