FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Stephen Tompkinson
What are you working on at the moment?
I have just finished series five of DCI Banks.
When are you at your happiest?
When I am with Elaine and Daisy, when we have time to ourselves.
What is your greatest fear?
Being incarcerated would be pretty bad. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to put people away in the world of pretend crime drama; the thought of having your freedom taken away from you is awful.
What is your earliest memory?
My earliest memories are of Christmas and everyone just being together. We are a very close family and there was always lots of good-natured singing around the piano, Laurel and Hardy on TV and the warmth of a lovely family.
What do you most dislike about yourself?
I can by quite impatient.
Who has been your greatest influence?
My mum and dad. There was no history of acting in the family, but they saw me on stage and decided I was good enough. After my grant got taken away due to government cutbacks, after my first term at drama school, they backed me all the way. They couldn’t see anything I did there for the first two years, so there was a lot of blind faith put in me, and I’ll always be grateful to them for that.
What is your most treasured possession?
Laurel and Hardy’s autographs. My absolute heroes. I just think they were the best comedy duo that has ever been.
What traits do you most deplore in others?
Intolerance, rudeness and negativity.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
There is nothing perfect, but all of the little imperfections I have, I’ve just learnt to deal with.
What is your favourite book?
The Winnie-the- Pooh stories.
What is your favourite film?
The Quiet Man.
Things Stephen wouldn't drop include Winnie-the-Pooh, roast lamb, The Nutcracker and Laurel and Hardy
What is your favourite piece of music?
The Nutcracker, by Tchaikovsky, because I remember listening to it when I was very young, and what’s not to like about going off to a land of sweets?
What is your favourite meal?
A traditional roast lamb, with mint and potatoes.
Who would you like to come to dinner?
Elaine and Daisy, because they are my absolute life, Stan Laurel and Bette Davis.
What is the nastiest thing anyone has ever said to you?
A reviewer said I had a face that only a mother could love. Well, my mother did love me, and so does my daughter, and so does Elaine, and plenty of other people.
Do you believe in aliens?
I don’t not believe in them. Space is so vast that I think you’d be silly to think that we are the only forms of life.
What is your secret vice?
Caramel chocolates. They were my dad’s favourites, too.
Do you write thank-you notes?
Yes!
What phrase do you most overuse?
‘Absolutely.’ I’m very positive, but I hear myself saying that a lot.
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
Free air travel would be good.
Tell us one thing people might not know about you.
I once kissed Audrey Hepburn. I was at the Bafta Awards and was introduced to Audrey and I pecked her on the cheek.
What would you like your epitaph to read?
‘He had a good go, he worked hard.’
DCI Banks returns to ITV later this month.
I have just finished series five of DCI Banks.
When are you at your happiest?
When I am with Elaine and Daisy, when we have time to ourselves.
What is your greatest fear?
Being incarcerated would be pretty bad. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to put people away in the world of pretend crime drama; the thought of having your freedom taken away from you is awful.
What is your earliest memory?
My earliest memories are of Christmas and everyone just being together. We are a very close family and there was always lots of good-natured singing around the piano, Laurel and Hardy on TV and the warmth of a lovely family.
What do you most dislike about yourself?
I can by quite impatient.
Who has been your greatest influence?
My mum and dad. There was no history of acting in the family, but they saw me on stage and decided I was good enough. After my grant got taken away due to government cutbacks, after my first term at drama school, they backed me all the way. They couldn’t see anything I did there for the first two years, so there was a lot of blind faith put in me, and I’ll always be grateful to them for that.
What is your most treasured possession?
Laurel and Hardy’s autographs. My absolute heroes. I just think they were the best comedy duo that has ever been.
What traits do you most deplore in others?
Intolerance, rudeness and negativity.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
There is nothing perfect, but all of the little imperfections I have, I’ve just learnt to deal with.
What is your favourite book?
The Winnie-the- Pooh stories.
What is your favourite film?
The Quiet Man.
Things Stephen wouldn't drop include Winnie-the-Pooh, roast lamb, The Nutcracker and Laurel and HardyWhat is your favourite piece of music?
The Nutcracker, by Tchaikovsky, because I remember listening to it when I was very young, and what’s not to like about going off to a land of sweets?
What is your favourite meal?
A traditional roast lamb, with mint and potatoes.
Who would you like to come to dinner?
Elaine and Daisy, because they are my absolute life, Stan Laurel and Bette Davis.
What is the nastiest thing anyone has ever said to you?
A reviewer said I had a face that only a mother could love. Well, my mother did love me, and so does my daughter, and so does Elaine, and plenty of other people.
Do you believe in aliens?
I don’t not believe in them. Space is so vast that I think you’d be silly to think that we are the only forms of life.
What is your secret vice?
Caramel chocolates. They were my dad’s favourites, too.
Do you write thank-you notes?
Yes!
What phrase do you most overuse?
‘Absolutely.’ I’m very positive, but I hear myself saying that a lot.
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
Free air travel would be good.
Tell us one thing people might not know about you.
I once kissed Audrey Hepburn. I was at the Bafta Awards and was introduced to Audrey and I pecked her on the cheek.
What would you like your epitaph to read?
‘He had a good go, he worked hard.’
DCI Banks returns to ITV later this month.