“I’M a huge Foyle’s War fan.
“I’ve seen every episode and have given dozens of box sets of it away at Christmas to various relatives and friends.
“Now they’re all just dying to see the new series because they’re big fans too and they know I’m going to be in it. It’s a special thing.”
Frasier star John Mahoney talking to me in the car park of Nantwich Town Football Club in Cheshire on a chilly day in January 2014.
‘The Dabbers’ play in the Evo Stik Premier League.
But that’s not why we’re here today.
John and I are sitting in his location base trailer during a break from filming Foyle’s War in a very grand house not far away.
In truth, it’s a special thing for me to finally meet the actor who played Marty Crane in one of the greatest sitcoms of all time.
And astonishing to realise that – at 74 – this is his very first role in a British TV drama.
“It is amazing,” he agrees.
“I’ve just never been asked.”
Chicago-based John plays Andrew Del Mar, a retired Texas oil tycoon and former chairman of Global American Oil.
Now ailing and bedbound in the London home of his son Clayton (Nigel Lindsay).
He appears in High Castle, the first of three new Foyle’s War films – series eight – on ITV at 8pm this Sunday (January 4 2015).
John and I went on to talk about many things, including those Frasier years.
Together with his memories of working with Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, Jane Leeves and Peri Gilpin.
Not forgetting Eddie – ex-cop Marty’s dog.
While regular cast members Honeysuckle Weeks (Samantha Stewart) and Daniel Weyman (Adam Wainwright) also had some fascinating things to say.
Click on the link below to read my interviews for ITV with John, Honeysuckle and Daniel.
Foyle’s War 2015 Wylie ITV Interviews
Michael Kitchen as Christopher Foyle.
Honeysuckle Weeks as Sam Stewart and John Mahoney as Andrew Del Mar.
Daniel Weyman as Adam Wainwright.
Jamie Winstone as Vera Stephens.
Jeremy Swift as Glenvill Harris and Daniel Weyman as Adam Wainwright.
John Mahoney as Andrew Del Mar.
Michael Kitchen as Christopher Foyle and Hermione Gulliford as Elizabeth Addis.
Production photos by Robert Viglasky.
