Ray Irving has been portraying the famous king for just over a year and we asked him what he gets up to once he dons the kingly costume...

King Henry VIII at Samlesbury Hall

How did you become King Henry VIII?
"I planned it from May 2004, I had retired through ill health and loved my job as a classroom teacher this being hard to let go. I decided I would be an actor and have a go to realise another ambition. I knew I looked a lot like Henry so it wasn’t hard to develop my character. I had the costume made professionally, I travelled the country learning what it was like to be Henry, and I read all the books until I became sick of them. My first gig was at Astley Hall in Chorley in August 2004, after that I work every week mainly with Samlesbury Hall near Preston. Samlesbury Hall is manned by especially nice people and I love going there, it’s a family feeling that’s hard to find nowadays."

Henry Tudor can be found on Sundays at Samlesbury Hall, what do you get up to there?
" I conduct a Henry’s Tour of the house every Sunday and run their School’s programme. I have a bit of fun with the visitors, they come now expecting to see a look-alike but they get a very accurate portrayal from the best look-alike. My calendar is full up to next year and my new career in acting is an astounding success."

Are people scared of you?
"Yes. At first it’s a bit scary, then I smile and wave, the children are more open to Henry and soon like being seen with him, the mothers soon like having their pictures taken with Henry, The fathers and most men are a bit cautious. Retired people who come to the Hall really take to Henry especially when I tell them about the sayings from Tudor times."

Best thing about being Henry?
"I don’t have to work too hard to be him, as soon as I get the costume on I develop the Henry limp, my memory becomes fills with Tudor history and my personality changes from a quiet ordinary man into an egocentric, power crazy monarch."

And the worst?
"It's far too hot in centrally heated Manor houses for a fur lined King Henry Costume. Over heating is the biggest problem I have."

Did King Henry VIII have a good sense of humour?
"Yes, I had and still have a wonderful humour, maybe a bit rude at times and maybe a little childish, but a great sense of what was funny and what could insult a person. I would dress up in charades and try to surprise my wife(s), I would pretend to be someone else and mingle with my court jumping out of the disguise to surprise them all. A practical joker."

Ray's King Henry VIII gets to grips with another familiar face - 'Queen Victoria'

You have a strong Lancashire accent, do you change it for Henry?
"Yes. Anyhow what was Henry's accent? His father was Welsh, his mother was a Yorkshire Princess, his Grandmother was a Lancashire Duchess, so what would be his accent? Have you read Henry VII by Fancis Bacon? In olde Tudor? Well it sounds like Yoda from Star Wars. Now add it all together. I speak slowly, more pronounced and slightly mixed up like Yoda."

What is on the menu at Samlesbury Hall? What was Henry's favourite meal?
"For the King’s Board we have tried to keep it as genuine as possible, we will serve chicken stuffed with spicy meat and wrapped with cured ham, then we will serve vegetables that were around in the 1500’s. The King’s board will take all night to serve and eat and will be the fulcrum of the evening with Henry and his band of players filling in the evening. I actually perform an act called Stand up Henry, which could be described as an intellectual, clean, comedy of history. Henry’s dislike for massive meals is well recorded by historians; the swan stuffed with other fowl is only for large banquets where we English were trying to impress visiting foreign dignitaries. King Henry in private would eat simple dishes like chicken and artichokes."

And finally, six mothers-in-law eh? How bad is that?
"They Kept out of politics; it was the Father in laws that were the biggest problem to me, especially Ferdinand of Spain."

Henry’s Board, an evening of Tudor food and entertainment with Henry VIII and Tapestry of Music is at Samlesbury Hall, near Preston on 16 September 2005. Tickets cost £40. Call for more details on 01254 812010.