EDWARD Woodward has given up the comforts of home to play the notorious Gilbert Harding. He talks to Zoe Mylchreest

ITS quite something to be known as "the rudest man in Britain", but thats the dubious accolade given to broadcaster Gilbert Harding.

The man achieved cult status with his outrageous performances on radio and television, most famously in the hugely popular shows Whats My Line, Twenty Questions and Round Britain Quiz.

If youve never heard of him, dont worry, as distinguished actor Edward Woodward can help you out.

"He was the first ever television celebrity," he explains. And he should know, as not only does he remember him from television, but hes also done his research on Harding as hes taking up the challenge of portraying this larger than life character on stage.

"He really was an extraordinary man," he explains. "There hasnt been anyone like him before or since. His appeal and notoriety cannot be underestimated."

Clearly Woodward, like many of his generation, remembers Gilbert Harding vividly. "He has to be taken in the context of the time," he explains.

"Remember in the 50s there was only one television channel and it was all so exciting and new. Most of the game shows were quite bland and Harding stood out a mile from the rather formal BBC style. He was indeed the rudest man both on and off screen. He was often blind drunk and wed all switch on to see what Gilbert Harding was going to get up to next. He was a man of great intellect, with an acerbic wit who despised pomposity and when he detected a whiff of it, went into battle with all guns blazing, always destroying his opponent in a matter of seconds."

How strange to be discussing a man so full of anger and unhappiness, with the actor about to portray him, who seems to epitomise ease and tranquillity.

Woodward began his preparation for the stage role his first in over 15 years relaxing in his Cornish cottage, learning his lines while staring out to sea. As we talk, sitting outside, taking in the glorious view, he seems to be in his element. The only interruptions are to have a word with the occasional grandchild who wanders past on their way down to the beach, as the dogs slumber in the sunshine and his wife, actress Michelle Dotrice, pops out every now and again to check on drinks and other comforts. It all seems pretty blissful, and it says something for the quality of the play that an actor of his standing is prepared to leave his rural retreat to tread the boards once more.

"I had made the decision not to do any more theatre," he says with a knowing smile, "but then this play arrived and it just completely changed my mind. Ive never stopped working in film and television, but theatre is the hardest discipline of all. I thought Id had enough of the agony of learning all those lines, the demands it puts on you physically and mentally to carry a play in your head for all that time and perform it up to eight times a week. It was time to let go and take life a bit easier."

And let go he did, deciding to put his health first. But then he read Goodbye Gilbert Harding and all that changed.

Now he just cant get enough of it and is full of enthusiasm as he explains why he wants to play the part.

"Gilbert Harding is just a fascinating person. Imagine a cross between Jeremy Paxman, Robin Day and Michael Barrymore and youre getting close to the kind of television persona. He had the erudition of Day, the dangerous charm of Paxman and the bizarre behaviour of Barrymore, but more than anything Gilbert Harding was a man of the people. What this play does is lift the lid on this extraordinary character. He was by no means the nicest person in the world, but he was honest and totally transfixing to his audience.

"He was also a deeply unhappy man a homosexual at a time when it was against the law so he had his share of personal demons. He was in turn shockingly rude or winningly charming, so all in all an astonishing mixture of a human being. But most of all he was bloody rude.

"When I read this wonderful play, I thought I couldnt do it, theres just too much to learn, so difficult, but I knew I would. I suppose I couldve chosen something easier, but then it probably wouldnt have been tempting enough to get me back on stage. Ive been sensible for a while, only working when I want to and travelling when I choose to, but now here I am being totally stupid and taking on a huge role in a new play."

Gilbert Harding had a way with words, he was a great wit and intellectual, so the speeches he has to learn are quite wonderful and its easy to see why Woodward found it irresistible.

"Theatre is always a leap of faith and you have to trust your own judgement. Im lucky to have reached the stage in my career when I can work when I choose to and thats a real privilege."

Woodwards career is impressive to say the least. Now in his early 70s he has reached a kind of cult status with audiences of all ages. Known to millions of television viewers as the star of the hit American television show in the 80s The Equalizer and the earlier British success, Callan, Woodward is also a big hit with the younger generation for his role in the now almost iconic thriller The Wicker Man made in the 1970s, and soon to be remade starring Nicholas Cage. Woodward played a Scottish policeman investigating a childs disappearance and ends up on an island of pagans, led by Christopher Lee.

"The amazing thing about that film is its survival. I always thought it was a good movie when we were making it, but the studio very nearly pulled the plug on it midway through filming.

Its more popular now, 30 years later, than when it was first shown. Now its almost a cult."

Cult status is something familiar to the charming Edward. To many of us, Edward Woodward will forever be The Equalizer.

Woodward played Robert McCall, the retired espionage agent who used his considerable skills to help the underdog in the urban jungle.

The American show was a huge hit in the States and Woodward became a household name.

"It had a big impact on my life. More so personally than professionally, as we all moved over to America, and when it finished had to make a decision about whether or not to come home."

Contrary to what you might believe, returning to the UK with such a hit under his belt was not the great calling card you might imagine. "There was a certain feeling that Id sold out to America," recalls Woodward, "and that took a bit of getting over.

All this is said without a hint of bitterness, although it must have been frustrating that something so successful appeared to narrow rather than widen his career options.

Success on this level is something he had already had a taste of in this country when he played the lead in Callan a decade earlier, another cult hit. He played a spy with a conscience, an honourable gentleman who struggled to maintain his own personal morality in a corrupt world. It struck a chord with its audience and the two roles together made him a force to be reckoned with.

Like many actors of his generation, he began his career in the British repertory system, before moving into television and film. His theatre work varies from Shakespeare to musicals and he has a string of awards to his name.

As I sit with him in his Cornish idyll, straw hat on head, script in hand, waving greetings at the locals, this is one actor whos certainly got his life in order. He could take it easy, spend his time lapping up the rewards of his successes, but quite simply this is a man who loves his work, who cant resist the call of a good script and the challenge of a complex role. Theres no stopping him, not even his great love, the sea, can hold him back. So off he goes, packing his bags and hitting the road, disguised as Gilbert Harding.

Goodbye Gilbert Harding is at the Oxford Playhouse from September 30 to October 5. Call the box office on 01865 305305