From The Archers to Prime Minister on a Coventry stage

A few days after beginning a UK-wide tour in Chichester on January 26, Graham Seed - best known for his almost 30-year tenure as Nigel Pargetter in Radio 4’s The Archers - who plays Prime Minister Jim Hacker, spoke to the Courier.

Graham began his career with the play Abelard and Heloise at the Belgrade in 1971. As well as the iconic role in the popular radio drama, he has acted in Brideshead Revisited, I, Claudius, Gandhi, Jeeves and Wooster, Midsomer Murders and the film Wild Target, among many other television, film and stage credits, and is a regular presenter on the Sunday evening radio show, What The Papes Say.

He said: “I am excited to get back to where I started my career and seeing the Belgrade since it has been refurbished.

“I loved the Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister series when they were on television. They are beautifully written - very clever adult humour.”

Although the television sitcom was aired during the 1980s, this stage production, by the TV show’s writers Jonathan Lynn and Antony Jay, has been updated and is set in contemporary times.

Graham said: “There is always a crisis in government so there is nothing different. The play collapses into farce and is great fun to be a part of. Being Prime Minister must be the most terrifying job in the world. Jim Hacker is absolutely paranoid that people don’t like him.

“He is, like all politicians, told what to say by the civil servants and marketed for the cameras. It’s quite interesting. The civil servants hold all the strings.”

Many readers will know that Graham’s character Nigel was dramatically ‘killed off’ The Archers last year. He said: “I do miss the Archers, but I created one of the icon characters and the part will always be there. Nigel is talked about as much still now as I was when I was in it.”

Co-starring with Graham is Michael Simkins, playing Cabinet Secretary Sir Humphrey Appleby, who has featured in West End shows Mamma Mia and The King and I and, on television, his credits include Foyle’s War, A Touch of Frost, Judge John Deed and most recently, Above Suspicion: Silent Scream. The play sees Jim Hacker and Sir Humphrey facing financial meltdown. But the only prospect of salvation comes from morally dubious allies. Comedy consequences do, of course, ensue.

Performances take place from tomorrow (Tuesday) until Saturday (February 11). Tickets cost from £15.25 to £28.75, with cheaper tickets available online. Call 024 7655 3055 or visit www.belgrade.co.uk