he told around thirty thousand supporters he's fighting for social progress and to stop �*extremism' in french politics. hollywood actor will smith has resigned from the oscars academy after slapping comedian chris rock on stage during last sunday's ceremony. the academy says it accepts smith's resignation and will continue with their own disciplinary proceedings. now on bbc news...amol rajan speaks to actor ian mckellen, one of the most celebrated performers of his generation and someone who has long defied convention and expectation. just over four years just overfour years ago just over four years ago i drove to chichester to interview a titan of

stage and screen. he was staring as king lear in the local theatre and he told me it would be his last big shakespearean role. i should not have believed a word, because last year, at the age of 82, amidst the pandemic and some five decades after his first public turn in the role, sir ian mckellen played hamlet. it was typical of him, surprising, mischievous, your thespian charisma. above all, it showed that in his ninth decade, he seems indefatigable. undoubtedly one of the greats this country has produced, he is a pioneer, a game—changer, who rewrote the rules of acting and helped britain confront the truth about itself. known to a global audience for his

portrayal of gandalf in the lord of the rings, it has been quite a journey for a boy from burnley born before the war. over six decades he has been called the area to laurence olivier, starred in hundreds of productions and eliminated screens small and large. haw productions and eliminated screens small and large.— small and large. how good do you think ou small and large. how good do you think you are? _ small and large. how good do you think you are? whenever - small and large. how good do you think you are? whenever i - small and large. how good do you think you are? whenever i start i think you are? whenever i start rehearsing _ think you are? whenever i start rehearsing a — think you are? whenever i start rehearsing a play. _ think you are? whenever i start rehearsing a play, i— think you are? whenever i start rehearsing a play, i tell- think you are? whenever i start rehearsing a play, i tell myself| think you are? whenever i start i rehearsing a play, i tell myself the fact that _ rehearsing a play, i tell myself the fact that i'm the best actor in the world _ fact that i'm the best actor in the world to — fact that i'm the best actor in the world to play that part.- fact that i'm the best actor in the world to play that part. along the wa , his world to play that part. along the way, his championing _ world to play that part. along the way, his championing of- world to play that part. along the way, his championing of gay - world to play that part. along the l way, his championing of gay rights has earned him the ire of many and the respect of many more. our conversation cover everything from his life story the weather, for instance, non—jewish actors should playjewish roles and the story behind the first same—sex kiss on the bbc. he has invited me to explore, if not explain, a

britain. i have a simple quest, to find out who really is ian mckellen? camera a, b, c, d. 0k, camera a, b, c, d. ok, let's do it. sir ian--- — camera a, b, c, d. ok, let's do it. sir ian... don't _ camera a, b, c, d. ok, let's do it. sir ian... don't call— camera a, b, c, d. ok, let's do it. sir ian... don't call me _ camera a, b, c, d. ok, let's do it. sir ian... don't call me sir! - camera a, b, c, d. ok, let's do it. sir ian... don't call me sir! why i sir ian... don't call me sir! why not? i thought you were rather proud of united. ., , , ., , of united. proud, yes, of course, but i do of united. proud, yes, of course, but i do not _ of united. proud, yes, of course, but i do not want _ of united. proud, yes, of course, but i do not want to _ of united. proud, yes, of course, but i do not want to be _ of united. proud, yes, of course, j but i do not want to be separated out from other people, i don't really like titles.— out from other people, i don't really like titles. there we are. thank you _ really like titles. there we are. thank you for— really like titles. there we are. thank you for talking _ really like titles. there we are. thank you for talking to - really like titles. there we are. thank you for talking to me. i thank you for talking to me. otherwise i will have to call you mr. ., ., otherwise i will have to call you mr. . ., , otherwise i will have to call you mr. ., ., , , ., mr. that would be very weird and it would also — mr. that would be very weird and it would also highlight _ mr. that would be very weird and it would also highlight the _ mr. that would be very weird and it would also highlight the hierarchy. | would also highlight the hierarchy. do you remember what it was like as an eight or nine—year—old falling in love with the theatre? you got amazing access, partly via your family, to the backstage and there is this contrast between the sheen and glory of what you saw on stage and glory of what you saw on stage and dare i say it, sexy, illicit,

