Ray Winstone on The Gentlemen, Gangster Etiquette, and Strictly Come Dancing

19:06Romesh Ranganathan:Yeah. It does sort of undermine your sort of hard man status when you're talking into a podcast. Don't do that. Don't do that. No, no, no. Because he's with a fucking deep throat all of a sudden. I thought you told me I thought I was doing that without realising just pull the mic down a little bit because it looks a bit rude do you know what I mean no okay I'm ready what now why do you start with now be direct okay direct yeah but calmly okay what you'll find has happened here is you've disrespected me and what you've decided to do is take my passiveness as a weakness and that, my friend, is one of the top three mistakes you'll ever make and the other two are pissing me off.

20:05Romesh Ranganathan:What do you think? What do you think? Why do you look so cynical? I think we were waiting for the other one. I know. The one's a good one because you've got to think about it. You all walk out of the room thinking, what was number one? Yeah. Do you know what? Can I be honest with you? In the moment, I couldn't think of another two. That's the honest truth. I said the first one and then I thought, fuck, you've painted yourself into a corner here. No, no. So I didn't have any others. I like the way you just left one because it makes you think, what the fuck is one? I don't know, you know. Makes you think about it, doesn't it?

20:42Romesh Ranganathan:Thank you, Ray. That was a real honour. You think I've got something about me? Absolute a mondo. Thank you. Don't start with Nau Worm, though. That's your top two. That was a big error. I do that all the time. I know I get it wrong. So you have to think that. I was doing a travel show. Yeah. And, you know, you're doing it with people that come in and tell you about different things you're seeing in the country. At one point, the sound man came over to me, and he said, Pramash, I just want to let you know, we've been filming for three days, and you've started every question with, so it's going to be a problem for them in the edit.

21:15Romesh Ranganathan:then you become so self-conscious about it anyway it's not about me The Gentleman Series 2 yeah congratulations thank you unbelievable show unbelievable show it's and you've also had a third series commissioned so that's great yeah which is good yeah good news yeah I mean that takes the pressure off a bit doesn't it well I've done her film in it yet you're Ray Winston though you never know do you yeah you never know I mean look for somebody like it's all names flying about everywhere yeah Who are they? I don't know. Who are they to you? Who do they think they are? I know. Now, obviously, you've played Bobby Glass.

21:52Romesh Ranganathan:Yeah. Who starts Series 2. Well, you're in prison, basically. Yeah. And you're being quite disruptive from prison, aren't you? We're running the business, yeah. Yeah. In your own inimitable way. Yeah. Love a hot tub. Love a hot tub. Love a bit of steam. A bit of steam. You've got a bit of steam. He's basically having a great time. I think the only way I make it work in my head, because it's a ridiculous situation, when you face it, is that he actually owns the prison. He bought the land. He bought the prison. He built the prison. This is his prison. He's doing his bit of porridge in his own place, and he runs his business for me.

22:32It's his office. Even the screws work for him. And it's the safest place for him is there because it's very difficult for anyone to get to him. So that's the only way in my head I can make that work because otherwise you'd say, are you sure?

22:48Romesh Ranganathan:Well, it's a heightened reality, isn't it? Yeah, and you've got to buy into that. When I first read season one with the pigeons and all that, I like the pigeons. We got rid of the pigeons. I'm a big cat about that. I actually became very close to a couple of the pigeons. In what way? Well, just friendly. They were very nice. What does a pigeon's friendship look like? Why they look at you. I don't know. It's something... You know, you'd be gentle with them when you pick them up and all that. And they look at you. Yeah. But the reason they had to go was because the messages I was sending out to prison, they were taken straight to the police.

23:26So they were stall pigeons. Stall pigeons.

23:32Romesh Ranganathan:Really good. Should have been staying up. I should have done staying up. You should have done. That would have been such a great opener. and you had me in because I thought you were making a serious point well I was trying I keep looking at you like I'm trying my best to be serious well the thing I think that's so great about The Gentleman is it's it's as I said it's a heightened reality thing but you don't you're never bumped by that when you're watching it no I don't think so that's what I was going to get to when I was trying to be serious yeah sure but then the stool pigeon joke came to you but it's when I When I actually first read the first series and I went, I'm not having this.

24:13On paper, the first episode, crazy. That was my, you know. And I went and had a little chat with Guy. Once I talked to him, I went, okay, I'll get it now. You've got to buy into this. And it's really about the politics of the country and, you know, the gentry. I mean, who are the gangsters here? That's what you've got to look at, you know. The people with the big houses, the lovely big houses, go back generations, generations, go back to Henry VIII, Henry II, to the Normans, to the Vikings. How did they get the money in the first place to have all this land? And what power did they get from the kings at the time?

