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All Creatures Great & Small’s Nicholas Ralph opens up about his famous pals and ultimate celebrity crush

NICHOLAS Ralph of All Creatures Great & Small has opened up to Fabulous Magazine about his famous pals and his ultimate celebrity crush.

Nicholas, who plays James Herriot in the Channel 5 re-make of the classic TV series, also tells us about his love for Sir Bill Connolly and Gary Oldman.

Nicholas Ralph has opened up to Fabulous Magazine about his biggest regrets and worst habits
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Nicholas Ralph has opened up to Fabulous Magazine about his biggest regrets and worst habitsCredit: Lancton

What is your biggest regret?

Not finding out about drama school quicker. I wouldn’t have spent so much time mucking about.

What’s your favourite word?

Decent. Like: “That’s well decent, man”. It doesn’t annoy me, but it annoys other people.

Nicholas, 30, plays James Herriot in the Channel 5 re-make of All Creatures Great & Small 
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Nicholas, 30, plays James Herriot in the Channel 5 re-make of All Creatures Great & Small Credit: Channel 5

What is your worst habit?

Forgetting to wash my football kit after playing five-a-side. When I go to play again days later it’s still in my bag and not at all healthy!

Who or what is the love of your life?

Cape Town, where I was born and lived for the first year of my life. I love going back. I feel completely at ease in Cape Town.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

Gary Oldman – he’s a brilliant actor and one of the best of his generation.

What is your experience of grief?

The first grieving process I went through was at the age of eight when my pet guinea pig Nip died.

Coming from the Scottish Highlands, you’re not supposed to show emotion, so getting over her death was a trial and tribulation.

Nicholas would invite Gary Oldman to a dream dinner party
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Nicholas would invite Gary Oldman to a dream dinner partyCredit: Lancton

Who makes you laugh the most?

Billy Connolly. I really respect him as a great raconteur.

All-time favourite movie?

Gladiator. I was 12 when I first watched it. At the end when Russell Crowe dies I could feel myself welling up, so I got up, said: “That was crap!”, ran to my bedroom and started crying.

Which possession would you rescue from a burning building?

My memory box full of photos, thank-you cards, wedding invites and all the-best cards when I did plays and got into drama school.

How will you remember 2020?

For All Creatures Great & Small. It was definitely my breakthrough role.

The actor sees All Creatures Great & Small as his breakthrough role
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The actor sees All Creatures Great & Small as his breakthrough roleCredit: Lancton

What song would you have played at your funeral?

Something upbeat, because it would be a celebration. Maybe Singin’ In The Rain or Footloose.

What’s the worst pain you’ve experienced?

Smashing my knee on breeze blocks while doing tricks on a skateboard I got for Christmas when I was a kid. I spent Boxing Day in hospital.

What is top of your bucket list?

Climbing Kilimanjaro.

Who is your celebrity crush?

Gwyneth Paltrow.

Ralph revealed his celebrity crush is Gwyneth Paltrow
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Ralph revealed his celebrity crush is Gwyneth PaltrowCredit: Lancton

Neat or messy?

Pretty neat – I was brought up well by my mum!

What are your best and worst qualities?

I’m sympathetic and empathetic, but because of my career choice I have to be very individually minded, so I can be a bit selfish.

Most famous person on your phone?

Matthew Lewis – we worked together on All Creatures Great & Small and got on really well. I consider him a pal.

What do you think happens when we die?

READ MORE SUN STORIES

I believe in a soul, so I think this might be the warm-up.

  • All Creatures Great & Small is out on DVD and to stream on Acorn TV tomorrow.

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