Life according to...

City Lights’ Mr McLelland on staying in the moment, his brush with death, and the gift of playing comedy great, Chic Murray

Scots actor Dave Anderson

You’re currently playing iconic comedian Chic Murray. Is it hard to portray a real person?

There are hunners of actors who could so easily be doing this part, so I’m really lucky to have gotten it. But when I’m playing a character, I concentrate on the script, the words and telling the story because that’s the important thing. I was always a huge fan of Chic’s, so this really is a gift of a part.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

My show, Tir Na Nog, gaining the award for Best New Musical at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 12 or 13 years ago was a definite highlight. I recently reprised my role again at the Oran Mor in Glasgow, which is a great venue.

Do you still get nervous before you go on stage?

Always! The important thing is to make sure you stay in the moment, and don’t take your eye off the ball whatever you do. Touch wood, even at my age, the words still come, but you do get momentary blanks, which can feel endless. It doesn’t happen very often, so when it does it can be a real panic.

TV or theatre?

Most actors will tell you they prefer the social aspect of the theatre, with the audience contributing to the performance, which you just don’t get with film. It’s just you, the machinery and the director, whereas there’s nothing like being on the stage.

What would you do if you weren’t an actor?

I honestly don’t have a clue. All my siblings went into teaching, so maybe that’s what I would have ended up doing. But I don’t know whether I would be any good at it or not! From a young age I was pretty sure I wanted to go into showbiz. My parents were very traditional and always said I needed to get a real job, something to fall back on – my reaction was: “I have no intention of falling back”. You had a health scare last year. How hard was it to get back into the swing of performing?

It all happened over Christmas while I was appearing in panto. I was knackered for about a month with a chest infection. I ended up in hospital and I had to get my heart restarted after I ran out of oxygen and had a cardiac arrest. Of course, I really wanted to get back to work, and ever since I have decided to grab every opportunity I can.

Do people still recognise you as Mr McLelland from City Lights? Yes, City Lights and Gregory’s Girl are the two everyone knows. Ever since, I’ve always been offered slightly pompous, managerial characters!

Stay in the moment, don’t take your eye off the ball