24:53They were gangsters. Now their families, as they come down the line, are skinned. They can't pay for these big gaffes anymore. So what do they do? They have to get up to a bit of villainy, don't they? So people like us come along, the working class, and see a little niche in the market. And that's kind of what the show is, for me anyway. We're always looked at. You come from East London. Oh, gangster. There's loads of lovely, nice people there, you know. But you talk about the aristocracy. Oh, no, it's fine. So you go to sleep? No. Oh, I thought you went to sleep.

25:30Romesh Ranganathan:No, I didn't go to sleep, no. Look across both. This one always sort of looks like... He's got a lazy eye there, isn't he? It's quite sexy, actually. Do you think so? Yeah, I think so. You could use that. Yeah? The old lazy. I can do that one. I can do that. Fucking hell. Brown up, you could do my tour. Yeah. Well, I'm going to get a suntan when I go back to Malta. Oh, you're brilliant. And I've got the tash. Yeah, there you go. I've got to darken it down a bit. It's a really funny show, isn't it, as well? It's violent. There's a lot of crime. The stakes are high. It's one of those things where the pressure ratchets up as it goes on.

26:12Romesh Ranganathan:But equally, it's very, very funny as well, isn't it? Yeah, I think you need that little release, don't you? I mean, you've got to be careful. When you're doing stuff with violence in it, you've got to go one way or the other. You've either got to go, this is really nasty and it hurts, or you've got to take it the other level, right up the top. Not like we see in some films where they come out robbing a bank and they shoot 35 people and there's no consequences for that. It's just like bits of meat on the floor. But you've got to see that sort of fear and you've got to see what that does, not just to the person who's getting it, but his family and how the reaction takes it down the chain.

26:52You know what I mean? And I think we do that in the gentleman. We're human. I think it's the only way to do that.

26:57Romesh Ranganathan:How much, because obviously you're working with Guy Ritchie, and he is known for, and I think you've talked about this a little bit, about the script changes right up to the wire, right? Yeah. How do you work that into your preparation for it? I mean, you talked about... It's really weird because you don't know from the beginning to the end. You'll pick a script up, you'll read it, you know the story, right? And that's normal, right? But with Guy, you'll read that script and when you finally see that script on the screen, it's nothing like the script. Right. It's the way he's edited it. He'll edit it in different places.

27:37But what you learn in the first season with that, as long as you come to work knowing them four pages, you know the character. When he gives you the new pages of four pages of dialogue, you know, you first go, fuck. Right? You get that and it's easy to learn because you know it. You know the character. Yeah. You learn that and it's better. Right. So if someone's just changing something up for the sake of it because they want to be Billy Big Bollocks or something, you know, and it's wrong and it's not good, then you've got something to moan about. Yeah. And would you moan about it? Yeah. Oh, absolutely, yeah.

28:15I mean, the times you have to change scripts because no one talks like that, no one says that, no one listens like that, and no one loves like that. Yeah. You know, what are we doing here? Have you never been, has the writer never been out and seen any life? Is that how you give the feedback? Well, that's how inside I feel, yeah. Right, right, right. You're going to say that. Well, it depends how far down the road we're going to go. But when Guy sends you something back, an idea, and you have a chat about it, it's 99.99999 bang on the money, and it's better. Now, you can't argue with that. And it's like that, so you understand that all the way through the job.

28:55And it's exciting, it keeps you on your feet. You know when you get new material? And it's good. You think, fuck, I can't wait to say it. It's exciting, yeah. Yeah.

29:05Romesh Ranganathan:But does it make it more difficult to prep? No. No. I don't think so. Because by that time you should be up and running in your brain. Do you know what it actually does? It actually starts cooking again. The brain is going, you know. There's nothing worse than turning up and being bored. Yeah, and you're not actually in the room. Yeah, you're not doing it, and you're not on the ball. And once you start going, picking up a script and learning it, you can learn it in 10 minutes, four pages. If it's good writing, you can learn it. If it's shit, you'll never learn it. Yeah. You know? Yeah, that's why I struggle to learn my stand-up.

29:43Romesh Ranganathan:When the first series came out, it was such a smash so quickly, And I remember, like, you're getting this more and more rarely now, which is where, because there's so many options on TV. Absolutely. That everybody's talking about a show. But the gentleman fell into that category. It's everybody was talking about it. Yeah, it's funny because he came out of nowhere with me. I thought he was going to be all right, good, you know, because I've seen his track record. He's so good, you know. But one of the funniest things I've seen on telly was the chicken scene. Right. And it was so surreal. Yeah. But the way the kid played it.

