In the first episode in the fourth series of this chat show presented by regional television personality Mike Neville, Mike travels to London to interview County Durham born character actor Alum Armstrong from the stage of The King’s Head Theatre in Islington. Over the course of the programme Alum is asked about his early life, how he got into acting and about some of the characters he has played. He also tells a funny story about his involvement in probably the most famous feature film made...

In the first episode in the fourth series of this chat show presented by regional television personality Mike Neville, Mike travels to London to interview County Durham born character actor Alum Armstrong from the stage of The King’s Head Theatre in Islington. Over the course of the programme Alum is asked about his early life, how he got into acting and about some of the characters he has played. He also tells a funny story about his involvement in probably the most famous feature film made in the Northeast Get Carter. Title: The Mike Neville Show Standing outside The King’s Head Theatre and public house in Islington presenter Mike Neville explains he is here to meet an international star of stage and screen who use to be a hod carrier and grave digger. Details are provided about this individual early life and career failing to get into acting school but has gone onto win an Olivier Award. As Mike heads inside a clip from the Granda Television mini-series This is Personal on the police investigation into the Yorkshire Ripper featuring Alum Armstrong as Assistant Chief Constable Georges Oldfield. Sitting around a table inside The King’s Head Theatre Mike begins by asking if Alum remembers working together in snowy Scotland before asking him how difficult it was to get inside the head of the character he is playing. Alum talks about the challenges of playing real people and how he based most of his performance on Georges Oldfield after meetings with Dick Holland who was George’s right-hand-man during the investigation. Another clip from This is Personal featuring Richard Ridings playing Detective Superintendent Dick Holland. Moving on Mike ask Alum about any happy memories he has of performing at the Kings Head Theatre. He tells Mike a funny story about his first performance there which was in front of Harold Hobson the famous theatre critic for the Sunday Times and how his negative review turned the play into a sensation. Looking back Mike ask Alum about his early days in the Northeast. He talks about his happy childhood growing up at Annfield Plain and how through school in Consett he got into acting getting a part in a production of William Shakespeare’s ‘The Taming on the Shrew.’ Title: The Mike Neville Show Returning from the commercial break Mike asks Alum about the odd jobs he had after leaving Newcastle University which included as a gravedigger in nearby Twickenham. He then tells another funny story about how a work colleague in the graveyard helped him get his first job in theatre as an Assistant Stage Manager at the Cambridge Arts Theatre. Mike asks Alum about his involvement in the most famous feature film based in the Northeast Get Carter. After providing details on how he was cast he tells another funny story about the filming of his first scene inside the Vic and Comet [The Victoria Comet public house on Neville Street.] Over a clip from the 1975 Granada Television period drama The Stars Look Down Alum is asked if there was any added pressure in playing the lead role. After explaining he worries more now than then a second clip from the drama. Alum is asked about portraying Austin Donohue in the BBC drama Our Friends in the North and if his portrayal was dependent on his memories of that time. He remembered being neighbour to T. Dan Smith, on whom his character is based, while at university and playing football in the street with him and his two boys. Over a clip from the programme, he explains how he was able to incorporate some of what he remembered of his mannerisms into his performance. He is asked if appearing alongside big Hollywood stars has stopped being exciting, he talks about having a fantastic time working with Harrison Ford and them tells a funny story of working with Clint Eastwood on the film White Hunter Black Heart where he discovered Clint’s favourite English beer is Newcastle Brown Ale. Both he and Mike laugh at that story. Bringing the interview to an end Mike explains that in his last series he interviewed fellow Northeast actor Kevin Wheatley who describes Alum as being the ‘Godfather of Northeast actors Mafia.’ What is this like he asks, with a laugh Alum replies, ‘very expensive.’ Credit: Title Music Alan Clark Make-Up Lucy Cain Electrician Jeff Holloway Sound Recordist Leigh Crisp Second Camera Martin Payne Lighting Cameraman Digby Elliott Dubbing Mixer John Cook Editor Bernard Helm Associate Producer Barbara Buglass Executive Producer Graeme Thompson Producer Peter Mitchell End title: A Peter Mitchell production for Yorkshire/Tyne Tees Television. © Tyne Tees Television MMI