not quite cd, but the underworld element of what was happening backstage and you fell in love with that, didn't you? i backstage and you fell in love with that, didn't you?— that, didn't you? i was most intrigued. — that, didn't you? i was most intrigued, not _ that, didn't you? i was most intrigued, not by _ that, didn't you? i was most intrigued, not by what - that, didn't you? i was most intrigued, not by what i - that, didn't you? i was most| intrigued, not by what i saw, that, didn't you? i was most - intrigued, not by what i saw, but to wonder how it had been achieved. how do they do that? how did that curtain go up? how did that light go through that curtain, so we could see beyond? how much do they get paid? do they know each other well? i wanted to know what it was like! well, as an amateur actor, i could discover that. acting at school, primary school, and secondary school, i could find out what happened, how you put on a play. my fate was sealed then, ijust happened, how you put on a play. my fate was sealed then, i just wanted to live in this world. 50. fate was sealed then, i 'ust wanted to live in this world.— to live in this world. so, the production _ to live in this world. so, the production and _ to live in this world. so, the production and how - to live in this world. so, the production and how it - to live in this world. so, the production and how it got i to live in this world. so, the - production and how it got made had a magic and the sense of it as a profession, something you could earn a living with and learn from all these other people and be embedded in a community?— these other people and be embedded in a community? these people, when ou saw in a community? these people, when you saw them — in a community? these people, when you saw them from _ in a community? these people, when you saw them from the _

in a community? these people, when you saw them from the front, - in a community? these people, when you saw them from the front, from i you saw them from the front, from the audience, were very special. i am honoured, lancaster. i brought heather_ am honoured, lancaster. i brought heather henry hereford, my son. they looked special. — heather henry hereford, my son. true looked special, they heather henry hereford, my son. ti31: looked special, they wore make—up, the men! they painted theirfaces! the lights were so bright. this was intriguing! they were not like us and they were visitors to the town and they were visitors to the town and where did they go to? so, i started reading the stage newspaper and then i began to understand, there are all these theatres, all over the place! i think if you had to define what these little towns were like, in the north and elsewhere around the country, theatre would have to be a part of it. notjust professional theatre, there was the bolton theatre, school, of course, it was all available. and although to be an actor was an odd thing, my family

would think to do, as a profession, my mother told her sister before she died, too young, that if ian became an actor, she would be happy because actors brought suchjoy an actor, she would be happy because actors brought such joy to the lives of people. and i have held onto that. �* , :, of people. and i have held onto that. �* :, ., , , :, that. but you found a sense of belonging _ that. but you found a sense of belonging and _ that. but you found a sense of belonging and freedom - that. but you found a sense of belonging and freedom to - that. but you found a sense of belonging and freedom to be l that. but you found a sense of- belonging and freedom to be yourself as an undergraduate at cambridge and you are part of this extraordinary generation who have gone on to great things in the theatre and on screen. although there is no drama faculty at cambridge, i spent most of my time acting and we had our own amateur theatre. wasn't i lucky, it just seems a natural progression, what had begun as a hobby, the fun of going to the theatre, by the time i was 20 and ready to earn a living, my hobby became my profession and then my life. before you could act

professionally, in 1961, when i was starting out, you had to become a member of the union, equity and their role was that you could only become a provisional member until you had completed 114 weeks of work as an actor. it you had completed 44 weeks of work as an actor-— as an actor. it was a real trade, wasn't it? _ as an actor. it was a real trade, wasn't it? it — as an actor. it was a real trade, wasn't it? it was _ as an actor. it was a real trade, wasn't it? it was and _ as an actor. it was a real trade, wasn't it? it was and are - as an actor. it was a real trade, wasn't it? it was and are you i as an actor. it was a real trade, - wasn't it? it was and are you taking this seriously. _ wasn't it? it was and are you taking this seriously, young _ wasn't it? it was and are you taking this seriously, young person? - wasn't it? it was and are you taking this seriously, young person? all. this seriously, young person? all right, 114 weeks was how you got on and until you are a full member, you could not work on television, in film or in london. that meant going out of london and working in the regional theatre, which is what i did and what derek did anjudi dench did... it is what we all did and expected to do and wanted to do because we knew, whether we had been to drama school or not, i did not 90, to drama school or not, i did not go, that is where you would learn your trade, that is where you are discovering your strengths and weaknesses. ijust

