Super smooth actor Nigel Havers is turning back the clock as, aged 63, he tackles a role he last attempted when he was in his twenties.

He’ll be playing Algernon Moncrieff in Oscar Wilde’s masterpiece The Importance of Being Earnest when it comes to Richmond Theatre and The Orchard Theatre in Dartford next month.

Some actors refuse to return to roles from their youth - Oscar winner Robert Redford famously said ‘never revisit the past, it’s dangerous’ – but thankfully Nigel never got the memo.

Nor did the rest of his mature cast, which includes Christine Kavanagh, 58, Martin Jarvis, 74, and Sian Phillips, 82.

Both Nigel and Martin appeared in the play at the National Theatre in 1982 and remain good friends.

Speaking to Vibe at The Orchard alongside his co-star Christine Kavanagh, Nigel said: “Martin Jarvis and I had such fun. 

“I just remember the audience every night loving this play. We thought, you know, we are of one age but we ought to try it a few years later. 

“Those few years went on a bit. 

“Martin is one of my best mates and during one lunch, I said ‘Why don’t we do The Importance of Being Earnest now’. I said, ‘there must be a way’. ”

The ‘way’ sees the cast play The Bunbury Players am-dram group at their final dress rehearsal for their production of The Importance of Being Earnest.

Christine said: “So you get two plays for one: you get a comedy overture to introduce the characters and we segue into the play.

“It’s a framing device that lets us off the hook for our age and let’s the audience in. 

“That doesn’t go on forever and then absolutely the audience must know you get the fill Importance of Being Earnest.

“The play itself is one of the great classics of British theatre.”

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Nigel, whose career has included highs such as Chariots of Fire and Don’t Wait Up, added: “It does something different to the play and I think audiences absolutely loved it.”

Not everyone enjoyed the thought of tinkering with Wilde, though.

 “One or two critics said ‘how dare they change it?’” said Nigel. “For god’s sake, we haven’t changed anything. 

“Some people hate change and the idea of it. Other critics thought it was the best thing since slice bread.”

Christine said: “When you see plays at the Barbican, people mess around with Shakespeare and set it contemporary or in the Iraq war or Nottingham Forest. 

“Why can’t you do something with this? We’ve done very little to it and it has added to it.

“The proof is in the pudding, which is the audience loved it. We’ve had tidal waves of laughter.”

The pair feel their age has helped them this time around.

 “Because we’re older actors, I feel we are better at it,” said Christine.

Nigel added: “The second stab at it is fantastic. Like wine, you get better as you get older.”

Nigel in particular has played some iconic roles, so is there anything else he wishes he could revist?

“I have forgotten most of my career,” he said. “I have often done repeated things. People say ‘what’s your favourite show?’ I always say the next one.”

He’s certainly not writing off a return to Coronation Street, where he played the slippery but charming Lewis Archer who ran rings around the ladies on the cobbles.

“Never say never,” he said. “They are always threatening to (bring him back).

“I do owe Gail forty grand at the moment - with interest.”

Nigel Havers and Christine Kavanagh were at the Orchard Theatre, Dartford, for a question and answer session exclusive to members of The Orchard Theatres’ Groups’ Club. 

Group leaders and organisers can join free and enjoy additional benefits as well as invitations to similar events. More information is available on The Orchard Theatre’s website at orchardtheatre.co.uk

The Importance of Being Earnest is at Richmond Theatre from September 10 to 12 and The Orchard Theatre, Dartford from September 22 to 26.

Go to atgtickets.com/Richmond or call 0844 8717651 for Richmond tickets. Or go to orchardtheatre.co.uk or call 01322 220 000 for Dartford tickets.