YOU’RE making your RSC debut, but this is not your first foray into Lear?

No –I played the Fool to Anthony Quayle’s Lear back in the day. It was a long tour of big and beautiful Matcham Theatres directed by Don Taylor for Compass Theatre, Anthony’s own company. I first met him when working on a BBC production of Don Taylor’s production of Oedipus at Colonus, which involved the BBC orchestra at Lime Grove playing simultaneously whilst we acted out the play at TV Centre, Wood Lane. I also played the Fool to Corin Redgrave’s Lear on BBC radio and more recently I played Kent at Shakespeare’s Globe to David Calder’s Lear. So I’ve worked with some pretty fine Lears.

What’s it like to take on the role yourself?

In a way, at my age, it feels like a natural progression – but what a stroke of luck to be given this particular chance to play Lear.

Do you think that King Lear is a good choice of play for young people?

I don’t think it’s an easy play. People have complicated lives. If drama does anything, it holds a mirror up to us. If we make the story and characters clear enough – there will be aspects of relationships and problems that children will identify with.

And if that leads to discussion that brings clarity or a glimmer of understanding to them that’s fine and if they are just entertained by it, that’s fine as well. There are some tough situations in the play but I don’t think we should shrink from them.

Did you enjoy working on Downton Abbey?

Yes – you are working with people who are at the top of their game, from the directors and actors to the drivers and runners. It’s a class act.

What current work do you have coming out on TV and radio this year?

This year, as well as Downton Abbey, I’ve been working on a romantic drama series called Last Tango in Halifax by Sally Wainwright for BBC TV with Derek Jacobi and Anne Reid, who play the heads of two families. Their daughters are played by Sarah Lancashire and Nicola Walker. Roy Barraclough and I play Jacobi’s old schoolfriends.

How are you finding the King Lear company?

It’s a very supportive and friendly company – bright, clever, talented people – great to be involved with.

l King Lear at The Nuffield runs from Wednesday to Saturday.