'I'm odd-I'm looking forward to being 80'

Actor Larry Lamb on celebrating getting older, his Gavin & Stacey "family" and reuniting with his dying brother.

- KENZI DEVINE

It's hard not to smile while catching up with Larry Lamb as the chatty acting legend reminisces on his jam-packed career so far from filming Gavin & Stacey's most recent reunion episode, to his iconic portrayal of EastEnders villain Archie Mitchell.

And as Larry, now 77, regales us with some cracking anecdotes from across the years, we wonder– does this man ever plan to slow down?

“Oh no, no! I’ve always loved my work. As long as they still want me to do things, I’m there. My goal is to live until I’m 100, so I’ve got plenty of time,” the dad-of-four says with a laugh.

And it soon becomes clear that, as well as living life to the full, one thing Larry doesn’t believe in is regrets, despite suffering a series of hardships in life. That includes the painful loss of his brother, Wesley, to throat cancer, aged 70, in 2019, after the siblings had been estranged for many years.

Here, he opens up about the impact that loss had on him and their beautiful reunion in Wesley’s final days. He also talks about why his Gavin & Stacey co-star James Corden is like family to him and how he’s feeling better than ever on the road to 80…

Hi, Larry. You’re in such great shape for 77. Is staying fit and healthy important to you?

Oh, it’s got to be important, unless you want to check out early. I walk and cycle and swim, it’s great. I don’t drink any more, as the hangovers were getting unbearable. But I do like non-alcoholic beer. I get to have a pint and not have a hangover.