30:21It's unbelievable. He's out of his nut, he's falling over, and he's going to get on that here. It's one of the funniest things I've ever seen on TV, other than Basil 40 bashing the car up or something. But it was literally that, and I thought, how are you going to top that? How are you actually going to do season two and top the way you had the first look? And I'm yet to see because I've only seen one episode, so I've got the rest to see. when Bobby Glass is

30:51Romesh Ranganathan:frightening I'm bored now are you bored now? are you bored? how do you get bored? we're not bored what do you mean? why are you bored? you're just sitting here all day just talking yeah that's pretty much do you know what Ray even if we don't have a guest we carry on that's why I was wondering yeah we just sit and they fire questions at me we're still not allowed to talk mostly it's just wrong yeah yeah I was a bit like that you're the listeners yeah and occasionally He's got free then. I thought we were having a nice time. We are, good. Your favorite friend group is back. FX's Adults follows five roommates living in New York, leaning on each other to navigate love, work, friendship, and family, while tackling pressing questions of your 20s like, what if the person who inherited your fake ID is cooler than you ever were?

31:43Why does being around your family make you regress into your worst self? And how do you tell your roommates that you have other friends? FX is adults. All episodes now streaming on Hulu. This episode is brought to you by ChatGPT. Hey, it's Bill Simmons from the Bill Simmons Podcast. Have you guys heard about ChatGPT work? It's the new way to use ChatGPT for bigger multi-step projects. And when you need more than just answers, give ChatGPT work access to your apps and files, and it can create real work documents like spreadsheets, slides, and structured reports. Get started at chatgpt.com by selecting work mode, available on Plus and Pro plans.

32:27Romesh Ranganathan:When did you realize it was a smash, and did it feel good knowing that you're involved in a big smash? It's a first really for me because the stuff that I've done before, you know, is usually something with a social thing to say, you know, like nil by mouth. Sexy Beast, when we dance a film, it's different from this series, but Sexy Beast didn't really hit it in England, in Britain. It's gone on to become a car. Because it went to America and the Americans told us how good it was and then it came back to England. It's like, wake up, England, this is a blinding bit of work. And so I haven't really done anything that's been a smash hit.

33:08I'm probably down the road somewhere, I can't remember. that far back right but you know this was a big hit so when it actually happened I don't I don't fucking know what does that mean you know I smash it it means we're gonna do some more yeah I mean that's yeah I mean that's the best news oh touch you know touch you know a lot of them are thinking oh I'm a star now I can walk down the street and sign all the graphs and all that oh what we're going back to work touch you know and so And a big surprise. Yeah. I mean, I shouldn't be surprised because of Lock, Stark, that he'd done and Snatch, you know, they were all hits.

33:50You know, and many more he's done since.

33:52Romesh Ranganathan:I mean, that's a double-edged sword, isn't it? Because Guy Ritchie, Ray Winston, obviously the whole cast is stacked. Yeah. But there's a double-edged sword of the level of expectation, do you know what I mean? Because people go to that going, well, let's see what they come up with now. Well, Hugh Bonneville, his hair steals the show. He's Barney. Fucking hell. He's got the brush back. Oh, we're saucy. If I'd have known that, I'd have done that. I'd have put a wig on. It's fantastic. You've seen some of it, yeah. He plays the mints are good and all, doesn't he? He's fine in that. Yeah, he's amazing.

34:31Romesh Ranganathan:He's amazing. Apart from you getting to do more, how much do you like how much do you care about the result like for you is it the creating of it that's the exciting bit I quite like being in prison bit because I mean they were talking there was a little whisper of bringing him out of the niche yeah that's what I heard yeah and I went nah hold on oh woo woo right I said the dynamics change if I come out you know and I've got care my daughter's running the business well she ain't running the business no more is she so what are you going to do Where's she going to go? Yeah, yeah. You know, you leave me where I am three days a week, once a month.

35:11And I'm absolutely fine with that. I've got no problems with that.

35:16Romesh Ranganathan:Yeah. Banged up in a steam room having a bit of Joe Blake. But I'd be, people come and see me. They come and see me sitting around the lake in the speedos. Yeah. Lovely. I don't want to be running about with a suit and tie on, right, threatening people doing it large just their mangiari and away you go how do you make Bobby Glass he's funny like it's he's a funny character it's situations it's right something the the Yanks are very good at I'm doing this thing out in Morta and that's kind of that's a gig innit yeah it's Danger Man it goes all the way to December right and I was thinking is this script really that good you know I'm looking at it and it's like weird and then by mistake I watch this show Normal right and I'm like what's this all about and it's a guy a sheriff goes into a town right and there's all Japanese drug lords selling you know borrowing money the whole town works for the Japanese cartel in America this is like a bit like Fargo right and there's man there's bodies everywhere there's heads going and there's people We're getting blown up.

