Best known for his lengthy stint as Sgt. Alec Peters in The Bill, Larry Dann began acting very early on (aged just five years) when he appeared as an extra in a film starring Jean Simmons and Stewart Granger (titled Adam and Evelyn).

In Oh What a Lovely Memoir, he vividly describes his first stuttering steps into the world of film. Unlike many fellow actors, he could hardly be described as a stagestruck youngster – indeed, Dann confesses that prior to this jaunt to Denham Studios, he had never actually seen a film (his parents deciding he was still too young for even a trip to the Saturday Pictures!).

Given this, it seems remarkable that they were more than happy to let their son loose in the film world at such a tender age (but then his mother had been a keen amateur actress and was no doubt keen to push her initially bewildered son into the theatrical world).

Clearly the bug had quickly bit though, as following a stint at stage school, he began to ply his trade in live television plays during the 1950’s, rubbing shoulders with the likes of David Hemmings and a young chap called Maurice Micklewhite. I wonder what happened to him?

Larry Dann is an engaging storyteller, who leads us through the highs and lows of his professional career. This really began to take off in 1962, when he was invited to audition for Joan Littlewood at Stratford, East London. Despite his apprehension, he must have impressed the daunting Ms Littlewood as he would appear in a number of her productions – most notably Oh What A Lovely War (which, of course, provides the title for this book).

As a jobbing actor, Dann has had a gloriously diverse career. For example he’s appeared in multiple Carry On films (albeit mostly at the fag end of the series’ life – including Carry On Emanuelle). Dann’s reaction when he first read the Emmanuele script (“It was awful and, of course, it got worse”) probably tells you all you need to know.

It’s The Bill, of course, which made him a television regular after decades of guest roles in the likes of Sherlock Holmes, No Hiding Place, Hunter’s Walk, Thirty Minute Theatre and Angels. For me, the most interesting part of his Bill reminisces was the revelation that he’d penned three scripts (in collaboration with Roger Leach – who placed Sgt. Tom Penny) which were on the verge of going into production before they were pulled at the eleventh hour.

Oh What a Lovely Memoir is packed with insights and good-natured name-drops as it charts Larry Dann’s checkered career – from the West End to Broadway and back again (not to mention his childhood during WW2). Warmly recommended.

Oh What a Lovely Memoir can be ordered from Devonfire Books via this link.