MY COUNTRYSIDE
The director and actor on living the good life and taking to the skies in a helicopter
Actor David Jason
Winter is one of my favourite times of the year. I love the purity of a crisp, cold day – especially if it’s been snowing. Everything seems so peaceful under a blanket of snow; to me it feels very Dickensian. With all the bare branches, it’s far easier to spot birds hiding up in the trees, too. We are so lucky to have such a range of beautiful filming locations in
the UK. We shot parts of The Colour of Magic in Snowdonia and Anglesey in Wales – they are some of the most picturesque places I’ve worked in. The sunsets over Caernarfon Bay in the west are absolutely spectacular – they stick in my mind even now. My mother was Welsh and I spent a lot of my childhood visiting relatives there, so I’ve always felt a bit of an affinity with the country. Another favourite location is the Lake District, where I directed The Quest. The landscape, with its lakes, forests and mountains, is just stunning. It was a joy to be out near the water with the crew. I’ve also filmed a great deal in Yorkshire, which has some wonderful places to visit on a day off.
I would love to explore the far north of Scotland. Friends tell me I’m missing out on some of the most dramatic and unspoilt scenery in Europe. Caithness and Sutherland are meant to be particularly beautiful. Maybe one day I’ll get there… My memories of working on The Darling Buds of May are some of my happiest. I couldn’t fail to be impressed with the lovely Kent countryside. Enjoying dinner out in the Larkins’ garden in the early evening was magical. It really was just ‘perfick’! I’ve enjoyed working in authentic and historic locations,
too. We filmed many of the scenes for Darling Buds in a traditional oast house in Bethersden, Kent. It was a wonderful building and something that is such an integral part of the county, which brought a sense of realism to the show. The ‘good life’ the Larkins lead is a reminder for us to appreciate the simpler things whenever we can. I like to grow my own vegetables and turn any surplus into delicious pickles and sauces – I find it so relaxing to stand over a big, bubbling pot of tomato chutney that I can enjoy for months to come. I once had a go at making cider, too, and bought all the kit, but it took so long to make just a couple of litres that I gave up in the end. Gill, my wife, takes care of our three chickens. She lets them roam free whenever we’re at home. They’re such amusing creatures and it’s great to go and collect their eggs each day. I’ve often thought about getting a pig, but somehow never get round to it. But you never know – maybe this time next year I’ll be a pig keeper! I definitely consider myself more of a country person than a city one. I love wildlife and nature, and much prefer being out in the open. I think it’s hugely important that we do all we can to preserve the countryside we’re so lucky to have. Where I live in the Chilterns, which is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, we’re faced with the new HS2 railway line – and I wonder what the impact of that will be. As much as I see a need for improved rail travel, I’m not sure the answer should come at such a huge cost. I’m a qualified helicopter pilot and flying over the south of England always reminds me what an amazing island we live on. The countryside is like a giant patchwork of green – it’s wonderful to see it from a whole new perspective.
David Jason’s new book, Only Fools and Stories: From Del Boy to Granville, Pop Larkin to Frost, is published by Century and available in hardback, ebook and audio.
I love wildlife and nature, and much prefer being out in the open