36:32Right, and it's all played like that. Right? No, no, mum. It's funny. Right. It's funny because the visuals are funny. The storyline's funny. The actors are straight. Yeah. Playing it brilliantly. Yeah. And I went, oh, that's what it is. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And they're good at it. In England, we're comedy, drama. And now we're trying to do that kind of humour, black humour, which you're straight and the rest of the world is falling apart. Yeah. And it kind of gave me a clue for the job we're doing at Immortal because it's that very similar kind of humour going on there. So that was good. And I think, in a way, that's what this show is, The Gentleman.

37:17Last year it was very kind of played straight, heavy, violent. The humour came from the visuals around it. And I'm kind of hoping that this season is the same.

37:29Romesh Ranganathan:Yeah, so when you're playing Bobby Glatt, you know, because when Bobby's being menacing or whatever or running things, it is, the situation makes it fun, you know, because he's turning the screw, right? But when you're playing that, you're not thinking of the humour at all. No, I've got two things to think about here because in the second series, it's like he's losing the plot. Yeah, yeah. You know, he's becoming a little bit senile and a little bit... He's starting to mess things up now. Imagination of, you know, certain things that are going on, but then you've got to think, which I thought about, you know, along with other people, but is that the game he plays?

38:08Right. Because he's a shrewd nut. And sometimes you show your weaknesses to people to find out what the reactions are and how they're going to play the game. Right, right, right. You got it, man? Yeah, I've got it. Think about that one. I've got it, yeah. And these guys need to think about it. You like to see, I see your lip go there. Your lip went, and he was always like, fucking, yeah. Yeah. You'd like that, didn't you? I know you're right.

38:30Romesh Ranganathan:I fucking love it, mate. Yeah, it's perfect. He's got it, he's got it. Yeah? Yeah. What do you make of these rumours that Meghan Markle's in the next series? Who?

38:43Romesh Ranganathan:Meghan Markle. In what? I've never met her. You've never met her? No. Next series. What, in The Gentleman? Yeah. Oh, shut up. I don't think so that's the rumour and now who spreads these rumours well Ben you said it you're the first person I heard it from I just thought it might happen he's always a wrong one yeah he is a wrong one and it's not just on and I make not just on that Ray actually I'm glad you've called it right Ray we've got a question from my mother for you she's recorded a little question for you lovely girl I don't know what it is though yeah can I see her no I can show you a picture oh god well I'd rather look Why are you going to your phone for a picture of my mum?

39:27Romesh Ranganathan:You've got a laptop there. Why have you gone to your phone? You're terrified of your mum, aren't you? Yeah. We're all terrified of our mums, aren't we? It's like sometimes, if I, like I sort of take, you know, on the podcast, you know, I take the piss and we have them laugh. But if she really, really gets upset with me. Oh, no, don't. Do you know what I mean? It's a fear that I don't get anywhere else in my life. Never, never. You know, my mum come home once and I was a young man and we'd obviously had a falling out or something. She'd come upstairs and she's... And she's gone to give me a clump, right?

40:02And I was boxing. I'm like this, right? And so we had a temper. She got a wire coat hanger, right? To beat me with, right? And I've grabbed her arm, grabbed that arm, right? And I've tripped on the bed and we both fell backwards on the bed and my mum landed on top of me. Right? This is the most embarrassing moment of your life. Your mum. Marilyn Monroe, for the only, sweet. Your mum. Mum. Mum. Mum.

40:35Romesh Ranganathan:Man, I remember, honestly, like, because when you grow up, you think your parents are, like, infallible, right? And my mum used to, like, chase me round, like, when I pissed her off. She'd chase me round the house. She'd try and, like, give me a clip or whatever. And I remember once she was chasing me round. and she tripped on something and fell over and I remember thinking I didn't know they could fall over. Do you know what I mean? And also, it was your fault. Yeah. And I just go, and she tripped over something I'd left on the floor. Oh, fuck. It's even worse. I just thought, part of me was for, I hope she doesn't ever get up.

41:03I've just crumbled now. Yeah. All my persona, I never miss going out the window.

41:06Romesh Ranganathan:I'm going to make up.

