Where are they now? Bobby Bragg
‘Last Orders!’
Bobby Bragg is an actor, top warm up man and all round entertainer. He has worked on shows such as Gideon’s Daughter, The Final Quest, Supermarket Sweep and One Foot in the Grave. To you and me, he is best known as being the Fools’ warm up man and the landlord of the Nags Head in Rock and Chips.
Recently I was lucky enough to catch up with Bobby, to find out a little bit more about the star behind the scenes who had the task of warming up the Fools’ audience. He also starred in Rock and Chips as the landlord!
Me: Bobby, on behalf of the fans, thank you for allowing me to conduct this short interview with you. We’ll start off with your time on Only Fools and Horses.
Me: How exactly did that come about?
Bobby: I first met David in the hot summer of 1976 in summer season in Weston Super Mare, although we were in different shows we would all meet up at Bob Cutlers Bar at the Baymead Hotel after the show for late night drinks & grub. We all became friends & remain so to this day.
In “79” I was warming up for “Butterflies” at the BBC & that’s where I first met Nick, it’s strange to think now that I knew David & Nick before they knew each other.
The great producer & director Sydney Lotterby took me with him from “Butterflies” to “Open All Hours”, it was while working on that, Ray Butt came in the studio & gave David a pilot script that he thought had legs, its working title was “Readies”. David liked it & said there was a great part he wanted to play, GRANDAD !!! Fortunately Ray Butt & the great JS persuaded him to have a go at Del Boy. The rest as they say…….. I got the call to work on the pilot & that’s how it all started for me.
Me: Are there any tales you can remember from behind the scenes?
Bobby: I remember quite early on that the show felt special, the cast gelled & worked magnificently together, Ray had gathered the very best crew, they all really were the top team & John Sullivan kept churning out scripts that were the work of a comedy genius. As time went on we become like a big family. There were far too many memorable moments to mention, but one special memory will stick with me forever. At the end of recording “Time On Our Hands”, it was generally believed that this was to be the last ever “Fools”. we got a technical clear after the last scene & I thanked the cast for a wonderful episode & for giving us the greatest sitcom of all time, the audience reaction was astonishing they stood & cheered endlessly, I tried to bring David & Nick forward, they were very emotional, I tried to get JS onto the floor, he was full up & couldn’t speak, Producer Gareth Gwenlan & director Tony Dow were in bits & still the audience cheered, at this point I could feel tears rolling down my face rendering me a gibbering wreck.
I’ve worked on over six thousand shows & have never experienced such an outburst of spontaneous love & affection. I don’t think that anyone lucky enough to be in the studio that night will ever forget it.
Me: What is your favourite episode and why?
Bobby: I think my favourite episode was “Yuppie Love” purely & simply because I was standing less than ten feet away from Del when he fell through the bar flap. To be that close to one of the greatest comedy moments in television history was & still is very special!
Me: Why do you think the show is so very popular with all ages?
Bobby: “Fools” came along during the golden age of sitcoms when the production team truly knew how to make a comedy show, long before accountants took over production control. It was quite simply beautifully written, beautifully acted and beautifully funny. I believe families will still be watching and laughing at OFAH for generations to come.
Me: Who is your favourite character and why?
Bobby: I think that is an impossible question to answer, every character was played to perfection and it would be unfair to pick a favourite.
Me: What was it like working alongside David and Nick?
Bobby: Working alongside David & Nick was a joy and a privilege. As a young performer they taught me so much about timing and delivery. It’s always a pleasure to work with people who are as great off screen as on.
Me: Are you still in touch with any of the actors?
Bobby: I’m still in touch with David, we’ve had a couple of lovely “Jolly Boys Outings” over the past twelve months. Also still in contact with the lovely Sue Holderness & the equally lovely John Challis.
Me: What was it like to be the landlord of the Nags Head in Rock and Chips?
Bobby: I’d worked with John Sullivan for about thirty five years warming up most of his studio based shows. For the past fifteen years at the end of every series, he would say, one day I’m going to write a part for you! This went on year after year he’d say I haven’t forgotten, one day. It became a running gag between us. I’d been out for a meal with my wife one night arriving home about eleven pm. I checked my emails & there was one from JS saying he was writing a prequel to “Fools” called “Sex Drugs & Rock & Chips” (to become “Rock & Chips”), would you like to play the part of Don the landlord of the Nags Head set in 1960. John was true to his word, he didn’t forget. Working with Nick and such a talented cast & crew on “Rock & Chips” was one of the highlights of my career.
Me: Do you have any memorabilia from the show(s) as keepsakes?
Bobby: Hindsight is a wonderful thing, I’d collected quite a lot of Fools memorabilia over the years, from end of series cast & crew clothing to many signed studio scripts etc. I auctioned most off at various charity events. Had I known then “Fools” would become the most loved sitcom of all time I might have kept a lot more. (To top up my pension)!!! I have got a few signed scripts left, I will leave them to my kids so they can remember what Dad did at work….
Me: What can we look forward to seeing in the future from you?
Bobby: I’ve been involved in the making of a three part documentary on Bob Monkhouse, called “Bob Monkhouse The Million Joke Man”. Work in progress with Harry Hill, a few warm ups & you never know what’s around the corner in this game.
Thanks for your time Jordan, it’s been a pleasure talking to you.
By Jordan Gale,
With thanks to Bobby Bragg.
Twitter: @JordanGale94
This interview is the best yet – young OFAH fans need to appreciate Bobby!