BBC Radio – Wednesday, 19th November 1974
You see James Bond on television on film lying on a bed being massage by a beautiful woman, but somehow you think it can’t be real. I found out the other day that it is quite real. As an ardent fan of Department S, I decided that I want you to meet and interview Peter Wyngarde who plays Jason King in the series. As one of the best dressed men in the world, and with his talent for acting, he was made for the part of the author turned investigator.
I managed to get in touch with his agent in London and after a lot of telephone calls, I was given the address and number of where he was staying. I arrived in the depths of sorry and stood outside the wire fence, tape recorder in hand believe it or not, there was a guard on the gate and it was only a health farm! But a health farm where all the stars go to relax and sleep and avoid people like me.
I was shown to a waiting room and down a long, steamy corridor, I saw Peter being massage by a tall blonde. Another blonde was giving him a manicure. I was offered a glass of carrot juice, and I waited until he was finished. I looked down the corridor and saw him walking towards me, and for a fleeting moment I felt I was playing opposite him in an episode of Department S. I have met some people in my town, but never one who has left such an impression on me as a nice, genuine, kind, thoughtful person. We sat down together and I offered him some carrot juice. He promptly turned round and said, “My dear boy, if I have any more carrot juicer shall die!”
Where do you buy your clothes?
My tailor is a closely guarded secret. I work with him on the design and style. As I use the same clothes I wear in Department S for my everyday life, I have been inundated with letters and telephone calls pleading with me to put them in touch with my tailor. Hey, however, has decided to remain exclusively mindful stop
What are your interests in hobbies in life?
I adore flying. I’m trying to improve my tennis and my passion is sex.
Who does your hair?
A guy called Anthony.
What kind of car do you drive?
I don’t really want to tell you the make, as it is really recognisable, but it is a sports car and there are only 12 of them in the world.
What are your aims in life?
To make Jason King movies, I feel that the Jason King character would lend itself so well to movies that they would sell, and eventually I would direct.
Do you have any advice for young people who want to become actors?
The best thing for them to do is to get on a tramp steamer and travel the whole world meeting as many people as possible. Then come back and think about it and when they’ve thought about it travelled the world again as I’m sure they’d enjoyed that far more than acting!
If anyone should ever be voted the best dressed man and one of the most sincere people in the world, then it should be Peter Wyngarde. My last words to you tonight are if you haven’t seen partners as Yankee bet you are missing her completely new and unique Adam enacting, enjoyment and excitement, and a thoroughly good detective series to boot.
John Dunn: …and on the ‘phone to me now, our star guest this evening, Peter Wyngarde. Good evening, Peter.
Peter: Good evening, Keith… (referring to a comment made during the link) …what a nice thing to say.
John Dunn: I’ve seen this picture of you (a publicity poster from ‘The King and I’) and it really is startling…
Peter: A very old King, it looked to me. Not a balding King.
Peter: (Laughs). A very old King.
John Dunn: No, you’re not really bald.
Peter: Well, he was a bit older, you know, really. He was about sixty-three, but I’m not playing him at sixty-three.
John Dunn: Well, you’ve got a way to catch up on that, certainly. But assuming that this is your stage appearance, how far do you get back to normal once you leave the stage door?
Peter: Well, it takes a little time, because you see all this hair is put up and tied in some sort of ridiculous; Granny-Knot, on the top of one’s nut, and then the eye make-up is a bit tricky, and you have to take all that off. Is that what you meant?
John Dunn: Yes, I mean that exactly, together with the fact that…
Peter: And I have to take all this, you know, sort of, because he has Siamese eyes – they’re slightly almond shaped.
John Dunn: I think you’ve made yourself distinctly more sinister than we’ve seen the part played before – than I’ve seen it played before.
Peter: Yes. I think that this sort of King – an omnipotent king, and being feudal. Because the interesting thing about it from my point of view is that in the Far East, over about six or seven hundred years, there was no difference, you know. There was a feudal system and that was that. So therefore, he’s almost a Medieval King, in fact.
