He may be best known as Boycie, but John Challis has always had a secret hankering to be 007! Katy Lewis got the low down as he prepared to arrive in Milton Keynes with screen wife Sue Holderness in Neil Simon's London Suite!

After some 40 years in the business, John Challis will nevertheless probably always be best known for being Boycie in Only Fools and Horses.

And together with Sue Holderness, who played his screen wife Marlene, the two have been described as a 'national institution'.

John Challis and Sue Holderness as Boycie and Marlene in Only Fools and Horses

So when the publicity for his latest play screams out 'Boycie and Marlene are together again!' it would be hard for him to forget the association even if he wanted to!

Luckily he doesn't! John and Sue get on so well that their appearance in Neil Simon's London Suite is their fourth outing on the theatrical road together - and the public are lapping it up.

Even if a certain place on the Sussex coast still insists that they are married in real life! Which - to make absolutely clear - they aren't!

London Suite is made up of four playlets and you play three different characters. With some 40 years in the business behind you, I’m sure this doesn’t pose any problems, but from your point of view, what are the particular challenges of this production?

John: This play basically takes us [the cast] back to where we started - repertory theatre - where you have to play a different character every week. But in this production we play three different characters on the SAME NIGHT and it was this that attracted me to the play and what presents the challenge.

There’s lots of dashing about changing clothes and stuff! And all the stories are so varied and so different, that to do them all on the same night presents a real challenge for an actor.

And it’s actually a premier because it’s not been seen in on the circuit in this country before - so that’s a very good reason for people to come and see it.

It sounds a very interesting play. All the playlets are set in the same suite of an old London hotel at different times, showing the history of what has taken place in one room. It sounds like something that many people can relate to?

John Challis in London Suite

John: Yes, have you ever stayed in a hotel room and thought ‘what on earth has happened here before?'

You might only be there for one night but the stories that have been played out before you have arrived could be fascinating.

What has that room seen? There may be a mark on the wall and you wonder how it’s got there or you wonder how many people have fallen in and out of love there. It’s ephemeral - and Neil Simon taps into that feeling.

We’ve had some terrific feedback. People are not used to seeing four stories in one night but even if they were apprehensive about this beforehand, they’ve really enjoyed it. It’s a very varied evening with comedy, drama and human beings trying to get on with each other.

There are also some great surprises. Neil Simon is very good at ambushing you. You think that something is going to happen and then it turns out completely differently. And it’s shot through with his brand of humour - he has a real eye for the human condition.

There’s a line in the play ‘Our theatre doesn't exist any more. They just revive revivals." I suppose if this means theatre doesn’t exist, no-one would watch Hamlet anymore! But what do think the enduring appeal of Neil Simon is?!

John: He has a very particular view of the world. His characters aren’t always heroes, they are often struggling through life and not knowing why they do the things they do. But we’re human beings and our motives are usually to do with vested interest and selfishness. That’s not a criticism - it’s just the way we are.

But we have to balance things out with other people’s points of view and that’s what’s wrong with the world - people don’t always take other views into account. And Neil Simon taps into that.

Mark Curry and John Challis in London Suite

He has sad characters but they are always looked at with affection. It’s a feature of his writing, they are sad, funny and tragic but you know things will be alright. They will work things out.

It’s a comedy but you’ll be disappointed if you want to see a lot of trousers falling down! You have to listen to the words. And we really want to say the words and that’s what attracted me to the play as well.

We also have a great cast in Sue Holderness, Sara Crowe and Mark Curry.

Of course, you are being re-united with your screen wife Sue Holderness, who played Marlene to your Boycie in Only Fools and Horses. And this isn’t the first time you’ve worked together away from that series. You must really enjoy working together?

John: Nobody else wants to work with us that’s why!

Seriously though, we’ve been very lucky. I’d been in Only Fools and Horses from the start as Boycie, and my wife Marlene was only talked about to start with. She never appeared and you only knew her by her reputation. So when they said that someone was coming in to play her I was worried at first about what it would be like.

But we just got on straight away and became good chums off screen as well. We began to talk a lot about doing other work together but were worried about how people would take it.

I was wondering that. You’ve also appeared in Ayckbourn's Relatively Speaking, Time and Time Again and How the Other Half Loves with her. This probably sounds stupid - because you are actors after all - but do audiences generally accept that you’re not playing Boycie and Marlene?!

Sue Holderness in London Suite

John: They seem to yes! This is the fourth year running that we’ve been together on the road and people seem to really enjoy it and are perfectly happy that we’re not like them.

But a few people are disappointed and say ‘oh you weren’t like Boycie and Marlene were you’ - but honestly - what can you say?!!

And others just can’t wait to find the similarities. I play one character in the play from a similar area to Boycie who wears a suit and tie. People will say ‘oh that was a bit Boycie wasn’t it’ - when it’s actually a COMPLETELY different character!

It’s quite charming as well though! But most people are just excited that Boycie and Marlene are in town!

Do people ever think you two are actually married in real life?!

John: Not usually - except in Eastbourne! Yes - when we go there they still print ‘John Challis and Sue Holderness (married in real life)’ so we keep having to confirm that we’re not. In reality, we both know and get on well with each other’s real spouses. We all spend time together and our real partners just accept it.

As Boycie and Marlene, you are often described as a ‘national institution’.

John: They say we should be IN an institution!

But after 40 odd years in the business with a career spanning radio, TV, film and theatre, do you ever get annoyed that you are mostly known as Boycie rather than John Challis?

John: I don’t feel annoyed, no. I’m actually quite flattered that people like something that I’ve done and that they know me. One of the reasons that you go into the acting profession is to be known for what you do, so I’d rather that I was recognised for one particular character than not be known at all!

And it’s also wonderful to have created something that means so much to people.

My wife’s a great scholar of this. She says that when we’re out, the first thing that people do when they see me is smile. They break into a grin and I think that it’s just fantastic that I’ve made their day.

Mark Curry and Sara Crowe

You can sign something or have your photo taken with them or leave a message on their friend’s answer phone. They think it’s brilliant and I’m really happy that I can do that.

Yes. I often think it’s weird when actors try to distance themselves from the characters that have made them. If people know you, then you’ve succeeded as an actor I suppose!

John: I think that a lot of people take it far too seriously. On Only Fools and Horses, we are under no illusions. We know that whatever we do in our careers, it still won’t mean as much to people as that series. Even David Jason will say that. He knows that being Delboy brought him into the public eye.

We’ve [the cast of Only Fools and Horses] have been very lucky and we cherish the series. But again, we were blessed with having a great writer - just like this play has in Neil Simon - and that’s the key to everything. When you really want to say the words - it’s the lifeblood to us as actors.

You’ve done so much in your career, but do you still have ambitions? Is there any part you still hanker after playing?

John: Yes - I’ve always wanted to play James Bond. [laughs and does very good impression!] But I’d do it with humour! I’ve also always fancied playing Dracula - I’m a huge admirer of Christopher Lee.

I think I’ve played most characters that I’ve wanted to play but I’ve never been furiously ambitious in that way. I’m a fatalist, I just take on what comes up for me at the time and it’s worked for me so far.

If I have an acting ambition, it’s to do interesting work and not have to do what I don’t want to do.

So I’ll just see what pops up next. The main thing is that I’m enjoying myself. I feel very blessed with my life and to live where I do [a 12th century Abbey in Herefordshire]. We just have a lot of fun!

Grantham gets hooked!