discovering your strengths and weaknesses. i just learned discovering your strengths and weaknesses. ijust learned how to act. weaknesses. i 'ust learned how to act. :, , ., , weaknesses. i 'ust learned how to act. :, , ., act. you did these hard yards of theatre for _ act. you did these hard yards of theatre for decades _ act. you did these hard yards of theatre for decades really - act. you did these hard yards of| theatre for decades really before you had this transformative moment in tv and film, but is one of the real reason is that you spent so long in theatre, rather than going for it on tv and film, that your first adventures in tv and film were tricky? do you remember yourfirst ever tv performance, if i told you it was 1964 and you're halfway up a tree, could you remember where you were? i tree, could you remember where you were? ~ ., , tree, could you remember where you were? ~ :. . �* �* were? i think i was in the bbc television _ were? i think i was in the bbc television centre _ were? i think i was in the bbc television centre and - were? i think i was in the bbc i television centre and pretending were? i think i was in the bbc - television centre and pretending to be in india, i think. there was the tiger! i walked up to it, took a single shot, fired and that was that.— it, took a single shot, fired and - that was that._ oh, | that was that. how big was it? oh, i would say. — that was that. how big was it? oh, i would say. 11_ that was that. how big was it? oh, i would say, 11 feet. _ that was that. how big was it? oh, i would say, 11 feet. 11 _ that was that. how big was it? oh, i would say, 11 feet. 11 feet. _ that was that. how big was it? oh, i would say, 11 feet. 11 feet. did - would say, 11 feet. 11 feet. did these for _ would say, 11 feet. 11 feet. did these for a — would say, 11 feet. 11 feet. did these for a schema _ would say, 11 feet. 11 feet. did these for a schema to - would say, 11 feet. 11 feet. did these for a schema to the - would say, 11 feet. 11 feet. did - these for a schema to the television

was the future?— these for a schema to the television was the future? television? i had no idea. in was the future? television? i had no idea- in those _ was the future? television? i had no idea. in those days _ was the future? television? i had no idea. in those days that _ was the future? television? i had no idea. in those days that you - was the future? television? i had no idea. in those days that you would i idea. in those days that you would be recorded by four cameras, all on the move, and the actor, if he was wise, knew which camera was on him, so that he could respond to it. you were i so that he could respond to it. you were i think _ so that he could respond to it. you were i think pushing the boundaries of what people thought you could do in britain, through your work in the theatre. your case on stage in edward the second, the marlow play, the bbc put that on television and that was the first gay kiss. kind words and _ that was the first gay kiss. kind words and mutual _ that was the first gay kiss. kind words and mutual talk - that was the first gay kiss. if; “if. words and mutual talk makes grief better. therefore the dumb embracement, let us part. that was quite a remarkable moment of cultural transgression. did you think of it at the time? i look back at that time and i think, goodness me, it was 1967 that homosexuality was decriminalised, that was a

remarkable moment!— was decriminalised, that was a remarkable moment! yes, we had a assionate remarkable moment! yes, we had a passionate kiss, _ remarkable moment! yes, we had a passionate kiss, james _ remarkable moment! yes, we had a passionate kiss, james and - remarkable moment! yes, we had a passionate kiss, james and myself, | passionate kiss, james and myself, for which i am always grateful! and it was broadcast by the bbc. the bbc was not out to shock or educate them, it was just doing a play that had had success at the edinburgh festival and two seasons in london and christopher marlowe wrote that play, he was born the same year as shakespeare. it was not a new playwright, but it was the first playwright, but it was the first play ever with a gay hero, nevertheless there was and i do not remember anyone complaining. of course since i have heard from people saying, i am so grateful to you for that case which i was watching in indiana with my parents and we had a good conversation about it afterwards and i am a happily married gay man. that was wonderful.

i did not do that play because i was on a mission to tell people about homosexuality and certainly not about my own, because i was closeted, i was not honest about myself. closeted, i was not honest about m self. :, i: closeted, i was not honest about m self. :, :: , ., , :, myself. you were 20 years from cominu myself. you were 20 years from coming out _ myself. you were 20 years from coming out publicly, _ myself. you were 20 years from coming out publicly, you - myself. you were 20 years from coming out publicly, you had . coming out publicly, you had actually suffered the consequences professionally of being gay, because i think in 1979 you were due to star in an adaptation of howard pinter�*s the betrayal and the producer, i think he said to you, when would you come over to america with your wife and i went to meet sam speckle and howard had to leave and i was left with his producer. irate howard had to leave and i was left with his producer.— howard had to leave and i was left with his producer. we have nothing in common. _ with his producer. we have nothing in common. we _ with his producer. we have nothing in common, we were _ with his producer. we have nothing in common, we were talking - with his producer. we have nothing in common, we were talking and i l in common, we were talking and i referred to an upcoming visit to america and he said, about taking the family and my wife and i said i

