TV Ekspres was a Belgian television listings magazine published in Dutch. This interview has been translated into English for this website by Anna Veldman.
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Monday 10th December 1971
Jason King, women, and fashion
Following a survey in Australia, Peter Wyngarde was found to be the man to whom the most women are attracted. When he arrived in Sydney there were such large numbers of female fans awaiting him that Police protection was required. It was really something big in Sydney. Not suspecting a thing Peter stepped off the plane and was immediately swamped by girls of all ages. The airport Police had to step in to get him into the terminal building in one piece. Once inside Peter said he no longer needed Police protection, left through a side door, stepped into a taxi and was driven to his hotel.
But that is not the end of the story. A girl would be waiting for him every time he opened the door to his room, each time a different one. “I was not expecting anything like this” he says, smiling. “Every time I left the hotel there would be dozens of girls waiting for me outside. It was unbelievable. The pinched everything they could get their hands on: my pocket square, my watch chain, my tie and my cufflinks. Peter doesn’t really mind. He loves women but nevertheless chooses to remain single. When he was 22 he got married but it only lasted for five years. About this he says “I was too young then. The reason so many marriages fail is that the partners are not psychologically prepared for it. I am not against marriage provided one finds the right woman. I’m a bit wary of too strong emotional ties. Furthermore, I believe that marriage would be too difficult for me. I’m afraid that being in a relationship binds one too tightly to another. The main reason for this is that I am afraid of being hurt of hurting someone”.
He continues “I ask myself do I need to be permanently attached to someone. I like independent, intelligent women. However, the problem for me is that the women who feel attracted to me don’t come under that category. But there is more. If I decided to remarry I would want my wife and myself to live under separate roofs and only meet up when we felt the need and not have to see each other every day. But with a wry smile he has to admit, “what kind of woman would want to marry me under these conditions. Perhaps it is better that I don’t marry again except maybe when I am very old”. He pauses for a moment to reconsider his words and then continues with a broad, cheeky grin “Unless of course I can marry three women at once like Mormons do. A beautiful white one, a beautiful black one, and a Japanese one, the latter to take off my shoes at night. Isn’t that what every man really wants?”.
In the meantime Peter lives in solitary splendor in his Kensington flat with Yussef his Afghan hound as his only companion. His abode is filled with beautiful antiques as elegant and sophisticated as Peter himself. The interior décor was modeled around his own personality and Peter fits into every room as the finishing
touch that completes the painting.
Peter’s work schedule leaves little time for romance. Apart from his work as an actor Wyngarde is also making records, under which his revolutionary LP “Rape”{1}. He has made a start on it and must continue which means he is up at the crack of dawn every day to go to the recording studio. By the end of the day he is so exhausted that he can just manage to stumble home and collapse between the sheets.
The most remarkable fact about Wyngarde’s career as an actor is that he was never trained as such. He learned the hard way by practice and still became one of the most highly rated actors in England. His present image is that of a super sophisticated playboy. However there are more classic works and remarkable renditions on his track record than one could possibly imagine. When he played the title role on television in “Will Shakespeare” and was on screen non stop for three and a half hours the whole country sang his praises. On another occasion he played “Jesus of Nazareth”[2].
At the beginning of the TV series Department S, Jason King was portrayed as a quiet, somewhat withdrawn character. “I felt like I was 100 years old when I came home after the first couple of days so to give it some relief, I decided Jason King could do with a bit of a spicing up. I began to remodel him using myself as the model. That is, as I like to think of myself. In the new series there is no difference between Jason King and myself.
Jason King is indeed Peter Wyngarde’s own creation. The manner in which he wears his long hair, the shape of his moustache, the knot in his tie and his extravagant suits are well known in the dozens of countries where Jason King is aired. His wardrobe, considered to be one of the most flamboyant on the planet, had cost him a small fortune in which he invested much more than he now likes to admit. In every country his travels and work took him he had fancy suits made to measure. He often bought so much he hastily had to send a telegram to his manager requesting more money. He has many remarkable items in his wardrobe but most remarkable of all is a huge fur coat that up till now he has only worn once in the series. It once belonged to Rudolph Valentino the legendary lover on the cinema screen in the 1920’s.
What does he prefer to wear nowadays? Peter shows us a purple and black chiffon shirt, “I love luxurious materials such as silk and cashmere which obviously cannot be treated in the same manner as wool and cotton. Clothing made from materials such as these may have pockets but not have anything put inside them. Doing so would completely ruin the piece of clothing”.
Does he feel he should have influence on male fashion? Peter replies “Yes, I know a thing or two about fashion. Everything I wear as either Jason King or Peter Wyngarde are my own creations. Should I ever
decide to give up acting I will start my own house of fashion, for men of course.
With grateful and sincere thanks to Chris Williams.
| Notes: [1]: The LP was simply called ‘Peter Wyngarde’. ‘Rape’ was a track on the LP. [2]: Peter played John the Baptist in ‘Jesus of Nazareth’. |
PETER WYNGARDE: The Official Website 