41:11Romesh Ranganathan:Jesus Christ. Right, let's hear what she's asking you. Oh, come mum. Hi Ray. Hello my dad. I heard one of your daughters is doing trickling. this year congratulations romey has two left feet i don't think we'll be seeing him on there anytime soon how do you think you'll feel watching your daughter strictly i'm i'm sure she will do beautifully wish you all the best look forward to seeing you one day have a good day bye bye Bye-bye. Ah, I love you, darling. Well, you know what? My daughter's going on strictly come dancing. She gets the dancing from her mother. But, yeah, I'm very proud of Jamie.

41:57It's going to be very hard work, you know, to do it. But get her fit. She'll be as fit as a butcher's dog by the time she's finished. And so, yeah, I'm very proud of her. And thank you for your best wishes, all right? I'm looking after your son at the moment. He needs some looking after, doesn't he?

42:16Romesh Ranganathan:how did you feel when Jamie told you she was doing it I'm a first figure I went you're doing what I said you're not a celebrity you want to be an actress don't you yeah you don't want to be doing all that like going in the jungle and all that business so leave that right out dad it's a different world and it is a different world I mean I'm stuck in I'm a dinosaur you know I'm stuck back there but today it's about as we discussed earlier it's about how many followers you got on Instagram it's you know YouTube and I don't know I don't even know how to press the button half the time you know it's and that's what it is you know kids today when when we were younger we'd go up for a job and you'd sit down and you'd meet the director if he was lucky enough to get in the room you know and it was about the chemistry between you and the director maybe the writer you know and maybe the producer but you got in the room and you talked you conversed with one another you know today they send in the tape yeah I don't know how they cast I don't know how because there's got to be a chemistry between the director you know and the writer and the other actors and you only get that chemistry by meeting and looking in one another's eyes and talking you know it is a different world I'm not so sure it's a better world I'm talking about from the work point of view yeah in our industry so yeah but I'm very I'm very proud of Jamie she's are you going to go and watch well I'll be in Malta thank you good yeah strictly in Malta right we're moving the whole thing right I'll be in Malta work until December right but but you know I've got to support her yeah because what she's doing and I'll I'll fly home one weekend you know um our little Danny Danny Diary's daughters in it young Danny you know so and we go back a long way you know I've known Danny many many years worked with him a couple of times as well so and his little girl was a lovely kid you know she's a good girl so yeah I will do maybe we'll meet up and me and Danny while we watch our two daughters probably you know do their thing and me and Danny can have a fight in the audience which will be kind of nice in Strictly for Good no more Strictly unbelievable yeah Yeah, that was a liberty, that was.

44:39Then your daughter took the liberty there. Imagine our family. Strictly come dancing, finishes. The Dyers and the Winstons blow it up. Yeah, I'd love that. Josh would be gutted.

44:50Romesh Ranganathan:Yeah. Now, you, what's your... Does Josh, does he like... Josh Widdickham's hosting it. No! He is. I have a word. Mate, I tried to. I have a word. Yeah. All right, it's lovely. What do you want me to say, just to... Well, you know what to say. Yeah. I got you mate don't worry about it he's a wing man how important is being at home to you because obviously you've done so much stuff I'm very good to the wife I'm very ready to go home it's everything but your kids grow up my kids in their 40s now 25 the youngest they're all out in the world they're doing their thing and you're left there sitting like that So I like to get out and about a little bit, you know.

45:39You don't like, you're not home body then, would you say? Home is where your family is, you know. Bricks and mortar is something else, you know.

45:50Yeah, I love, I like Essex. I like Essex a lot. I like Sicily. I like the way of life in Sicily. I like getting out of the car and going, relax. Yeah, yeah. you know away from all that mayhem that's what I like you know and it's great when the family's there but that's when the complications come you know when all the family's together that's when it all goes off yeah you know and you know I'm kind of it's like watching Little House on the Prairie you know inside my head you know we all live together lovely isn't it wonderful you know and your little girl running across the field and all that and you're sitting there and you're and that's the beauty that ain't reality you know reality is the none the fisty calves yeah you know have you got girls no Ben's got girls

46:41Romesh Ranganathan:two girls yeah Ben they love one another but they want to kill one another what's the matter with them I saw yesterday Poppy jump kick Emily in the head there and she's only four oh like a proper like honestly like a Kung Fu you bring them up right kid yeah were you proud I was really proud I worked on her technique a little bit afterwards sounds like from that she could probably take you for sure yeah but I always have that if I've been working for a long time and then I think exactly like you just said I'm going to go home I'm going to have dinner with the boys you know and Lisa it's going to be so lovely family time and then within five minutes one of them's going like you're going to you're going to die a virgin you are I can't believe how fucking ugly you are imagine being as ugly as you and I'm just like shut up shut up can we not just have one dinner where you're not ripping the shit out of each other one dinner it's all you are on the phone to my agent get me another fucking job travel show three months yeah it's true isn't it yeah now you turned down a part in The Wire the lead in The Wire I think it was The Wire or the other one I can't remember it was shot in Philadelphia right and you know I'd rather be in Philadelphia whatever it is right and it's at a time and it's I met the guys who were producing it you know it was really lovely really nice guys intelligent good writers as you know you've seen the show, you know.

