A veteran English comedy actor is making a surprise comeback to television.
Roger Peacock, now in his early 70s, starred in numerous local sitcoms from 1975 to 2000, gaining a reputation as one of England’s most revered comedy actors.
Though he has enjoyed a comfortable semi-retirement from acting (aside from a few stage plays and some charity work) in the 24 years since.
“By the time I got to 2000, I was playing the ‘quirky older neighbour’ and would just say catchphrases,” said Roger. “I was happy to pull the pin, focus on my young family, and go back to volunteering for my local cricket club and bowl my leggies for the B grade team on the weekends.”
But it was while watching new episodes of a new murder-mystery show Crime County that Roger started getting the acting bug back.
“Now the kids have all left, Pat (his wife of 30 years) and I spent most nights happily watching TV. One night we were watching this new show Crime County and I told her, ‘I’d always wanted to be on a murder–mystery show.’ But I was usually busy with my latest sitcom and rarely got a chance to audition. Pat replied, ‘Well, why don’t you?’
After sleeping on it, Roger called his agent (Phil) and was able to get an audition for a minor role. Though it seemed to come to nothing when Phil said the audition was cancelled.
“I was pretty sad about that; I was looking forward to the thrill of auditioning again. But Phil said the directors were big fan of my sitcom work and wanted to have lunch with me instead, which intrigued me.”
After some time spent reminiscing about Roger’s old sitcoms, the reason for the lunch was revealed.
“The fellow playing the Chief Superintendent was retiring and they needed a ‘veteran and respected actor’ to replace. They said they were stunned when Phil called asking for a minor role for me,” said Roger. “I told them I’d been away from TV so long that I wanted to start small, but they insisted a small role would be ‘wasted on me’.”
While Roger said he wanted to audition for the Chief role, the directors said he didn’t need to as the role was his if he wanted it.
“Obviously Pat was the first person I told, and she scolded me for not taking it straight away. So I did.”
Roger is currently in rehearsals for the new season of Crime County and is busily taking notes while he and Pat watch it on Sunday evenings.
“I’m a little sad I can’t watch it for pleasure anymore, but on the other hand it’s exciting to be back in telly again. And in a dramatic role. I loved my time in sitcoms, but it’ll be fun to try something different.”
