Neil Morrissey goes on tour to clear £2.5m debt

Oct 4 2009 by Zoe Burn, Sunday Sun

“I went away and read up on this condition, learnt all about it and what sort of physical effects it has on people.

“It was only once I’d absorbed as much as possible about it that I was able to start applying this to the script.”

Though he may be famous for his TV roles – which include the famous Tony in Men Behaving Badly – and has appeared in Boon, Waterloo Road and Paradise Heights among others, the theatre was where it all began for the young actor when he graduated from the Guildhall School of Drama back in the early 1980s.

His West End credentials include Acorn Antiques, A Passionate Woman, and Guys and Dolls, although this is the first time he has gone on the road in a touring production.

“I’m really enjoying it, it’s different.” he enthuses. “I feel like I haven’t stopped in weeks, but it’s a good feeling, I’m loving it.

“And I need to keep busy – I do have to make money and besides, the busier I am it means less time I spend in the bar – which can only be a good thing!”

On the subject of work, he is quick to pour cold water over newspaper reports earlier this year which claimed he was quitting acting for good.

“You know, that was all bloody rubbish and I still want to thank these people for announcing my career was over – without even speaking to me about it, let alone running it by me before it went to print,” he moans.

“It was just typical bad journalism, as you can see I’m definitely still acting . . . like I say, I need to work, so things like this are sometimes more harmful than they can appear to be at face value.”

But while Morrissey may be working hard, he says he can’t wait to spend some quality time in the pub he co-owns.

“It’s great, I love it . . . I love beer and I love pubs so having my own is just fantastic.

“And North Yorkshire is such a great place, it’s gorgeous.”

And it’s not just the pub he owns – attached to it is the famous Morrissey Fox microbrewery.

TV viewers may remember last year’s Channel 4 series Neil’s Risky Business, which catalogued the rollercoaster ride which was him setting-up the microbrewery with chef and broadcaster Richard Fox.

Now fully up and running, their ales are sold in the pub and are now stocked in Tesco, something Neil is clearly very proud of.

“Yeah, it’s great, I love the fact I can go into Tesco and see our ale on the shelves.

“They are selling our two cask ales – Blonde and Brunette – and they are proving to be pretty popular. It’s a great sense of satisfaction seeing your beer somewhere like that.”

But sadly for Neil, it is unlikely he will be able to visit his pub or brewery again this year – something he is clearly a little dismayed about.

“It’s looking like I won’t get there until January now, which is a shame, but I’m too busy working.

“I’m tied up on the tour at the moment and pretty much as soon as this is finished, I’m doing panto in Derby.

“But in January I’ll be making sure I get up there. I can’t rate North Yorkshire enough, it’s somewhere I love visiting and when I get there I don’t want to leave.”

And it seems even the harsh northern winter weather doesn’t put him off.

“I got snowed in last year!” he laughed. “Not that I was complaining - there are worse places to be stuck than in your own pub with your own microbrewery attached. I was only sad when the snow melted.”

l Rain Man is at Newcastle’s Theatre Royal from tomorrow until Saturday.