Manchester Online

Tony's cunning plan to make you laugh
Ben Rooth

TONY Robinson leapt to prominence as the toadying, turnip-loving
simpleton Baldrick in the hit comedy series, Blackadder.

He then consolidated his place in TV history by grubbing around in
muddy ditches alongside men with dubious fashion sense in Time Team.

Last year, he was back on our screens with his trouser-legs rolled
up, wading through all sorts of mess for The Worst Jobs In History.

Now the 57-year-old star is heading to a theatre with his one-man
show, "Tony Robinson's Cunning Night Out."

Based on his life-experiences, its name is derived from his well-
known Blackadder catchphrase, "I have a cunning plan."

"I've always liked the rawness you get from the theatre, which is
one of the main reasons why I'm so pleased to be back on the stage,"
he said.

"Although I've based this production on highlights from my career
over the last 40 years, there's also a big dose of audience
participation.

"There will be a lot of improvisation, which will mean that people
leave the theatre thinking that they've seen something original and
innovative."

Tony decided to tour after realising that it was eight years since
he had done anything in the theatre. He openly confesses that in the
interim he was "seduced by the world of television."

His enthusiasm for all things historical - both on-screen and off -
is infectious, which is a possible reason for his shows' successes.
But he says the seamless manner in which Time Team's three-day
excavations appear on our screens actually belies the reality.

"Time Team does involve a bit of storytelling to bring history
alive," he said. "The 13th series has just been commissioned for
later this year and the filming always involves three film and
excavation crews at different locations on the site.

"That also means that I have to move from one location to another
throughout the day, as I try to do narrations which stand on their
own.

"I have to constantly think on my feet about what the final outcome
of the excavation might be. But what is ultimately broadcast depends
on what has been unearthed as the excavation has progressed."

BAFTA

In addition to being well known for his TV work, Tony has published
17 books and he is proud of the BAFTA and RTS awards which his
children's TV series, Maid Marion And Her Merry Men, received in the
early 1990s.

Interestingly, Tony says that it wasn't until he had the opportunity
to star as Baldrick in Blackadder in 1983 that he was able to hone
his writing skills.

"When I worked with the Blackadder team, it was like suddenly being
asked to play football for Brazil, where everyone knows how to do
the most brilliant passes all the time.

"It was an incredible amalgamation of talent with people like
Stephen Fry, Ben Elton, Richard Curtis, John Lloyd and Rowan
Atkinson all scrutinising the text. Everyone involved in the series
was a paranoid perfectionist in some way.

"It wasn't until the repeat of the second series that I realised
just how successful it had become.

"During the filming, we would all sit round and discuss who would
say what and when they would say it. I think that it was at this
point - at the age of 37 - that I began to realise that the trick of
writing was asking the right questions."

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Time Team can be seen at 5pm on Channel 4 on Sunday, January 16. A
DVD which features highlights from the series will be available in
the shops from February. Tony Robinson's one-man show will be
performed at the Pyramid and Parr Hall in Warrington at 7.30pm on
January 26. Tickets cost £12.50 and £15. Call the box office on
(01925) 442345. Tony will also be performing at The Buxton Opera
House on February 2. Tickets for cost £13 or £15. Call the Box
Office on (0845) 1272190.