John Challis heads for The Courtyard's first comedy festival, CourtLaughing (From Hereford Times)

John Challis heads for The Courtyard's first comedy festival, CourtLaughing

3:10pm Monday 9th April 2012 in Theatre & Comedy

HEREFORDSHIRE actor John Challis is looking forward to telling stories from his 48-year showbusiness career when he appears at The Courtyard’s comedy festival CourtLaughing next month.

John, loved by millions for playing car salesman Boycie in Only Fools and Horses, will be promoting the publication of his memoirs, Being Boycie, on Saturday, May 26, at 6pm.

“I have had a very interesting career and encountered many people along the way,” said John, who lives in Wigmore with his wife Carol.

“There have been some fascinating adventures and I’m looking forward to sharing them at The Courtyard,” he adds. “People told me for years that I should write my story and it has been very therapeutic writing it.”

John promises to share plenty of amusing anecdotes and video clips from his 18 years as Boycie in both Only Fools and Horses and its four-series spin-off The Green, Green Grass, as well as stories from his wider showbiz career.

There will also be a Q&A session afterwards and a chance to get a copy of the book signed.

John, who has also starred in The Sweeney, Doctor Who (he played Scorby in the 1975 story The Seeds of Doom) and Coronation Street, added that it is fantastic that The Courtyard is putting on a comedy festival.

“I think that is absolutely essential today as every time you read the newspapers it’s all bad news,” he said.

“It will be a chance for people to smile and laugh – that is what is so great about comedy.”

He’s also amazed that young people recognise him and appreciate the shows that he starred in.

“Most of the people who come up to me are the ones who grew up with the shows, but I am absolutely amazed that their kids like the shows too.

“When Only Fools and Horses started, there were only three channels, and these days there is such a choice.

“But people still watch it even though they have watched it countless amount of times before.”

Tickets for the Only Fools and Boycie show are £16 and can be purchased by calling 01432 340555

Click to go to The Courtyard

You can also buy Being Boycie at wigmorebooks.com