am not married, i am gay. the family and my wife and i said i am not married, iam gay. i the family and my wife and i said i am not married, i am gay. i think sam speckle may be the first person i came out to. when i was shown the door. literally? shown the door. leave. and of course i was not in the film. now, the interesting thing to me now is not that it happens, but where was harold pinter? harold pinter, a great humanitarian... nobel prizewinner... fiercely honest... open in his political views, went along with this judgment that i was inappropriate because i was gay, although he must�*ve known. and it was 30 years later, i think, shortly before harold died that i was in a restaurant london and he came by, slightly tottery and i stood up to greet him and he leaned

into my earand stood up to greet him and he leaned into my ear and said, i am sorry about the betrayal. mas into my ear and said, i am sorry about the betrayal.— about the betrayal. was it a premeditated _ about the betrayal. was it a premeditated decision - about the betrayal. was it a | premeditated decision when about the betrayal. was it a - premeditated decision when you went on a radio three show, i think it was, the third ear, and it was a publisher associated with the sunday telegraph and used to words, like myself, in reference to homosexuality, was it a premeditated decision that that would be the moment? i decision that that would be the moment? :, �* ~ :, , , moment? i don't know. it probably was, it moment? i don't know. it probably was. it probably — moment? i don't know. it probably was, it probably was. _ moment? i don't know. it probably was, it probably was. i— moment? i don't know. it probably was, it probably was. i think - moment? i don't know. it probably was, it probably was. i think that i was, it probably was. i think that the moment _ was, it probably was. i think that the moment at _ was, it probably was. i think that the moment at which _ was, it probably was. i think that the moment at which you - was, it probably was. i think that the moment at which you use - was, it probably was. i think that i the moment at which you use those two words, like myself, was a very significant moment in post—war british history, because i think it gave a lot of people confidence. in january, 1988 while taking part in a debate _ january, 1988 while taking part in a debate about the controversial section— debate about the controversial section 28 bill which inhibited schools— section 28 bill which inhibited schools and local authorities from promoting homosexuality, mckellen finally _ promoting homosexuality, mckellen finally went public in his own

characteristically nuanced way. so, ou would characteristically nuanced way. so, you would like to see clause 28 disappean _ you would like to see clause 28 disappean i— you would like to see clause 28 disappear-— you would like to see clause 28 disa ear. : :, , :, , disappear. i certainly would, it is offensive to _ disappear. i certainly would, it is offensive to anyone who - disappear. i certainly would, it is offensive to anyone who is, - disappear. i certainly would, it is offensive to anyone who is, like l offensive to anyone who is, like myself, homosexual, apart from the whole business about what can or cannot be taught to children. i properly thought, this would be a good debating point and it was and i seem to remember that he shut up, really! oh dear, oh dear. we were both knighted on the same telly! brute both knighted on the same telly! we stood next to each other. do you feel that the bbc has been an important part of your life? i can remember _ important part of your life? i can remember seeing _ important part of your life? i can remember seeing my _ important part of your life? i can remember seeing my first - important part of your life? i can remember seeing my first television, the vote race, in a shop window. so, it was radioed that i listen to as a child. which we as a family listen

to, we sat down to listen to particular programmes. i first met anton chekhov and henrik ibsen and bernard shaw, not in the theatre, but saturday night theatre, the saturday night play, every week. whatever people think about the policies and activities of this country, the bbc is the calling card. i country, the bbc is the calling card. :. country, the bbc is the calling card. :, :, :, :, card. i want to go back to the actin: , card. i want to go back to the acting. why _ card. i want to go back to the acting. why is _ card. i want to go back to the acting, why is it _ card. i want to go back to the acting, why is it that - card. i want to go back to the acting, why is it that you - card. i want to go back to the l acting, why is it that you often play secondary roles, back in 1974, when you are already talked about as being the answer to laurence olivier, you starred in king lear, but as edgar import tom and a tiny role in others, like iris murdoch plays, what is this interesting paradox that your upfront and at the back. ii paradox that your upfront and at the back. , :, �* paradox that your upfront and at the back. �* , :, back. if you're in the company of actors doing _ back. if you're in the company of actors doing a — back. if you're in the company of actors doing a different - back. if you're in the company of actors doing a different player. actors doing a different player every month or so, you do not want to play the main part every time and

