Would you believe it? This week's guest President is the incomparable Don Warrington, one of Britain's finest actors, whose remarkable career has spanned more than half a century. Beloved by millions as the effortlessly cool Philip Smith in the classic sitcom Rising Damp, Don has graced stage, screen and radio with equal distinction, from Shakespeare to sitcom, bringing intelligence, warmth and unmistakable charisma to every role.
So pull on your boots and join us for another ramble as President Warrington guides us through three destinations selected entirely at random by Tony's enchanted bingo machine. As ever, the omniscient voice of Sir Stephen Fry keeps a gentle eye on proceedings while the rest of us follow wherever the conversation chooses to wander.
Our first destination is 374: Adult Education. Education, it seems, never truly ends. Don takes us back to his school days in Newcastle, where an early appearance in a school play changed everything. A local vicar became so convinced that Don's character had genuinely encountered a ghost that the young actor realised he might just have found his calling. From there we explore his family's rich musical heritage through The West Indian Mellotones, before drama school leads to the glamorous world of... sweeping stages in repertory theatre. Yet even that had its rewards, including the chance to watch the magnificent Leonard Rossiter command the stage as The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui. Before long, the conversation turns to Don's own experiences working alongside Rossiter on the much-loved Rising Damp, and the extraordinary talent behind one of British television's greatest comedies.
Next, the bingo machine offers up 809: History, Description and Critical Appraisal of Literature. Which, naturally, opens the door to Shakespeare. Don reflects on playing King Lear, one of the theatre's greatest challenges, and shares his lifelong love of the Bard. We discuss the importance of unlocking Shakespeare's language, finding the humanity within the verse, and why these remarkable plays continue to speak to every generation that encounters them.
Our third and final destination is 388: Ground Transportation. This could easily have become an extended discussion about the famously troubled BBC soap Triangle... but mercifully Don remembers almost nothing about it. Instead, we set off on a rather more enjoyable journey through his love of travel. Don admits he'd quite like the speed and energy of a predator on the hunt, although this ambition is somewhat undermined by one small problem: he possesses almost no sense of direction whatsoever. Fortunately, getting gloriously lost often makes for the best stories.
And then it's back to the Presidential shed, where the kettle is on, the bingo machine is quietly plotting its next surprise, and the quickest route home remains, as ever, entirely open to interpretation.
Presented by Paul Carmichael & Allan Lear
Music composed and performed by Michael Livesley & Andy Frizell
The voice of Pwfthhh- Michael Livesley
www.michaellivesley.com
Series Producers- Erica Lear and Mark Hutchinson
Producers- Alan Dyebing & Stuart Morris
Series Executive Producer- Mark Strickson
Join the rambling club and receive your club membership card, badges, exclusive content and access to early release episodes, an exclusive extra podcast you won't hear anywhere else and exclusive club-only perks!
www.patreon.com/SlatteryLive
Official Website- www.tonyslattery.com
Twitter/X: @SlatteryLive
Instagram: tony_slattery_official
BlueSky: @ramblingclub
Paul's Twitter: @PaulCarmichaelV
Paul's Bluesky: @paulcarmichaeluk
© Fanfaronade Productions 2026
","author_name":"Tony Slattery"}