AT HOME WITH Dave Lister, Lloyd Mullaney, Trunk of Funkster CRAIG CHARLES

The multi-faceted entertainer spends his working life here, there and everywhere, and he’s very happy he has Cheshire to come home to

-  Jade Wright

Craig Charles is a busy man. Actor, presenter, poet, musician, DJ and author. Today he’s just back from rowing the length of the country for a new TV show, and he’s already packing his case again for a socially distanced funk and soul DJ show in Newcastle.

“I like being busy,” he explains, padding barefoot through his stunning home, a former watermill near Hale, which he and his wife Jackie have made their own.

At every turn there’s a reminder of one of his many projects – a still from the Dave Lister/Red Dwarf days, the transparency of his name from an appearance on University Challenge, posters and travel souvenirs he’s picked up while DJing at festivals around the world, countless signed records for his funk and soul shows and an impressive library packed with books, many by friends – and those he’s written himself.

“That’s the thing about getting old,” he laughs. At 56 he’s far from it but has fitted in enough for two lifetimes already.

“At my age, you’ve done loads of things. I’ve always had lots of different interests – more really than I ever have time to pursue. Of course, I’d like to write more, present more, act more, travel more, learn more. I’m lucky that people keep coming and asking me to do new things, so I never really know in which direction things will go next.”

In the beautiful farmhouse kitchen he finds what he was looking for – his phone – and on it his current project, the seventh Trunk Of Funk compilation album. It includes his favourite tracks from his 6 Music and Radio 2 shows – with songs by PP Arnold, Roy Ayers and Patrice Rushen.