Full Disclosure with James O'Brien
Description
Adrian Scarborough grew up in Melton Mowbray, the son of a schoolteacher and a Methodist lay worker, in a close-knit family where money was tight, hymns were sung in the car and theatre offered an escape from the world outside. Short, ginger-haired and often bullied at school, Adrian found refuge in music, literature and the thrill of saying Shakespeare’s words aloud.
In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien sits down with one of Britain’s most beloved character actors to trace his path from rural Leicestershire to the National Theatre, two Olivier Awards and some of television’s most memorable roles — including Pete Sutcliffe in Gavin & Stacey, Raymond in Killing Eve and Max Arnold in The Chelsea Detective.
Adrian recalls the teachers who told him he did not have the brains of his older siblings, the drama tutor who found him working in a butcher’s shop and insisted he audition, and the life-changing letter offering him a place at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He also speaks candidly about his father’s depression, the insecurity that has stayed with him throughout his career and why every new job can still feel daunting.
Along the way, Adrian reflects on the joy of being part of a theatre company, working with Alan Bennett and Nick Hytner at the National, the unlikely magic of Gavin & Stacey, and why he would rather be “second man down” than the person everyone looks to for answers.
It’s a funny, warm and moving conversation about escaping expectations, finding your people and the extraordinary places a love of language can take you.
Find out more about the 2027 UK tour of Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense here.
Full Disclosure is a Global Production. Listen or watch every Friday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.
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