LENTIL-LOVING hippy Neil was never the poet in hit 1980s comedy The Young Ones, as it was Cliff Richard-loving anarchist Rick who fancied himself a wordsmith.
But - and this really is, as Neil would say, "far out, man" - Nigel Planer, who played the cult character, has now cast himself in the role of people's poet.
He is touring the UK reciting work from his book, Making Other Plans.
And one of his poems, Waking Up Without You, reminds 71-year-old Nigel of a time when his marriage had broken down and he sought the help of Families Need Fathers to stay connected to his son.
He tells the Mirror: "It's such a powerful poem.
"The feelings that it evokes take me back to that time and the audience can really feel the emotion, as it was the hardest time ever, waking up in a house without my son."
Families Need Fathers, which has changed its name to Both Parents Matter, advocates for shared parenting as the best solution after a separation.
It will mark its 50th anniversary this week at a House of Lords event hosted by Labour politician David Blunkettwho, like Nigel, is a patron.
Nigel turned to the group after he split from first wife Anna Leigh, the mother of his eldest son Stanley, 36, and again when he broke up with his second wife, Frankie Park, the mum of his youngest son Harvey, 25.
After his six-year marriage to Anna ended in 1995, she remarried and moved abroad with Stanley.
This story is from the October 21, 2024 edition of Daily Mirror UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 21, 2024 edition of Daily Mirror UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
YOUNG AGAIN
Winger Dom is fighting fit after a nightmare illness that left him in hospital for weeks
LOST IN TRANSLATION
England stumped by Urdu mind games, claims rival Sajid
We're so lucky to go to school in a castle... It's like being in Harry Potter
Pupils learn in wizard stately home setting after primary shut by floods
12,000 Koreans sent to Ukraine
Fears of escalation are growing
Signing off
Radio legend Johnnie hosts final show of iconic career
Iran's plan for 1,000 missile blitz on Israel
Tit-for-tat vow if nuclear, oil or energy sites hit
A NEAR HISS
6ft wall-dwelling snakes loose in homes after zoo escape are no threat to humans
Sky do ..again
Chute sabotage survivor mum marries old pal
train as Sam but dance as Samantha (she's a bit more 'Ooh!)
Alter ego helps her beat nerves
Trump backer Musk's Cosy chats with Putin
Fear on motivation for talks