I miss Leonard terribly.. he was so funny, he’d make me laugh till I coughed. I don’t cough any more
of climate change is very dangerous. We’re on the brink of the end of our civilisation as we know it.
“We’re on the verge, the cusp, of climate change changing the world in ways that we have no idea about.
“We’re being told some of the things – of drought and raising of the ocean levels. But we have no idea what this change by man is going to be like.
“And Trump’s denial of it is really unfortunate and carries with it the potential of civilisation ending. That’s something Kirk would not have liked.”
In his ninth decade – and on his fourth marriage, to Elizabeth, who is 28 years his junior – Shatner seems to be following the Vulcan mantra of “live long and prosper”, and is as in-demand, productive and lively as ever. “I’m the healthiest human being you would ever meet,” he proclaims.
Iexercise, I eat well and try to think positively. And I say yes to life, yes to opportunities and new ideas, and to the passions of life. I’m more creative than I’ve ever been. More active, perhaps than I’ve ever been.”
Despite sidelines as a writer and singer, Shatner will always be best known for Star Trek. He could fill his diary with convention dates all around the world, where he has learned to cope with fan worship. “It’s awesome. It’s overwhelming and I don’t quite believe it or understand it.
“I float a little bit above the ground. It’s something that you never get used to. And there are moments, when I’ve performed on stage and there’s an enthusiastic response and it moved me to tears, it’s so loving.”
The stratospherically successful Star Trek franchise looks set to last forever, with a new series due soon.
Kirk himself has no strong desire to embark on another voyage into space in a studio – or in reality. “I have been asked more than once if I would go. All I’ve said is, ‘I want a written guarantee that I will return’. No one’s ever given me the contract.
“So no, I don’t want to go into space. It’s uncomfortable. You can barely breathe. I’ve become claustrophobic the older I’ve got.”
Shatner’s talents stretch far beyond the USS Enterprise. A classically trained actor, his early career was spent performing Shakespeare.
The original Star Trek ran for only three series between 1966 and 1969, but after the moon landing, it became cult viewing and seven hit movies followed until he said goodbye to Kirk in 1994’s Star Trek Generations.
Starring roles in TJ Hooker and Boston Legal kept him in the spotlight, and his constant acting work, books and albums have won many awards and led to an £80million fortune.
Although his singing has been widely parodied (according to the Urban Dictionary, to “Shatnerize” is to do something so bad it’s good), he is on a mission to carry on crooning.
“I’ve got a country music album out and a Christmas album at the end of this month called Shatner Claus. It’s really terrific – I’m proud of the work.” ■ Destination Star Trek is at the NEC, Birmingham, from today until Sunday. Visit destinationstartrek.com