CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN WITH... Adrian Edmondson

Actor, comedian and children’s author Adrian, 60, is playing Malvolio in the RSC’S Twelfth Night. He lives in London with his wife, Jennifer Saunders. They have three daughters and three grandchildren.

Finally, the Royal Shakespeare Company! Do you feel you have arrived as an actor?

The funny thing is that I played Hamlet in my last year at school and thought at the time, ‘Yes, it’s the RSC for me! I must buy a fedora.’ But it’s taken me another 42 years – and a lot of twists and turns – to get there.

Malvolio is quite po-faced, the reverse of you, surely?

Actually, I have a lot more in common with him than I ever had with, say, Vyvyan in The Young Ones. Just like Malvolio, I’m a grumpy old man. In fact, Malvolio reminds me most of my dad and, by extension, me, because the older I get, the more like him I become.

But he’s vulnerable, too, isn’t he?

Yes, he is, and that’s why I can’t help liking him. He’s a puritan and yet he’s an old fool who falls head over heels for Olivia (played by Kara Tointon), who doesn’t love him back. I feel for him because, like most of us, he just wants to be loved.

What’s the secret of your own 32-year marriage to Jennifer?

I think it’s our willingness to constantly work at things and never take each other for granted. Love isn’t automatic, it takes energy and commitment, and willingness, at times, to change. I also agree with whoever said that the secret to staying together is ‘not to get divorced’. It’s a decision you make to be with someone and stick to.

You both live and work at home. Is that enjoyable?

Yes, we each have a study and, if

I’m not away acting, I’m writing. I’m working on my second children’s book and Jennifer works hard, too. Mind you, the pair of us can also be quite lazy. So we rise a lot later than most people and we’ll eat tea and toast in bed. We mooch around, watch the telly, carp and amuse each other before getting down to work.

You loved being a father – is being a granddad as much fun?

It is, although I admit that I’m bit less relaxed about looking after my three grandchildren than I was with my daughters. I feel a greater sense of responsibility and fear something might go wrong. But I love their company and how easily they laugh.

Will it be a big family Christmas?

Yes, this year and every year. We always have a houseful of extended family – about 14 people, though this is growing, with grandchildren taking up more room each year.

What do you look forward to most?

All of it – the presents, the Christmas tree, even the paper hats. I always make a point of being the last person to remove mine after lunch, which has often led to staining my forehead red, or orange, or blue... Also, although I’m an atheist, I love the Christmas Eve carols – so comforting.

Twelfth Night, Stratford-uponavon, until 24 February; in cinemas 14 February 2018.

Visit rsc.org.uk