THE irony Sir Tony Robinson is playing Moliere’s imaginary invalid with a stinking cold isn’t lost on the actor.

The play sees his return to touring theatre after more than 15 years, having last appeared in Alan Bennett’s 40 Years On the same year as the Labour landslide election of 1997.

“It is a fabulous part and Richard Bean has done a fabulous adaptation,” he says of the role of Argan, the titular hypochondriac being played for a fool by his second wife, daughter, servant and countless doctors.

“He has walked a steady line between getting us to feel it is a classic play but at the same time filling it full of modern references.”

Speaking from his dressing room at Theatre Royal Bath, ahead of being called away to rehearse a scene where he beats his servant, Robinson feels Argan is using his imagined malady as a way of getting attention.

“A lot of people with eating disorders use their own body as a theatre,” he says. “It’s how they can express themselves and that to a large extent is what Argan is doing: ‘Love me – I’m really ill’.”

Argan is also being taken for a ride by his doctors, who are subscribing endless purges, injections and faddy diets, which have resonances today.

“There are still a huge number of issues around what medicine is and what our reaction should be,” says Robinson. “We take issue with a lot of alternative therapies in the play.

“But there are also lines like: ‘What’s the good of a hospital, that’s where all the germs are! You can go there and they will kill you!’.”

In terms of Argan’s own foolishness and gullibility Robinson feels he doesn’t have to look too hard to find inspiration.

“I think all of us are in denial about one thing or another,” he says. “Living in today’s society I don’t think we need to struggle to find our own foolishness or vulnerabilities.”

He is particularly proud that director Lindsay Posner ensured The Hypochondriac is an ensemble play – with the cast also including Imogen Stubbs as Argan’s distant second wife, and Olivier Award-winning Tracie Bennett as cheeky servant Toinette.

“It was one of the main reasons I did it,” he says. “All the reviews so far have picked out different people, which is very encouraging.”

After more than 20 years on Channel Four favourite Time Team and making his name in the 1980s as Edmund Blackadder’s turnip-loving sidekick Baldrick, the return to the stage is partly to remind people that Robinson is more than just a TV actor.

“I have always enjoyed the variety in my career,” he says. “It’s a great pleasure in the autumn of my life that I’m able to work in so many different fields – I’m an actor, director, a television presenter and a stage actor.”

He wants to continue the variety in his career, with two more history shows on the way later this year.

“We’ve got another series of Walking Through History, which sees me walking 50km per show,” he says. “It’s taken off fantastically – it’s the most popular thing I’ve done since Time Team.

“I’ve just completed a show for Sky called The First World War in 3D which starts on Remembrance Sunday which will blow people’s minds.”

The Hypochondriac
Theatre Royal Brighton,
New Road,
Monday, October 20, to Saturday, October 25

Starts 7.45pm, 2.30pm matinees on Thurs and Sat, tickets from £10
Call 08448 717650.