Why Neil loves Staffordshire
LINE of Duty actor and publican Neil Morrissey has declared his love for Staffordshire in a recorded video message ahead of Staffordshire Day next month
The star recorded the message as part of the Enjoy Staffordshire’s Love Letters to Staffordshire campaign ahead of Staffordshire Day on May 1.
The actor, who has stared in such programs as Men Behaving Badly, Skins and voiced Bob the Builder, was born in Stafford and spent most of his childhood in care, including a six-year spell at Penkhull Children’s Home from 1974.
In the video the actor mentions Staffordshire singer Robbie Williams, the Spitfire inventor Reginald Mitchell, Trentham Gardens, Cannock Chase and many more things to be proud of.
He also says the people of Staffordshire are “really, really lovely”.
In the love letter video the 58-yearold says: “It’s beautiful, it’s a wonderful place to hang out. The people are really, really lovely as you can tell and of course I’m from there too.
“I mean I could go on, there’s a myriad reasons why it’s a fantastic place, that’s just a few of them.”
Morrissey discovered a love for acting while attending Thistley Hough High School.
He shot to fame in the mid-1980s as dim biker Rocky in the ITV drama series Boon before securing the role of Tony in BBC sitcom Men Behaving Badly. The actor is also known as the man whose pub company runs the Plume of Feathers, in Barlaston, and the Old Bramshall Inn, near Uttoxeter.
Now organisers of Staffordshire Day Enjoy Staffordshire, alongside Staffordshire County Council and other local authority partners, are hoping many more will follow in Neil’s footsteps to record their own video message.
Assistant director for culture, rural and safer communities at Staffordshire County Council Janene Cox, said: “Staffordshire Day on May 1 is our chance to show off and tell everyone about our amazing county, so please remember to join in the activities and celebrations on the day.”