Following in the family tradition
■ For the uninitiated, what was The Man in Black?
The Man in Black was the narrator of a radio horror show in the 40s and 50s called Appointment with Fear which broadcast spooky tales by authors such as M R James and Edgar Allen Poe.
■ Your Dad, Valentine Dyall, played the title role. Tell us more!
Dad had a very deep sepulchral voice and the show always started with him saying ‘This is your storyteller, the Man in Black.’ When Dad used to read me a bedtime story I would lie there quaking after he turned the lights out, especially when he read ‘The Elephant’s Child’ from the Just So stories. The bit where the crocodile entices the elephant by saying ‘Come a little closer’ was terrifying when said in Dad’s voice.
■ Your Dad also starred in Doctor Who. Who did he play?
He was a baddie called the Black Guardian when Peter Davison was The Doctor.
■ Your mum and grandparents were actors too. Was your childhood unusual as a result?
Life with the Dyalls was slightly surreal at times as my mother was also an actress. All sorts of interesting people would suddenly come to stay when they needed digs! One summer, the whole family – including my grandmother, two budgies and a hamster – travelled up to Blackpool for the season as Dad was doing a play up there. The car got as far as Reigate Hill before conking out and we ended up having to do the whole journey by train. My grandmother was not amused! Sadly, I never met my paternal grandfather, Franklin, who was also an actor and had performed in the first production of The Importance of Being Earnest.
■ You now work for West Sussex County Council, but did you follow in your parents footsteps for a while?
I started off as a singer and dancer with my first professional job, at age 17, in Bognor’s panto! After various summer seasons, pantos and a year in Barcelona, I broke into acting with a part in the drama series ‘Bluebell’ for the BBC. I later had the thrill of performing in Ziegfeld at the London Palladium. I once appeared with Mum and Dad. We were all in a production of Aladdin together one Christmas in Stafford.
■ Any fascinating facts about your Dad you can share with us?
There are two roads in Burgess Hill named after Dad: Dyall Close and Valentine Drive. My mum had to cut the ribbon! Also, people sometimes got Dad mixed up with other actors or writers. One lady said to me in WH Smith’s one day ‘Is your father rolled?’ I subsequently found out she’d mistaken Dad for Roald Dahl.
■ You have a son. Does he look set to continue the theatrical dynasty?
My 12-year-old son Archie looks set to follow in the family footsteps and loves performing. He’s already had auditions for the BBC and The Old Vic and is a member of Chichester Festival Youth Theatre.