48:03And it was seven months in the first series to be, I think it was Philadelphia, somewhere like that. And it was seven months next season. And I thought, well, there's options here. I go, don't see me kids and me wife for seven months because they were little, they were grown. Or I bring them to Philadelphia. Mummy, daddy. You're not having that, you're not having that. Well, we're British. Yeah. You know, mum, dad, that's what you want, isn't it? Oi. You don't want mummy, daddy. Oi. Yeah, mummy, daddy. And I just think of the gun culture of America, you know. Kids going to school, you know, checking for guns.

48:48We didn't have that shit then, you know. And it's like, nah. Yeah. You've got to make choices in life, you know. So you don't regret that? No, not one bit. Right. In fact, the show was better for me not being in it. The kids who played it was blinding, you know. No, it's true, you know. You know, that's how it should be. Well done. Yeah. How's your kids, by the way?

49:15Romesh Ranganathan:Yeah. But the thing is, I think that's quite a health... Like, to me, that's a really... It's actually quite an amazing thing. They offered you the show, right? You said no. Yeah. The show goes ahead. It's a success. You watch it and can appreciate it. Absolutely. Mental health-wise, that's a pretty great place for you to be. I'm not an emotional person. Right, right, right. There's nothing going on in there. It's just that, you know. I get it. Just violence and horror. Yeah, everything's on the surface. I understand. Yeah, you've got it. There's no depth to that, man. Manipulation, you know. Manipulate.

49:47Romesh Ranganathan:Yeah. I sometimes pretend I've got more to me. Yeah, I catch you out sometimes. Yeah, you do. Very one-dimensional. Now, you talked about, are you working with Danny Dyer again soon? We've just finished. Oh, okay. We'd done a British movie, really good writer, good directors, you know, looking great. Four and a half weeks he took the shoot. That's the way they go to work, in, bosh, out, right? And it was one of the Leslie Sharp, you know, terrific actress, you know. And knocked that out. And you know when you really enjoy turning up the work? That was one of them moments because there's no time to think about it.

50:26It's just bang, bang, bang, bang, get on with it. you know we ain't got the money to worry about anything you know oh it needs a jacket for this thing Lynch's jacket mate it's that kind of it in the road guerrilla warfare making films how we used to do them years ago now sounding really like you know oh the old days and all that right but you know there's something about going to work where everyone has to mess about getting there no union rules where they go oh I can't move that I can't pick up that can because my unions are doing none of that shit just get on with it make a film you're there because everyone wants to make a film everyone wants to be there and that's the greatest feeling in the world you know and you know you're out in the move tables you know well I don't that often but I mean I'll have a go what I like to do

51:15Romesh Ranganathan:right is to offer and then they say no and then you look like a legend and they think what a nice guy yeah so down to earth you're clever you're smart yeah but if they actually said yeah I'll be joking you're taking the piss get him off the set he's gone he's gone you won't see him again obviously you and Danny are massive West Ham fans yeah how are you feeling about this season it's a very difficult league to get out you know and we ain't clicked yet whether we will or not is another thing you know we got a win the other night which we were I didn't see the game 4-2 wasn't it yeah 4-2 but I didn't see the game because I was busy working sure I was at a culture award not award for a square right I mean, culture, I got, me talking about culture.

52:00You were a culture guy? Yeah, but it's kind of intellectual, isn't it? I'm like, someone asked me. You won an award? Yeah, I think they thought it was another Raymond, you know. No, it wasn't an award, it was just a chat with an audience. Oh, a culture chat. Yeah, it was really weird because we were talking about, you know, where you come from and where you brought up from and how you got from there to where you are now, which is, oh, yeah, okay, fine. So I'm sitting here and I said, you know, I used to go to work with my dad. I was a barret boy in Spitfields Market. I worked in the fruit market with my dad from an early age.

52:35On a Saturday, I'd be 10, 11 years of age going to market with my dad on a Saturday, you know, when I went to school. And one morning I didn't get up. The alarm or something didn't go off. I was supposed to be up at 2 o 'clock in the morning, you know. And he just didn't wake me up. He just went downstairs, got a bucket of water and threw it over me. And that woke me up. I never was late again, right? And the audience, a couple of people. I went, what? A woman went, would you do that to your daughters? I went, yeah. Fucking right I would. Yeah. Yeah. I said, it didn't do me any harm. You know, that old thing.

