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Crossed wires Your article on the new TV drama about Noele Gordon and her controversial exit from Crossroads in the January issue reminded me of an unfortunate incident I experienced during my early days as a reporter on a local newspaper.
I was due to interview Peter O'Toole and John Thaw at Leicester's Haymarket Theatre in 1984 - my first big assignment. Mr O'Toole was appearing as Henry Higgins in George Bernard Shaw's
Pygmalion, with John Thaw as Alfred Doolittle.
I went armed to the teeth with facts about Peter O'Toole, John Thaw, the play, the story and the author to make the best impression possible and emerge with an interview that would stun my editor with its brilliance.
On arrival at the theatre I found that my interview was actually a press conference, where wine was served in the foyer, which helped me relax a bit. Questions flew like bullets. It was all the usual stuff about Peter being a hell-raiser and John Thaw's role in The Sweeney.
I decided to show off. 'Do you think George Bernard Shaw would have approved of your interpretation of
Pygmalion?' I asked. Peter O'Toole stared at me pensively. 'Well, that's a good question,' he said. I felt myself blush and preened myself. 'Who knows how Mr Shaw would have liked our efforts,' he said. 'All I know is that we are enjoying it, we are having lots of fun and my old friend Noel would have loved our production.'