Bill Bailey is an accomplished writer alongside his many other talents but the 2020 champion admits he would never rewrite something in a script he was sent.
Bill was speaking exclusively to in advance of a run of his Thoughtifier shows in the Theatre Royal in London’s Haymarket.
The popular performer, who has appeared in shows including Black Books and , said he feels it is “disrespectful” to interfere with someone else’s work.
“I think when somebody’s written a script that somebody’s thought a lot about these words, and it’s your job as an actor to try to do justice to them,” he says thoughtfully.
“I always think it’s slightly disrespectful, in a way, to a writer if you say, ‘Well, I thought up something better’. And so I always have to be quite faithful to the script, because obviously somebody’s poured over it and spent a lot of time in it.
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Bill Bailey has appeared in several TV productions alongside his solo stand up shows (Image: Getty)
“But that’s not to say that in rehearsal or when you’re doing a read-through, something might occur to you that you then offer up to the writer, and it’s up to the writer then for them to decide [if they want to add it]’.”
Bill won’t face this issue in his upcoming show as it is all his own work. He revealed he now draws inspiration from his time on for his live performances.
“I incorporate it [dance] into my show. During my stand-up show, I always, since Strictly, put a little bit in there,” he admitted.
“Whether it’s a bit of Paso or a little bit of Charleston, I do it every night on tour.
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Bill Bailey starred in Channel 4’s hugely popular sitcom Black Books (Image: Channel 4)
“And it’s amazing how it does actually keep you fit because it’s quite physically demanding. You have to be of a reasonable level of fitness to do it justice. So, yeah, I love it.”
He also revealed dance has also worked it’s way into his everyday life and he can be found thinking of it in the most random places.
“I mean if I’m shopping in the supermarket and I hear music [now], I always think…’oh, this could be a two-step. No, perhaps not. It could be a Paso opening.’ I’m thinking about it in dance terms,” he laughed.
Bill Bailey’s Thoughtifier runs in Theatre Royal, Haymarket from December 28 until February 15. Tickets can be found though his .