53:17It didn't do me any harm. I said, I love my dad. You know, my dad, that was the foundations of everything I learned about your responsibility of getting up and going to work, being early and doing your stuff. That's what it taught me.

53:30Romesh Ranganathan:When you said that and they react like that, do you worry about stuff like that? No, because I think something had to happen. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, but it's gone right over there. Right. You know? And you believe it's an overcorrection. Yeah, but I think it needs to be. Right. Because once it goes over there, it'll settle itself down and come back and it'll settle. and I notice it on film sets that it's better already. Right. Because the people that are coming in who have to go in to do this HR, is it called an HR kind of thing, right? The people that come in and get that, it changes them because they're the new lot, right?

54:07And the respect that's shown on set now and the way the women who work on sets feel much more relaxed. It's much more respect going on and there's much more, I don't know, people just feel more at ease. It's got rid of all the shit, you know? So I think it's a really good thing. Yeah, yeah. It's just gone a little bit crazy. Got you. If you don't go past the line, you can't come back to the right place, can you?

54:34Romesh Ranganathan:It's a great way of looking at it. Do you like that? Can I tell you something? What? That's a great answer. I would start using that. Have you used that before? Yeah, I've registered it, by the way. So every time you use it, I'll get a few quid. It's fine. Okay, all right, fine. I can't say it then Right we're going to play I know you love games Ray Fucking games You were saying beforehand You love a game Oh god What do you say I fucking hate Having to do games Is what you said Yeah I love you

55:04Romesh Ranganathan:It's misquoted This game's very easy I'm going to say some things Well is it easy Because you think I'm stupid Yeah No no no It's easy It's easy It's a fair answer No it's It's easy because we're not going to be... It's just a verbal game. I'm going to give you some quotes. You tell me if you think you said them or not. That's all it is. Oh, all right, yeah. And some of them we might have changed what you said a little bit. Oh, careful. Okay. Here's your first one. Did you say this or not? Yeah. North London is a foreign country. They do things differently there. I didn't say that, but I think that.

55:42Romesh Ranganathan:Right. You did say it. I did. I did.

55:50Romesh Ranganathan:I was probably pissed you said it to the Times it was about in your defence oh yeah but you chilled the Times anything didn't you I mean I told a geezer once I was actually born he was saying about you being a cockney yeah he's a London boy and I went excuse me I was actually born in Glasgow right he went what so I was born in Glasgow raised in Australia and I'm very good at accents so I picked up the London Exxon when I came back. It was printed in the paper. Because you get bored, you know what I mean? Just say anything, you know. Do you still feel like that about North London? North London?

56:26Yeah.

56:30Romesh Ranganathan:Okay, here's your next one. So you got that one wrong. Where do you live? North London? No, I don't. I live in Crawley. Where? Crawley. Do you live in Crawley? Why are you laughing? Near Gatwick. Yeah. So you can get away quickly. who would live in fucking near Gatwick who in their right is that come under Surrey it's on the border it's a cheap version of Surrey yeah you ain't quite made it yet enough to get the big house down the road have you alright fucking hell what a takedown genuinely basically in 20 seconds you make me think I need to speak to my therapist you need to talk to your agent okay here's your next one yep I've done some crap I regret some, but you have to go to work and pay the bills.

57:16Romesh Ranganathan:Yeah, I said that. Yeah, you did. You sent it to the iPaper. Yeah. So have you accepted jobs in the past that you thought, this is not great, but I need to pay the bills? You need to pay the bills, yeah. Yeah. I don't know what you think about this, but I think... We're working boys. Yeah. Well, this is the thing, right? So sometimes, I remember when I first went to Edinburgh, they would go some of the shows here are people expressing themselves creatively and they might not be commercially but this is what they're doing and then they'd go and other comedians are just trying to sell tickets and I just think it's such an elitist thing where some people think I have to pay my bills doing comedy it doesn't change what I'm doing but the idea that you're trying to make ends meet through doing your thing.

58:06Romesh Ranganathan:Like that for some reason is a horrible thing to do. It's so mad, isn't it? Yeah, we're crafters. Yeah. And we ain't always at work. Yeah. You know, sometimes we don't get work. Yeah. I mean, listen, I've worked my arse off. Yeah, Jack's man still wants his bit. Yeah, I've worked my arse off and I still am in a fucking flight path. You know what I mean? Okay, here's your next one. I'm an education, you know. Yeah, you really are. Yeah, genuinely. We'll have a rabbit after about it. Yeah, all right. Here's your next one. Never good enough to be a pro, never dedicated enough either, but I had 99 fights and I won 90.

