The Mike Interview
Ken sadly died in August 2001.
A few years back Ken gave us this interview. Here are the answers to the questions that you asked Ken.
Cousin Stan I would like to know what Ken’s reaction was when he was chosen to join Fools and Horses when it had become a national favourite ?
Ken I was thrilled to bits because I knew all the people involved, I had worked with John Sullivan before and also Ray Butt on ‘It Ain’t Half Hot Mum’, so I was very thrilled.
Delboy Rodders What was the camaraderie between the actors and actresses like on the set of Only Fools & Horses whilst filming was taking place ?
Ken Unbelievable
Delboy Rodders Not until I was watching UK Gold and was watching ‘Ain’t Half Hot Mum’ recently that I noticed a rather young version of Mike from OFAH. Low and behold it was yourself right enough.
What has it been like for you to have starred in two classic British Comedies ??
…also, What was it like to have appeared recently in the Barbara Windsor / Sid James Story ?
Ken I’m a very very lucky man, I’ve been blessed with good fortune to have been in two great sitcoms and I’ve got a new comedy starting soon called The Sins.
Kevin Liversage Could you attempt to estimate how much Del owes Mike on the slate?
Ken No it’s in-estimable, lets put it this way I could re-tile my roof.
Spatie What was it like working with Jim Broadbent again in The Peter Principle?
Ken Wonderful
Boyce Was the same studio used for the Pub, like on (Dates) the Pub had changed dramatically in size and shape there was a back entrance as well as a front entrance and there were windows in the Pub. If you see in the early episodes there is only two front entrances to the Pub and those windows are never seen why is this?.
Ken There have been several different pubs used, in different studios.
Brian If John Sullivan wrote a one-off episode revolving around Mike do you think it would work? What (do you think) could it be about?
Ken No, it wouldn’t work. We are a team and we all gel together, it wouldn’t work with just Delboy.
Del Would you consider a series of The Naggs Head after all if the Rovers Return and the Woolpack can get so much airtime this series would be a smash hit.
Ken It would be a smash hit, we all put the suggestion forward ‘Down At The Naggs’ but it wouldn’t be the same.
G. Bennett Do you think that it would be possible to do a prequel to OFAH set during the characters schooldays during the 60’s?
Ken Yes, I think John had planned on a book.
G. Bennett Did you accept the part of mike as a one off acting job or was he always meant to become a major character in the series
Ken I accepted the part as a one off but they dangle the carrot that he could come back and I was thrilled to bits when he did.
Chopper Harris What is your favourite episode of OFAH, and what is your favourite character from the show?
Ken My favourite character is Rodney and my favourite episode is ‘The Jolly Boys Outing’.
Rhys Whittock Which episode was the most enjoyable for you to film and for what reasons?
Ken Jolly Boys Outing, because we were all together and it was just great fun.
Daniel welham What was it like playing your character and filming with with the crew.
Ken Great and such fun.
Douglas Thompson How many pubs has Mike run ?
Ken Two, he had another pub before the Naggs Head, which was mentioned in ‘Jolly Boys’.
Randhir Rai Mike, you have a range of characters you play. I would say that you are a highly underrated actor. How do you rate the other members of OFH as actors.
Ken They’re all superb and almost up to my standard.
Barry Mullins Of all the OFAH cast, which one did you enjoy working with most.
P.S. all of them is not an exceptable answer
Ken Nick Lyndhurst.
Dean Coggins How long did it take to film an episode, from the moment you received the script to actually having a finished episode.
Ken
It depends, usually about a week for a 30 minute episode, two weeks for a 50 minute.
Delboy Rodders Apart from Only Fools & It Ain’t Half Hot Mum, what other comedy classics would you have wanted to appear in ?
Ken I would have wanted to be in Steptoe & Son and Hancock’s Half Hour.
Matt Boy Do you like speedway and what is your favourite team.
Ken I used to go to Bellview in Manchester and watch a lot of speedway, I can’t remember the name of my favourite team it was quite some time ago since I went.
Alex Sellers Did you like only fools and horses before you where in it?
Ken I loved it because I have always admired John work.
Del Trotter (Kev) Would you personally like to see more episodes of OFAH or do you think it has now gone as far as it can?
And would you have any hesitation in appearing in any future episodes?
Ken I’d have no hesitation and yes I think they should do more, you must write to the BBC and ask for more.
Weirdo In Marly Road Which OFAH character would you like to run The Nag’s Head if Mike was off sick for a day.
Ken Sid, but I wouldn’t let him do the food. I wouldn’t let Rodney because he’s a plonker.
Jeff We all know OFAH went on to become a show not just about the Trotters, but more like an ensemble piece. When you first got the job, were you made to sign a contract to ensure you would return as a semi-regular character or was your first episode intended to be your only appearance as Mike?
Ken My first episode was to be my only appearance but because I knew John and Ray so well they kept bringing me back.
Ryan How long were you at the Studio for each day? and how long did it take after filming a series that it actually went to air.
Ken We would only be in the studio for one day, we would be in a rehearsal room for 5 or 6 days.
Blossom I’d like to know how much of an input did the cast have in the filming of each scene. Were they able to suggest a script change for example or did they generally do what they were told?
Ken I’m a very very lucky man, I’ve been blessed with good fortune to have been in two great sitcoms and I’ve got a new comedy starting soon called The Sins.
Kevin Liversage Could you attempt to estimate how much Del owes Mike on the slate?
Ken No it’s in-estimable, lets put it this way I could re-tile my roof.
Spatie What was it like working with Jim Broadbent again in The Peter Principle?
