In a recent interview with Hot Press, Ricky Tomlinson has shared his thoughts on The Royle Family, Mike Bassett: England Manager, Oasis and Pelé.

The actor will soon begin his Irish tour, In Conversation with Ricky Tomlinson. He’ll visit Wexford’s National Opera House and Drogheda’s Crescent Concert Hall today and tomorrow respectively. Tomlinson will discuss his controversies, early life and acting career in a night of stories and laughter.

The Royle Family remains one of his most iconic works.

“Especially [for] younger people,” he said. “I tell them stories about Caroline, Craig and Nana, played by Liz Smith. She was my favourite, I loved her. And then there was Antony Royle, or Lurchy, played by Ralf Little, who’s over in the States now – he’s doing amazing. We went to see a play in Chester the other week, written by David Baddiel, and Ralf was there. It was nice to bump into him again.”

The theme music for the show was Oasis’ ‘Half The World Away,’ which will be used as the introduction for his tour.

“They’re two nice lads them,” said Ricky of Liam and Noel Gallagher. “They’re two scatter-brains obviously – they’d fight over anything. But they’re good musicians and good lads. I’m made up to see they’re back.”

Tomlinson also reflected on his experience working with football legend Pelé in the 2001 mockumentary Mike Bassett: England Manager.

“When Pelé was in it, we had to shoot the thing about three or four times,” he said. “It’s the scene where I’m on the bar in me underpants, and I’ve bollocked the lads and told them to keep off the ale. Meanwhile, I’m drunk as a lord, and they’re all fighting and I’m singing. And Pelé couldn’t do the scene. Steve Barron, the director – a real nice fella – said, ‘What’s the matter?’

"And Pelé points at me and says, ‘It’s him, he’s making me laugh!’ But he was absolutely lovely, and there’s a story that follows on from that. I had a photograph taken with him and had it framed, but I never got him to sign it. He was making a visit to Anfield, so I took it out of the frame, and asked a friend of mine to try and get it signed.

“My friend phoned the next day and told me how it went. He said Pelé was in the directors’ lounge, and the police outside were about six deep, cos everyone was there trying to talk to him. But my friend shouted through the door, ‘I’ve got a photo here of Ricky Tomlinson, and he wants Pelé to sign it.’ Pelé opened the door and signed it. So I’ve got that and I’ve also got a shirt, which he signed ‘To Rickey’ – that’s how he spelled it!”

Read the full interview online here.