Victor Meldrew actor Richard Wilson hints he uses Viagra
The 72 year old admitted that his sex life is still important to him, but said his age has affected his ability to perform.
“The ageing process has its drawbacks. I think the recent chemical advances are excellent – I’ve made use of them shall we say”, he said.
Mr Wilson, famous for his role as the curmudgeonly Victor Meldrew in One Foot in the Grave, insists he is still in good physical order despite his age.
“I’m still working a 12-hour day without any problems” he added “I’ve got high blood pressure and my hearing has got worse and I’d quite like a new pair of feet, if that were possible, but I’m pretty well.”
The Scottish born actor, whose first career was as a lab technician, revealed he had a strict exercise regime.
He said: “I exercise every day. I’ve got a mini gym at home where I do pull-ups and press-ups and I swim regularly. Every now and again I still stagger around a squash court.”
But he disclosed that his increasing weight was of great concern and he was struggling to control it.
“I worry a lot” he said, “I weigh myself every day. I used to come in at 10st 4lb for years, now I can be 13st 10lb – ghastly.”
Despite his admission on relying on chemicals to enrich his sex life, the actor has ruled out using cosmetic surgery.
“When I was younger if there was a 100-per-cent guaranteed way to stop hair loss I would have been interested, but I never think about cosmetic surgery.”
He landed the role of cankerous pensioner in the television sitcom, One Foot in the Grave in 1989, aged 58.
The show ran for ten years over six series from 1990 to 2000 – and ended when Meldrew was killed by a hit-and-run driver.
Mr Wilson added that in real life he is nothing like his grumpy on-screen persona Victor Meldrew.
Asked if he was happy, he said: “Yes, on a scale of one to ten I’d put myself at an eight. Despite being known as Mr Grumpy, I’m happy a good deal of the time.”
He was awarded an OBE in 1994.
