# Sunday with Nigel Havers: ‘We’ll take the dog for a walk, she’s a rare poodle-poodle’

The actor talks about breakfast, dinner, dogs and horses, and shares his tips on racing and learning lines

**Up early?** I like to listen to Paddy O’Connell at 9am on Radio 4. It’s a semi-political, opinionated show, with guests talking about the news. It’s amusing, witty… and I’ve been a guest, so obviously highly intelligent.

**What’s next?** We’ll take the dog for a walk. She’s called Charlie and she’s a very rare breed – a black poodle-poodle. She does her own stuff, chasing this, chasing that.

**Breakfast?** Maybe a bit of fruit, then I’ll look at the papers. If I’ve got lines to learn, I’ll do that. At 12.30, we walk to the pub for a pint of Butcombe. Then we walk back, have a brunchy lunch, scrambled eggs and toast.

**Visit to the tip?** We might go to the tip, you’re right. It’s fantastic, but they’re quite bossy: don’t park _there_, reverse _here_. Sometimes I’m recognised. I’m very chatty at the tip.

**Afternoon activities?** We’ll watch a bit of racing. I don’t gamble unless I actually go to the races, so I’ll just do an imaginary bet – and I’ll normally win.

**You know your horses?** I know a lot. It’s about the going, whether it’s soft, how long the race is, what the trainers say. Then anything can happen and you can get lucky or have no luck at all.

**What’s for dinner?** My gorgeous wife will usually do a roast chicken. I’ll do jacket potatoes, even with a roast dinner, because it’s healthier. Then she’ll settle into _Call the Midwife_ and I’ll read. If I’m on telly, I’ll go out of my way to avoid it. Why bother? I know what’s going to happen.

**Last thing before bed?** My wife makes me a cup of Sleepytime tea. Sometimes I think she gives it to me to make me shut up. If I’m learning lines, then I’ll have a look… I was told if you put the script under your pillow, you’ll be word-perfect in the morning. It works brilliantly.

_Talking Bollocks, Nigel Haver’s first ever live show, tours from 15 March_

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