Anecdotes

He studied medicinal science and worked as a hospital laboratory technician at Paddington General before applying to RADA to train to be an actor at the age of 27.

He initially turned down his most famous role as Victor Meldrew, since he was only 53 and the character was supposed to be over 60.

He was the Rector of the University of Glasgow from 1996 to 1999.

Wilson is famed for his parties, which he organises with meticulous attention to detail.

He is a strong supporter of the gay rights group Stonewall. He is also a close friend of fellow actor and prominent campaigner Ian McKellen. He served as best man at Antony Sher's civil partnership ceremony in December 2005.

Wilson left school at 17 and worked for 10 years - mostly at Paddington General Hospital as a lab technician - before applying to RADA.

He received the Outstanding Contribution to Film and Television accolade at the 2013 British Academy Scotland Awards.

He suffered a heart attack in August 2016 at the age of 80.

He favours flamboyant clothes, yellows and pinks.

David Jason described him as someone who had great timing, someone he admired enormously and was very pleased about the success he went on to have.

He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1994 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to drama.

He gave up smoking in 1975.

He graduated from RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, England) in 1965, having made his professional debut in the previous year.

He is the godfather to Angus Deayton's son.

He grew up in Greenock, near Glasgow, the son of a shipyard timekeeper.

He was a supporter of the Labour Party and an opponent of the Iraq war.

He is an Associate Member of RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, England).

Appeared on the Graham Norton Show on the same night as an exotic dancer and her ping pong balls.

He had an elder sister, Moira, who died in 2021 aged 91.

Friends with Annette Crosbie.

He is Patron of Shareholders United, a not-for-profit, democratic and non-party political organization whose members are Manchester United supporters holding shares in Manchester United football team as part of their emotional stake in the club.

Made his Televison debut in Dr Finlay's Casebook.

He was a hospital technician before military service in Singapore then on return joined RADA.

He studied at RADA left there on a Friday ad started his first job on the Monday which was a part in Dr Finlay's Casebook.

His father was a shipyard time keeper and his mother a housewife.

He was a possible for the role of Sir Percy Heseltine in Lifeforce - L'étoile du mal (1985). Aubrey Morris won the role.