BBC2, *Manchild* press packet (series one)
"Feature Interview: Nigel Havers is Terry"

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Nigel Havers covets the 140mph BMW motorbike that comes with 
the territory where the "sexy," "savvy" and "scandalous" 
Terry is concerned.

Ever since he ran headlong into the media spotlight in 
Eighties  Oscar-winning movie *Chariots of Fire*, archetypal 
ladies' man Havers has been consistently charming audiences 
far and wide. And for BBC2 comedy-drama *Manchild*, the 
debonair Havers plays another on-screen smoothie - the 
beguilingly childish, divorced stockbroker Terry.

"I want everyone to watch *Manchild* because it's great 
television," says Havers. "The boys - Terry, Patrick (Don 
Warrington), Gary (Ray Burdis) and James (Anthony Head) - 
have lots of toys to play with. I'd like to have kept them 
all - particularly the cars! Certainly, I rather enjoyed 
Terry's BMW R1100 bike. In fact, everything they wear is 
fantastic and everywhere they go is the best. They really do 
enjoy the high life!"

But it wasn't just the chance to play with some big boys' 
toys that attracted Havers to *Manchild*.

"It's so true to life!" he says. "It's refreshing - 
something different. It isn't like anything else on TV. It's 
well observed and the script made me laugh out loud. It's 
politically incorrect and I relish that! In fact, I think 
that a lot of men will watch it and say: 'God! I've always 
wanted to say that. Go for it!' But we always get our 
comeuppance in the end."

Son of the late Lord Havers - former Chancellor and Attorney 
General - amongst Nigel's most celebrated roles is that of 
infamous TV bounder Ralph Ernest Gorse, better known as 
popular Eighties cad *The Charmer*. One of Britain's leading 
television actors, other triumphs for Havers include comedy-
serial *Don't Wait Up* and medical drama *Dangerfield*. More 
recently he brought to life BBC1's *Gentleman Thief*, AJ 
Raffles, echoing his idol David Niven's famed forties 
portrayal of the light-fingered aristocrat. And a recent 
successful nation-wide tour has returned Havers to his first 
love - the theatre - as Serge in the popular stage play 
*Art*.

"I was hunting around to find a good comedy," says Havers. 
"And *Manchild* came so far ahead of the rest that I just 
had to do it. It's just very intelligently written - really 
sophisticated. It's good to have a grown-up subject to play 
around with. It's about grown-up men in their late-forties 
having a good time. It's fun!"

Havers lives with his second wife, actress Polly Bloomfield 
- whom he met on the set of *The Charmer* - in West London's 
Barnes. Father of 23-year-old Kate - daughter from his 
marriage to first wife Caroline - Havers relished Terry's 
jet-set lifestyle.

"I suppose there is a of me that I've put into Terry," says 
Havers. "He's a great character to play. He has this 
beautiful 25-year-old girlfriend with whom he has nothing in 
common - and who eventually goes after his son! And he's 
rather angst-ridden over his ex-wife's relationship with a 
trendy fashion designer. But his main relationships are his 
strong friendships with the boys. The male parts are very 
well written. You really believe that they've all known each 
other since school."

Though Havers's plans for the immediate future include a 
role in BBC1 thriller *Murder in Mind* and a stint on the 
West End stage, he admits that he very much enjoyed the 
company of his *Manchild* co-stars and hopes that he'll have 
the opportunity to reclaim his BMW motorbike - perhaps for a 
second series.

"We really did get on well," he says. "Actually, it was a 
joy! We all thought it was really funny and so we were all 
behind the show. Terry, Patrick, Gary and James all have a 
bit of cash - they've all made it - and they all have a 
great time spending it. The boys really do like to splash it 
around. They like to 'go large' and so we did. I really hope 
we're on to a winner."



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