Biography

Wrote an open letter to Daniel Radcliffe in 2001 warning him of the dangers that faced child stars.

As well as acting in Kes (1969), he helped train the kestrels and carried the cameraman's equipment.

Renovated an old chapel outside Bath.

Was not a good school student and had no idea what he wanted to do after school, except that he did not want to work in a mine like his father.

Occasionally watches Kes (1969), often with groups of students studying the film.

[on being applauded at Beverly Hills] "I walked into a charity reception at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel and a thousand people were all standing up applauding. I thought, oh-oh, someone's coming. I thought Burt Lancaster or Tony Curtis had walked in behind me so I made way for this big star I thought had followed me into the room. I felt incredibly embarrassed."

[on how he feels about being remembered for something that was so long ago] "It doesn't worry me. One must accept certain things. One of the things I happily accept is that if people only remember me for Billy Casper then that's fine. It was a wonderful experience and obviously it had a great effect on so many people."

I feel a tremendous sense of journey about my life. It all started through Ken Loach and Kes was the catalyst.

[on jobs he didn't want] "I spent an hour in a mine as a boy and I knew I couldn't handle that kind of life. It was a gruelling existence. When I look back at my dad, I realise that each day he spent eight hours working and eight hours sleeping. That means he spent two thirds of his life in darkness."

[on his other jobs during filming of Kes (1969)] "I was doing a paper round in the morning. I remember they weren't particularly pleased that I was up at quarter to seven running around the local estate. They said, 'We'll pay your wages not to do your paper round.' Towards the end of the shoot, the football season started and I said I couldn't work past midday Saturday as I sold the football programmes at Barnsley. Again they asked how much I earned and agreed to pay my wages."