Ken Wonderful
Boyce Was the same studio used for the Pub, like on (Dates) the Pub had changed dramatically in size and shape there was a back entrance as well as a front entrance and there were windows in the Pub. If you see in the early episodes there is only two front entrances to the Pub and those windows are never seen why is this?.
Ken There have been several different pubs used, in different studios.
Brian If John Sullivan wrote a one-off episode revolving around Mike do you think it would work? What (do you think) could it be about?
Ken No, it wouldn’t work. We are a team and we all gel together, it wouldn’t work with just Delboy.
Del Would you consider a series of The Naggs Head after all if the Rovers Return and the Woolpack can get so much airtime this series would be a smash hit.
Ken It would be a smash hit, we all put the suggestion forward ‘Down At The Naggs’ but it wouldn’t be the same.
G. Bennett Do you think that it would be possible to do a prequel to OFAH set during the characters schooldays during the 60’s?
Ken Yes, I think John had planned on a book.
G. Bennett Did you accept the part of mike as a one off acting job or was he always meant to become a major character in the series
Ken I accepted the part as a one off but they dangle the carrot that he could come back and I was thrilled to bits when he did.
Chopper Harris What is your favourite episode of OFAH, and what is your favourite character from the show?
Ken My favourite character is Rodney and my favourite episode is ‘The Jolly Boys Outing’.
Rhys Whittock Which episode was the most enjoyable for you to film and for what reasons?
Ken Jolly Boys Outing, because we were all together and it was just great fun.
Daniel welham What was it like playing your character and filming with with the crew.
Ken Great and such fun.
Douglas Thompson How many pubs has Mike run ?
Ken Two, he had another pub before the Naggs Head, which was mentioned in ‘Jolly Boys’.
Randhir Rai Mike, you have a range of characters you play. I would say that you are a highly underrated actor. How do you rate the other members of OFH as actors.
Ken They’re all superb and almost up to my standard.
Barry Mullins Of all the OFAH cast, which one did you enjoy working with most.
P.S. all of them is not an exceptable answer
Ken Nick Lyndhurst.
Dean Coggins How long did it take to film an episode, from the moment you received the script to actually having a finished episode.
Ken
It depends, usually about a week for a 30 minute episode, two weeks for a 50 minute.
Delboy Rodders Apart from Only Fools & It Ain’t Half Hot Mum, what other comedy classics would you have wanted to appear in ?
Ken I would have wanted to be in Steptoe & Son and Hancock’s Half Hour.
Matt Boy Do you like speedway and what is your favourite team.
Ken I used to go to Bellview in Manchester and watch a lot of speedway, I can’t remember the name of my favourite team it was quite some time ago since I went.
Alex Sellers Did you like only fools and horses before you where in it?
Ken I loved it because I have always admired John work.
Del Trotter (Kev) Would you personally like to see more episodes of OFAH or do you think it has now gone as far as it can?
And would you have any hesitation in appearing in any future episodes?
Ken I’d have no hesitation and yes I think they should do more, you must write to the BBC and ask for more.
Weirdo In Marly Road Which OFAH character would you like to run The Nag’s Head if Mike was off sick for a day.
Ken Sid, but I wouldn’t let him do the food. I wouldn’t let Rodney because he’s a plonker.
Jeff We all know OFAH went on to become a show not just about the Trotters, but more like an ensemble piece. When you first got the job, were you made to sign a contract to ensure you would return as a semi-regular character or was your first episode intended to be your only appearance as Mike?
Ken My first episode was to be my only appearance but because I knew John and Ray so well they kept bringing me back.
Ryan How long were you at the Studio for each day? and how long did it take after filming a series that it actually went to air.
Ken We would only be in the studio for one day, we would be in a rehearsal room for 5 or 6 days.
Blossom I’d like to know how much of an input did the cast have in the filming of each scene. Were they able to suggest a script change for example or did they generally do what they were told?
Did you take anything in particular from the set as a souvenir ??
Ken It was possible to suggest a script change but it wasn’t necessary. I wish I had taken something but there is very little on the bar to take.
Holly Will there be a last episode of Only Fools and Horses next Christmas or is it a rumour
Ken Hopefully there will be, it’s a rumour that could come true.
Mr Blonde How do you feel about people copying the theme/name of the ‘Naggs Head’? Do you think it is your character or the fact that it is part of ofah?
Ken With anything that popular you are bound to get people copying, good luck to them.
Tom Grimmett Could a late-night special work in your opinion and if John Sullivan wrote an episode designed more for adults would you want to be in it?
Ken I would want to be in anything John Sullivan wrote, but I don;t think a late night show would work, it has it’s format and it’s best staying the way it is.
Elliott Payne I am a massive fan of Only Fools and Horses and I have every episode of the series even the comic relief special back in 1997. I would like to know who is your favourite cast member to work with?
Ken As I mentioned I loved working with Nick Lyndhurst.
Ken It was possible to suggest a script change but it wasn’t necessary. I wish I had taken something but there is very little on the bar to take.
Holly Will there be a last episode of Only Fools and Horses next Christmas or is it a rumour
Ken Hopefully there will be, it’s a rumour that could come true.
Mr Blonde How do you feel about people copying the theme/name of the ‘Naggs Head’? Do you think it is your character or the fact that it is part of ofah?
Ken With anything that popular you are bound to get people copying, good luck to them.
Tom Grimmett Could a late-night special work in your opinion and if John Sullivan wrote an episode designed more for adults would you want to be in it?
Ken I would want to be in anything John Sullivan wrote, but I don;t think a late night show would work, it has it’s format and it’s best staying the way it is.
Elliott Payne I am a massive fan of Only Fools and Horses and I have every episode of the series even the comic relief special back in 1997. I would like to know who is your favourite cast member to work with?
Ken As I mentioned I loved working with Nick Lyndhurst.
