Tim Healy Interview
These short interviews with the cast were done for Series 4
of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. Tim Healy talks about Series 4 and
a short bit about how Pet changed his life. The following is
copyright of the BBC.
Copyright: The following images, articles and text are
copyright BBC & awpet.com.
For Tim Healy, filming in the
Dominican Republic was an
experience like no other and
one he will never forget.
"It was fantastic," he enthuses.
"It was really interesting to see
how other people live. We were
filming in the third world, right
out in the wilds where people
live in shacks and haven't got any televisions or mod cons -
so when we turn up with all the trucks and stuff they look at
you like you're martians arriving.
"One of the things that I will always remember is that the
travelling was absolutely terrifying. There are no road laws
out there – there's no drink/driving law, you can buy a driving
licence and there's no right of way. "One morning I saw a guy
galloping down the fast lane of the motorway on a horse! As
if it was normal! And then you get motorbikes going up the
motorway the wrong way. I even saw five people on a
motorbike one morning in the rush hour in the city, It's
terrifying. "None of us were allowed to drive because if you
have an accident they look on it that it's your fault because
you're a foreigner.
"And Tim's alter-ego Dennis is certainly feeling foreign when
he pitches up in lush, hot steamy Cuba. It's a big change from
their usual territory of Germany or Middlesbrough or even
Arizona. Suddenly life is on the up for the boys."At the start of
the series we've been working in Russia on a job and it goes
horribly wrong. But by a stroke of luck we end up working for
the O.E.D., which is like winning the lottery for us, and we end
up working out in Cuba. It's brilliant, the fact that we're
working abroad and we're reasonably well paid.
"But acclimatising to a completely new culture takes its toll on
the team, especially Dennis who finds himself back in charge
and increasingly ostracised from the gang. "He never seems
to want to be the boss and he has a bit of a problem with the
other lads. He's good at it but he always feels put-upon, he
would never volunteer for the job," sighs Tim. "He becomes
the head honcho, not just the boss of the lads but the boss of
the whole job and that creates problems."It's when Wyman's
mum, Chrissie, turns up that sparks really start to fly. "He's
finding life a bit hard but then Chrissie turns up and they
have a bit of a fling. She's a fast mover! And in a relationship
with someone like that the woman is always going to be the
boss. But whether it will last or not, I don't know. Dennis is a
bit unsure about the whole thing.
"Following the extraordinary success of last year's Arizona
series, Tim admits that he loves being back with the boys. "It's
like a family reunion! We're all really good friends," he smiles,
but he concedes that it could have turned out differently. "To
be honest, we were all a bit concerned because it's hard to
bring something back and a lot of the time it doesn't work.
We were hoping it would be popular again and we were
absolutely delighted when it was. "And it's great working with
people that you know so well as you never normally get the
chance to do that. Normally by the time you get to know the
other cast members then the job is nearly finished.
"We're all friends and have kept in touch over the years. And
because we know each other very well, we trust each other.
We've got faith in each other and we respect each other as
actors. "Tim was inspired to take up acting by his late dad,
who was a keen amateur actor and a stalwart of the local
operatic society. "When I was 11, I was given the role of a
little black boy called Henry in Finian's Rainbow. I insisted on
doing my own make-up. So I blacked myself up – it wouldn't
be allowed now – but I forgot the legs. On the first night I
went on with a black face and white legs."He then went on to
sign up and trained as a paratrooper but left to become a
welder, but he hated it. "So I chucked it in and went to drama
college. In the evenings I worked as a court jester because at
that time medieval banquets were really popular but I was
earning good money and I got my Equity card.
"He's come along way since with several award-winning
series under his belt but next stop for Tim is a return to
theatre to star in Newcastle's panto where he's playing
Captain Hook in Peter Pan. "I'm a Newcastle United fan, but
as I live in Manchester and work a lot it's difficult to get to
games. I've still got a house up there, so if there's a match on
then I will definitely go. "Tim isn't just an armchair sports fan.
"I also like to play golf. There's a celebrity charity tournament
– the British Celebrity Tour - that I compete in and this will be
the tenth year I've taken part. "We raise money for charities
in the north east and it changes every year. This year it's for a
charity called MIND. Kevin plays a lot with them as well. "I've
also started going to the gym! Pat has been training me and
he's a brilliant trainer! I do some aerobics stuff and use the
punchbag doing some boxing training. I'm loving it now but
it's only been a few weeks!"
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Auf Wiedersehen, Pet