Timothy ‘not a wimp’

Press, 28 July 1987, Page 19

Timothy ‘not a wimp’

Ronnie Corbett likes Timothy, the 41-year-old henpecked son he plays in Television One’s new sitcom, "Sorry.” “Or rather,” he says, “I certainly don’t mind him. He’s ruled by his mother, but he’s not a wimp. He’s imaginative and adventurous, well-read and aware, and he always tries to be kind to people.” Librarian Timothy still lives at home with his parents and finds it impossible to convince his

domineering mother (played by Barbara Lott) he’s a grown man. However, Corbett feels Timothy is still under his mother’s thumb “because of what she’s like, not what he’s like.”

“Any other mother and he’d have gone long ago, but she’s virtually impossible to escape from. And the truth is he likes her, even though she drives

him to distraction with her continual nagging and interference. He’s never ' cowed by her. He’s a fluent talker and he’s always got a cheeky answer ... except with girls, when he becomes awkward and tongue-tied.” Corbett says half his character’s charm is he’s still part-schoolboy. He dreams of romance, freedom and independence, but bungles every opportunity to taste them. There’s a side of him which really needs his awful mother, because he’s far too gullible and decent ever to get on in the world.

“‘Sorry’s’ wonderfully well written,” says Corbett “Peter Vincent and lan Davidson conceived the idea specially for me and I think it’s always a great help when writers know exactly who they’re writing for. The scripts felt right and real from the start. In comedy, dialogue and characters are far more important than plots and situations.”

Corbett feels his role is helped by the fact he’s small.

“A lot of children seem able to identify with me because I haven’t ‘grown up.’ It’s like dogs. When you’i-e small you’re not intimidating. I don’t frighten people physically.”

Corbett thinks the show’s “wholesomeness” is another reason for its all-round popularity.

“There’s no kissing or anything like that. The idimLiVv* xiic licuiuoi i vc got to a girl so far is holding hands.” “When ’Sorry’ first screened in Britain nnnnlp quite Dizarre at first. But uieir Ous aiiu ivb saying their lives are just like Timothy’s.” "Sorry” screens Tuesdays at 7.30 p.m. on One.