LIVE 24-SEVEN
at sorting themselves out, prepping themselves and getting themselves where they need to be.
“There’s a procedure to go through, much like preparing for a game. That’s what I found. I loved the learning process, being in some seriously good kitchens and being taught by top-class chefs. Why would you turn down that experience or not take it seriously if you do? I wanted to listen to them and learn from them.
“Look at Phil Vickery, who’s one of the guests we have on the tour. He’s got his own restaurant now and is doing phenomenally well. He actually won MasterChef back in 2011. How good a story is that?”
Martin has also just released his first book, A Very Tall Story, and says he just wanted to be honest in his account of the game in it.
“Basically I was sitting in lockdown and realised I had a story to tell. The aim of the book initially was going to be a kind of love-letter to rugby, just exploring why I love the game so much. Then I started to realise it was becoming more thoughtful about certain aspects, like how I felt when I got dropped from the England team, when my career came to an end, what has inspired me and what things have I done well or where I could have done better. It became something much more than I initially planned, but always at its heart, it’s still about a journey through this ridiculous sport where you have the very best characters and the most amazing matches, but at the same time the slight sense of the shambolic that is always present. I hope that what comes through is that there’s a lot of laughter, but there’s a serious and quite emotional side to it too.”
Reflecting on his career, Martin is happy with his achievements to date but is not ready to slow down yet and would love more opportunities to act again.
“I’m happy with what I’ve done in my life, but if there’s anything else, I’d love to do more work in the film industry. I don’t think it’ll ever happen as the Harry Potter thing happened in isolation, but I absolutely loved every minute of that. If I could relive those years, I certainly would. It was so bizarre and unexpected.
“The crew I worked with behind the scenes were the very best of people and working with Robbie Coltrane was an absolute joy. He was a brilliant character to work with, as he’s just so great to be around. He’s mischievous, funny as hell and hugely, hugely talented. When we finished it all up, I had real sense of bereavement.
If the opportunity ever came to do more like that, I would leap at the chance. So if anyone needs a giant again, I’m absolutely up for it.”
As for his live shows, martin promises the audiences will feel the sense of belonging, love and family that rugby can engender.
“You’ll feel the excitement, you’ll hear stories that you won’t have heard before, you’ll get the inside track on what really went on and you’ll see and hear some of the greatest players who have ever
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Dennis Luckett @ C1 Media
played the game. The love for the game and the love of sport in general will just shine through, so whether you are a hardcore rugby fan or you have been just dragged along, you will enjoy it. I guarantee it. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
The tours includes a date at Coventry Albany Theatre on Saturday, October 1 when Brian Moore and James Haskell will be the guests. Tickets are priced £32.50 or £95 VIP which includes a post-show meet and greet, premium seat and commemorative VIP gift. On sale via
myticket.co.uk
LIVE24-SEVEN.COM
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