sometimes the leading part is not appropriate for you to play, it is for someone else. that is built into how i think companies work and if everyone can be the same... i want to ask about _ everyone can be the same... i want to ask about the _ everyone can be the same... i want to ask about the x-men, _ everyone can be the same... i want to ask about the x-men, there - everyone can be the same... i want to ask about the x-men, there is i to ask about the x—men, there is this fascinating thing about magneto, the character you play in x—men alongside professor x played by patrick stewart... state where you are and put your hands over your head right now. they have a different approach to civil rights movements. one of them is magneto who says we have to be aggressive and push the boundaries and be prepared to take people on, a bit like malcolm x and the other is professor x, like malcolm x and the other is professorx, much like malcolm x and the other is professor x, much more, like malcolm x and the other is professorx, much more, perhaps, let us assimilate and work with people and come together. when you came out as gay, when you are knighted, there was a push back against you by the likes of derekjarman who said you

had sold out byjoining the establishment. as you reflect on it now, if you feel you have decided, which is a better way to approach this, is it magneto or professor x and which are you? i this, is it magneto or professor x and which are you?— this, is it magneto or professor x and which are you? i am on the side of professor — and which are you? i am on the side of professor x, _ and which are you? i am on the side of professor x, they _ and which are you? i am on the side of professor x, they were _ of professor x, they were deliberately designed to make people consider the two points of view when it came to changing society. yes, well, my dad was a pacifist. i am not going out with a gun or a stick or a stone. there was violence against gay people, who had been killed and still are in dreadful occasions, being killed for what they are. occasions, being killed for what the are. �* :. occasions, being killed for what the are. �* :, :, :, they are. but that did not come from us. they are. but that did not come from us- stonewall _ they are. but that did not come from us. stonewall was _ they are. but that did not come from us. stonewall was set _ they are. but that did not come from us. stonewall was set up, _ they are. but that did not come from | us. stonewall was set up, co-founded us. stonewall was set up, co—founded by you to fight prejudice and bigotry and the day gay marriage is legal in this country, do you feel

that the majority of what you set out to do you have done, which is a remarkable thing? it out to do you have done, which is a remarkable thing?— remarkable thing? it seems totally successful. remarkable thing? it seems totally successful- i— remarkable thing? it seems totally successful. i am _ remarkable thing? it seems totally successful. i am not _ remarkable thing? it seems totally successful. i am not the _ remarkable thing? it seems totally successful. i am not the only - remarkable thing? it seems totally successful. i am not the only one | successful. i am not the only one who thinks that the laws in this country are superior to anywhere else in the world, there is nothing now in the law that needs hold back a young, gay man or woman. ii now in the law that needs hold back a young, gay man or woman. if they said come back _ a young, gay man or woman. if they said come back as _ a young, gay man or woman. if they said come back as gandalf, - a young, gay man or woman. if they said come back as gandalf, would i a young, gay man or woman. if they i said come back as gandalf, would you do it if i was on dead or the bbc? i have been waiting for the call and it has not come. there are going to be news stories from tolkien, but i gather gandalf will not be a part of them. :. . :. gather gandalf will not be a part of them. ., , ., , ., gather gandalf will not be a part of them. :, , :, , ., , them. that is a shame. if he is the micro are — them. that is a shame. if he is the micro are you _ them. that is a shame. if he is the micro are you available? _ them. that is a shame. if he is the micro are you available? if- them. that is a shame. if he is the micro are you available? if there i them. that is a shame. if he is thej micro are you available? if there is one art micro are you available? if there is one part that— micro are you available? if there is one part that you _ micro are you available? if there is one part that you cannot _ micro are you available? if there is one part that you cannot be - micro are you available? if there is one part that you cannot be too - micro are you available? if there is| one part that you cannot be too old for! i think you 7000 years old!

