Ricky Tomlinson, 87, has shared the reason he has never left Liverpool, telling the ECHO he loves the people and the family and would not want to live anywhere else.
The actor, known for his iconic role as Jim Royle in the BBC sitcom The Royle Family and for playing Bobby Grant in Brookside, has always called Liverpool home. Although he was born in Blackpool, his parents were from Liverpool and he grew up in Walton.
'I won't hear anyone say a bad word about Liverpool'
After spending the past year on tour with entertainer Asa Murphy, Ricky is excited to be back in his home city for the upcoming pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The Christmas show is back at the Epstein Theatre this year with a star-studded line-up, including Leanne Campbell and Coronation Street's Ryan Mulvey.
Speaking about being back on home turf for the show, Ricky told the ECHO: "I'm on top of the world. I've been on tour with Asa Murphy for more or less the past year so I'm delighted to be back home."
He added: "I'm a freeman of the city, so I'm very biased. I won't hear anyone say a bad word about Liverpool and I love doing stuff like this."
Why Ricky has never left Liverpool
Ricky shared his appreciation for the city and its people, telling the ECHO: "I don't want to live elsewhere." He spoke about his frequent visits to Anfield to support the Reds, where he sits alongside screenwriter Jimmy McGovern, known for creating the hit BBC series, Time.
He told the ECHO: "I've been bred here and I go to Anfield, I sit next to Jimmy McGovern. He's got Liverpool written all over him. We're all passionate about Liverpool, and why shouldn't we be? We could probably all live elsewhere, but I don't want to live elsewhere. I live in Aigburth and I love where I live."
Sharing the reason why he's stayed in Merseyside, he said: "I love the people and the family. I don't care who you are or where you come from, if you stopped a Liverpool docker and got talking to them, within five mins they'll tell you a joke."
"In Liverpool, if anyone is lost and they ask for directions, nine out of ten people would say 'I'll walk with you'. I think that's lovely and that's the way it should be."
Ricky is among the generation of successful names to come out of Liverpool, with the likes of his co-star and on-screen wife Sue Johnston, as well as legendary comedian Sir Ken Dodd who left behind a huge legacy when he died in 2018.
Speaking about Sir Ken, Ricky said: "Ken Dodd was the best stand up comic in the world. When he went on stage, he was on for three hours. When Doddy was at the Palladium, the Americans used to fly over to London just to sit in the front row and watch him."
Scouse icons in Snow White
Ricky will be bringing his creative side back to audiences this Christmas for Snow White, which will run at the Epstein Theatre from Saturday December, 5 2026 to Sunday January, 3 2027.
Although he won't physically appear on stage, Ricky and the voices of Pete Price, Louis Emerick, Kieron Richardson and John May will put a hilariously Scouse spin on the seven dwarfs. Emmerdale's Michael Parr and Matthew Wolfenden will also provide voiceovers for the dwarfs.
Leanne Campbell plays the Magic Mirror, and Coronation Street star Ryan Mulvey will swap the cobbles for the Epstein stage as Prince Frederick. Tom Isted will play Muddles, Liverpool drag icon Shania Pain plays the Wicked Queen and Elisha Mai Curry makes her debut as Snow White.
