Ask Phil Cornwell transcript
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| This event took place Thursday 21st February, 2002 |
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Phil Cornwell
Comedian and actor, Phil Cornwell, joined us for a Live Chat and answered your questions about his acting experiences and his best heckles ...
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Question from Mark: Hi Phil, did you enjoy filming Clocking Off?
Phil Cornwell: I loved it, absolutely loved it. It was a joy to do some straight acting. I enjoyed every minute of it actually. Working with Siobhan was a fantastic pleasure as well. I think she's absolutely brilliant. Getting to meet all the Clocking Off people was great too.
Question from Laura: What made you first decide you wanted to become an actor?
Phil Cornwell: I just liked being other people! I always thought I wasn't good enough so I always thought I would be other people, that's how I started out. I had a certain ability as far as doing voices was concerned. I was doing impressions as a kid. It runs in the blood in my family - way back. My grandmother used to say I would go into 'the profession'. She used to be a singer when she was younger. It was always something I thought I might do. When I knew I couldn't make it as a professional footballer!
Question from Mick Jagger: Who is your fave person to impersonate?
Phil Cornwell: I love doing all of them really, because they are usually people I admire, that's why I impersonate them in the first place. Michael Caine would have to be my favourite as it's the easiest for me! Having said that Mick Jagger is too. They're very different. The one that I really got a buzz out of doing for the first time was Jack Nicholson - goes down well at parties!
Question from Leigh: Wotcha Phil. Is it true that Stella Street is actually based on the street where you grew up which fostered a million stars?
Phil Cornwell: No!
Question from Ian S: Whatever happened to Gilbert the alien from Get Fresh that you provided the voice for? Will he ever make a comeback?
Phil Cornwell: Gilbert is retired and living in a small box in Scarborough - or somewhere like that - when I last heard from him. We're still the greatest of friends and we love each other very much.
Question from Mick Jagger: Who is or was the greatest impersonator?
Phil Cornwell: That's a difficult one to answer. I would say Mike Yarwood in his heyday was brilliant. Peter Sellers, just because he was probably my biggest acting hero. He was the first person I saw as a kid doing Michael Caine and I thought I'd like to do that.
Question from Peter Benson: Do you find it different working with drama directors?
Phil Cornwell: Not that I notice any different, no. John Duffy who directed Clocking Off was excellent to work with because he let us do our thing but gently coerced us in the right direction, suggested stuff rather than told you what to do. It's a lovely way of working as you have mutual respect going.
Question from Laura: How did you get up the courage to leave your job in the motor industry and enter 'the profession'?
Phil Cornwell: I was sitting in my van, in the car park somewhere in Southend in 1978. I'd been working in the motor trade for four years and I thought to myself, "I'm going to drama school - if I don't take the leap, I might regret it in the future", and I might have ended up being 45 and said I wish I'd had a go, so to avoid that I actually made the move, left my job and went to college and studied drama at the age of 21.
Question from Paul Scully: The transition from comedy to drama - why?
Phil Cornwell: I like to do a variety of things. I like to have a few strings to my bow because I like to flex my dramatic muscles once in a while!
Question from Dickie Boon: I really like Stella Street Phil, when are you doing more?
Phil Cornwell: Well Dickie, we're at this moment writing a film script which we hope someone will pick up and offer us plenty of money! We do have some interest in the idea, it's not completely mad. We'll wait and see.
Question from Andrea Boutell: My husband and I very much enjoyed Clocking Off tonight, however he says you played the husband in Rita, Sue and Bob too! He has also bet me £100 that he's right but I disagree. Can you resolve this and help me win the £100 bet.
Phil Cornwell: You're correct! I wasn't in Rita, Sue and Bob too.
Question from Dougie: If you weren't an actor/comedian, what would you do for a living?
Phil Cornwell: Driving a cab! I'm a bit of a one for the knowledge, I'm good at my little routes. Basically anything involving driving because I love it. It's not so pleasurable in this country, the best place is America.
Question from Zoe B: Have you any idea what Michael Caine thinks of his 'appearances' in Stella Street?
Phil Cornwell: Yes, he loves the impersonations, he's been very kind and complimentary about it. He said it's the best impersonation of him he's seen - I was very chuffed with that. You can't get a better compliment than that.
Question from JaneWini W: Hi there Phil, I can do a great impression of Led Zeppelin. What suggestions have you got for nurturing this talent?
Phil Cornwell: Develop your battleship impersonating skills and also your armoured vehicle impersonations, that would be good!
Question from Sara Thomas: Phil, we still have several episodes of Gilbert's Fridge on video. It was excellent. What are your memories of the snot-nosed alien?
Phil Cornwell: Very very fond memories of Gilbert. It was a break for me in my career in a way and it enabled me to play to my strengths which was improvisation and I was basically given carte blanche and I was told I could say what I liked - I made it up as I went along. I have very fond memories of having a go at popstars of the day and trying my best to puncture a few egos. Somebody should have punctured mine!
Question from Barry: Oh my God, I just heard John Thaw has died. Didn't you used to take him off?
Phil Cornwell: I'm very sad to hear that, he'll be sadly missed. My thoughts are with his family and friends. God bless him.
Question from Roger Atkins: You do voice overs - don't deny it! Do you ever get a say in the script?
Phil Cornwell: Roger, now and again you do. I get to do little tweaks here and there. Mainly you're selling a product so people are employed to write those scripts and sell those products.
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