that was 20 years ago, you know. what i want to do now, professionally, is treat everyjob as if it is the last that i will ever do. as if it is the last that i will ever do— as if it is the last that i will ever do. :, :, ever do. you told me when i interviewed _ ever do. you told me when i interviewed you _ ever do. you told me when i interviewed you for - ever do. you told me when i interviewed you for keenly l ever do. you told me when i i interviewed you for keenly that ever do. you told me when i - interviewed you for keenly that you would never play shakespeare again! i wrote it on the bbc news website and i think it is still there, rather embarrassingly and you played hamlet. let me ask you one last philosophical question, helen mirren playing golda mayor, there has been this interesting discussion about whether a jewish actor should play a jewish icon, you played magneto, he isjewish jewish icon, you played magneto, he is jewish and jewish icon, you played magneto, he isjewish and you are not ofjewish heritage, what do you think of that idea that you should havejewish people playing jewish characters or indeed whether you need gay people to play gay characters? there indeed whether you need gay people to play gay characters?— to play gay characters? there are two things. _ to play gay characters? there are two things, isn't _ to play gay characters? there are two things, isn't it? _ to play gay characters? there are two things, isn't it? is— to play gay characters? there are two things, isn't it? is the - two things, isn't it? is the argument that a gentile cannot play

argument that a gentile cannot play a due and is the argument therefore that a due cannot play gentile? is there an argument that a straight man cannot play a gay part and if so, does that mean i cannot play straight parts and i am not allowed to explore the fascinating subject of heterosexuality in macbeth? —— a gentile cannot play a jew and ijew cannot play a gentile? we are acting, we are pretending. are we capable of understanding what it is to be jewish? capable of understanding what it is to bejewish? are we going to convince ajewish to bejewish? are we going to convince a jewish audience that we arejewish? well, perhaps we do not need to, because we are just acting. let me ask you some quickfire question, what technology is indispensable? the gas stove. what social media platform do you favour? i do not know what that means.

favourite sports person? rough. dickens or _ favourite sports person? rough. dickens or shakespeare? - favourite sports person? rough. dickens or shakespeare? what i favourite sports person? rough. | dickens or shakespeare? what do favourite sports person? rough. - dickens or shakespeare? what do you mean? if dickens or shakespeare? what do you mean? if you — dickens or shakespeare? what do you mean? if you had _ dickens or shakespeare? what do you mean? if you had to _ dickens or shakespeare? what do you mean? if you had to choose? - dickens or shakespeare? what do you mean? if you had to choose? choosel mean? if you had to choose? choose the literature of one over the other, who would you prefer? that is not a sensible _ other, who would you prefer? that is not a sensible question. _ other, who would you prefer? that is not a sensible question. i _ other, who would you prefer? that is not a sensible question. i agree. - not a sensible question. i agree. most people _ not a sensible question. i agree. most people give _ not a sensible question. i agree. most people give bad _ not a sensible question. i agree. most people give bad answers. i most people give bad answers. tolkien, with gratitude. how much tea and coffee to drink? i tolkien, with gratitude. how much tea and coffee to drink?— tea and coffee to drink? i have not drunk t ever _ tea and coffee to drink? i have not drunk t ever in _ tea and coffee to drink? i have not drunk t ever in my _ tea and coffee to drink? i have not drunk t ever in my life _ tea and coffee to drink? i have not drunkt ever in my life really, - drunk t ever in my life really, coffee i stopped drinking 13 months ago, along with alcohol. [30 coffee i stopped drinking 13 months ago, along with alcohol.— ago, along with alcohol. do you eat meat? no, — ago, along with alcohol. do you eat meat? no. apart — ago, along with alcohol. do you eat meat? no, apart from _ ago, along with alcohol. do you eat meat? no, apart from bacon, - ago, along with alcohol. do you eat meat? no, apart from bacon, pork| meat? no, apart from bacon, pork ies and meat? no, apart from bacon, pork pies and sausages. _ meat? no, apart from bacon, pork pies and sausages. on _ meat? no, apart from bacon, pork pies and sausages. on occasion. i pies and sausages. on occasion. would you _ pies and sausages. on occasion. would you like _ pies and sausages. on occasion. would you like to _ pies and sausages. on occasion. would you like to go _ pies and sausages. on occasion. would you like to go into - pies and sausages. on occasion. would you like to go into space | would you like to go into space because micro no, i have been into space in my imagination. when did you last cry?—

