Theatrical Connections No. 175

Things you might not have known about Chris Bumstead, CADS family member since the turn of the century.

I once had tea, biscuits and a golden virginia roll-up with Sir Richard Briers.
Well, I was writing this book for the BBC - OK, I was "editing" this book for the BBC - "Hancock's finest Half-Hour" - and Richard had just had some critical acclaim for his role as Tony Hancock in a BBC Radio Three play, so it seemed like a good idea to ask him for an interview.
Just a cricket ball's throw away from Lord's cricket ground, we sat in their conservatory and discussed the technical splendours of the writings of Galton and Simpson.
Richard chain smoking golden virginia and the tape recorder whirring away, my nervousness ebbing away as his wife kept us supplied with copious amounts of tea and biscuits.
Later that day, I also had an interview with Robbie Coltrane, but that was under very different circumstances and is filed under Theatrical connections number 129.