John Dunn: Actually, you make it sound as though you’ve got a bit stuck with it; from Jason King to Siamese king!
Peter: (Loud laugh) I like playing kings, I think!
John Dunn: I don’t know why, but in a newspaper quote I’m looking at, it says that “The show is optimistically believing there’ll be a West End place for it in October.”
Peter: Yes.
John Dunn: Why does it sound so, erm…
Peter: Well, it’s the politics of the theatre, isn’t it? That awful thing that goes on. Everyone sort of plays little games about it all. And I believe there are certain people who are very interested in bringing it in, but it’s a question of availability I suppose.
John Dunn: Well, it’s a great musical. Are you involved in a great deal of the singing and dancing?
Peter: Well, I sort of make a noise. Actually, I make a very loud noise, but I’m enjoying it immensely. I mean, we’ve just had the first night at the Grand theatre in Wolverhampton, and there was a great standing ovation, and everyone was screaming and shouting and yelling. You know, it’s a marvellous feeling. It’s great to have that sort of rapport with the audience.
John Dunn: Oh yes, indeed.
Peter: For them to come over like that – I mean, it really was sensational.
John Dunn: Maybe you could fill in a terrible gap in my knowledge. What is your previous experience of musicals, Peter?
Peter: The only one I’ve ever done before was ‘The Good Woman of Setzuan’ by Bertold Brecht, at the Royal Court with Dame Peggy Ashcroft – and I believe I sang in that too – I remember singing the elephant song in it, and whipping John Osborne, who was also in it.
John Dunn: (Laughing). Was that a pleasant experience?
Peter: Yes – it was a very gruelling experience (laughs). It didn’t deter him!
John Dunn: What about your successful TV roles? Do you plan to do anymore?
Peter: I hope we will later on, but at the moment I want a rest – not a rest, I don’t think that’s the right word. I’ve always done theatre work, and I enjoy it so much that I thought I’d like to get back into it, so I went to Australia and did ‘Butley’ the moment I finished the series (Jason King), and then I did a marvellous play by Charles Dyer called ‘Mother Adam’, which we did at the Hampstead Theatre, and I adored doing that. And now ‘The King and I’. So that’s three very different – completely different – kind of characters, you know?
John Dunn: Well, since you’ve introduced the word ‘rest’…
Peter: Yes.
John Dunn: How would you define that? When you’re not working, and voluntarily not doing anything, what do you like to do?
Peter: I think possibly the most exciting thing I could do is lie on a beach and do absolutely nothing, and maybe just swim occasionally.
John Dunn: Not even a book in your hand?
Peter: No, not even a book in my hand! No, just absolutely lying in the sun and soaking it up, doing really nothing all day.
John Dunn: And have you a favourite beach where you like to pursue this?
Peter: Well, I’m mad about Morocco at the moment. And I’ve been back and forth about five or six times because I’m dotty about it. There a great stretch of beach there which goes on for about…. well, I should think all along the coast of Africa.
John Dunn: You don’t mean the bit that goes down from the North West corner where the lighthouse is, do you?
Peter: (Laughs). No, not as far as that. I like solitude, but that’s ridiculous!
John Dunn: Yes, there’s about ninety miles of it there.
Peter: Well, there’s a long stretch – about ninety miles, yeah – around Agadir.
John Dunn: I looked at that stretch of beach and I thought if a holiday camp king saw that he’s have a heart attack on the spot!
Peter: Well, I’m afraid I think they have. I think there’s a German concern that’s pretty interested in it at the moment.
John Dunn: Ah well, there’s still quite a bit of Morocco left. Anyhow, I wish you many more good times there, every success with ‘The King and I’, and thank you for talking to us on Late Night Extra.
Peter: Very kind of you, Keith.
John Dunn: Peter. Thank you and good night.
Peter: Thank you very much. Good night.
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