you last cry? probably when i was rehearsing _ you last cry? probably when i was rehearsing or _ you last cry? probably when i was rehearsing or in _ you last cry? probably when i was rehearsing or in a _ you last cry? probably when i was rehearsing or in a performance. i| rehearsing or in a performance. i can get myself into it, i could do it now. it would not be a big feature of my ordinary life. for almost 70 _ feature of my ordinary life. for almost 70 years, ian mckellen has delivered era defining performances across the globe and it strikes me he is far from finished, but as he looks back on his game changing life and times, i have one last thing to ask him. final question. what advice would you give to that young boy in the north west of england fascinated by theatre and wondering where he fits in the world?— fits in the world? make sure you en'o fits in the world? make sure you enjoy yourself — fits in the world? make sure you enjoy yourself and _ fits in the world? make sure you enjoy yourself and that - fits in the world? make sure you enjoy yourself and that does - fits in the world? make sure you enjoy yourself and that does not j enjoy yourself and that does not mean you do not have to work hard or do things you do not like in order to get better, but find your enjoyment in working hard and make sure before you go on stage that you

do up yourflies. ian sure before you go on stage that you do up your flies-— do up your flies. ian mckellen, sir ian mckellen, _ do up your flies. ian mckellen, sir ian mckellen, i— do up your flies. ian mckellen, sir ian mckellen, i am _ do up your flies. ian mckellen, sir ian mckellen, i am not— do up your flies. ian mckellen, sir ian mckellen, i am not to - do up your flies. ian mckellen, sir ian mckellen, i am not to say - do up your flies. ian mckellen, sir ian mckellen, i am not to say sir, | ian mckellen, i am not to say sir, thank you so much for your time. thank you so much. i thank you so much for your time. thank you so much.— thank you so much. i really appreciate _ thank you so much. i really appreciate it. _ hello there. it does not look as cold over the week ahead, but mainly because it looks much more unsettled with some rain at times. things look reasonably quiet at the moment, a big area of high pressure close by, but these weather fronts are coming in from the north, thickening the cloud and bringing some rain into scotland and northern ireland. for a cold and frosty start,

we will see more clout across england and wales by the afternoon, some spells of sunshine, but also a few showers, not as many as we have seen recently. the winds continue to freshen in scotland and northern ireland, pushing that figure cloud and rain down from the north. temperatures are continuing to creep up a little bit on sunday, typically ten or 11 degrees and we don't have the wind coming in from the north sea, so these eastern coast of england will be significantly warmer, if you like, on sunday. there is warmer air to come in between these two weather fronts, really, as we head into monday. weather fronts bringing rain down from the north and in between we have got what we call a warm sector. it is warmer, it is often cloudy and if we look at the picture for monday, it is going to be a cloudy day. we have got some rain and drizzle from time to time, is stronger when picking up, maybe touching gale—force in scotland for a while and away from the far north of scotland, it is going to be a much milder, temperatures hovering at around 13 or 14 maybe even 15 degrees for most of the day. the week ahead, though, is going to be very changeable, some spells of wet and windy weather

at times and it is cold enough in the far north to perhaps bring the threat of some more snow. colder air is going to follow these weather fronts as they move southwards across the uk overnight into tuesday morning, so quite a contrast north and south across the uk and along that weather front, you have got their zone of figure cloud and rain and most of the round probably from northern ireland pushing over the irish sea and heading up to the south west of scotland. north of that, it is colder, maybe some more wintry showers up towards shetland in the afternoon, further south it is much milder, temperatures of 14 or 15 degrees. now, that weather front continues to move into the colder air, it could bring some more snow into highland and grampian in particular for a while and then that low pressure slides its way eastwards as well, so some more wet weather around, i think during wednesday, a lot of that snow will turn back the rain, i think, over the far north of scotland, but cold air is not very far away at all and further south it is much milder and we will find some bands of showers coming through and some sunshine and temperature the game up

to 13 or 14 celsius. still in colder air across the north of scotland, there is that area of low pressure moving away, wintry showers following for a while and then the next area of low pressure comes in very quickly from the atlantic, so a cold, bright start in scotland and you will find wetter weather further south, it could be turning wintry over higher parts of the north of england, perhaps scotland and northern ireland, but for many there is going to be rain in that milder air, but colder, brighter and drier across a good part of scotland, so we have got colder air in the far north, looking further ahead, we may well find that colder air pushing a little further south, on the wrong side of the jet stream, if you like, the jet stream and you can see how the position of the jet stream buckle is a bit and we may start to see milder air pushing back northwards, albeit only briefly. the jet stream is going to steer areas of low pressure and it looks like it is those areas of low pressure that we are going to steer right over the uk, bringing spells of wet weather, bringing spells of windy weather as well, perhaps most of the wetter, windier weather, is going to be across england and wales where it is that bit milder, but it is still not that mild for this time of year.

further north it is certainly going to be colder, especially across parts of scotland.

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