58:40Romesh Ranganathan:One thing's wrong with that. Okay. I did say that, but it's 88 fights and I won 80. That is absolutely bang on. Come on, mate. Well, I did say it. No, fair enough. No, fair enough. No, that's true, yeah. Well done for remembering something you said, right?

59:03Okay.

59:05Romesh Ranganathan:Okay, so the applause is patronising. Yeah, it was patronising. Yeah, sorry about that. Outrageous. All right, here's your next one. You're doing really well at this, by the way. Oh, okay. That sounded a bit patronising. Oh, yeah. I'm a big Bollywood fan. I think it'd be great if British film and Bollywood got together. We might give the Yanks a run for their money. Yes, I said that. So you were a Bollywood fan? Because I had an idea years ago about getting an Indian story and a British story because Bollywood's massive. Yeah. You know, and the culture in our country now is lots of Indian, you know, everything.

59:36We even eat the food, you know, for fuck's sake. I love a ruby. I miss a ruby when I'm away too long. Right, so, and to put that together with maybe British actors, Indian actors in an Indian fairy story or even a British fairy story would have been massive. Yeah, it would be.

59:53Romesh Ranganathan:You know, I don't know whether anyone's ever tried to do it. No, it's if you knew any Asian guys that did that. Well, you could be in that, couldn't you? There we go. Hello. dancing giving it large yeah absolutely you know threatening people yeah okay here's your this is your last quote oh I'm so enjoying it yeah alright cheers mate alright John Malkovich and me don't fuck around did you say that yeah I probably would yeah I like John I know he's a good man well it's not quite what you said oh right okay what you said is I didn't say I fucked him did I no no you didn't say you fucked him John Malkovich is a good kisser.

1:00:32Romesh Ranganathan:I spent the best part of a day kissing him on the set of Ripley's Game. It wasn't a patch on the day I spent smooching with Angelina Jolie for Beowulf Mind. As work days go, that was one of the best. Fuck off.

1:00:47It's hilarious. I like that, yeah. Did I say that?

1:00:51Romesh Ranganathan:Yeah, you did. I did not say that. Yeah, it goes on to say I used tongues. I went for the reach around, but he wasn't having it. No, I did that. Did I stretch one on you? You had to get me back.

1:01:06Romesh Ranganathan:That was great. That's the game over. You'd be happy to say. Is that it? That's the end of the game. And it's almost the end of the podcast, right? Yeah, it is. I know you're gutted for the interview to come to a close. No, I don't want to go. I'm going to cancel a motor trip. No, Ray, it's been an absolute honour to chat to you. We like to end the podcast on a bit of a big moment. Right. So what I'd love is some sort of exclusive, either a dream, something you've never said publicly, or the best advice you've been given. Any of those would be great. Well, the best advice was don't go on that show.

1:01:40Right? But I had a reincurring dream when I was a kid. Great. Right? And this is deep. Okay. Right? It's not a funny one. Can we go black and white? Go black and white on this, right? And the dream was, and I must have been five to six years of age, And I don't know where it come from because I'm terrified of lions. Right. Well, I walk into a zoo, a lion goes crazy. You don't smell your fear, you know? Anyway, so I'm having this dream and I'm standing there in Africa, right? And there's the trees and all that, and the Serengeti and all that. And there's lions eating a family. They're eating them.

1:02:24and biting into them and lumps of flesh out. And I know in my head when I'm watching it that it's my family. They're eating, right? Fucking blinding, yeah? Shit yourself, right? I had this dream probably eight, nine, ten times that I remember, right? Cut, right? later in life. I'm working in Africa. I'm in Cape Town, right? Do you want to go out on safari? No. No, I fucking don't. Right? I really don't. The last thing on my mind to do is I want to go on safari. And if you mention it again, me and you are going to have a problem. We ain't going on safari. Right? Right, so you don't want to go on safari.

1:03:15I don't want to fucking go on safari, right? Finito. my Jamie hello babe how you doing yeah are you enjoying the job yeah it's all fine I said what are you up to she said I'm going on safari you ain't going on safari why why just don't go on safari don't want you messing about and fucking with animals and fucking all that and things we don't know about don't go on safari alright dad alright ok about a week later hello babe where you been I've been on safari Shit myself. I actually shit myself. And it worried me, one dream, for the rest of my life, worried me. My kids or anything go anywhere near a fucking line.

1:04:05Yeah. I'm terrified. So would you still never now go on a safari, ever? No, ever. Fuck that, no. All right. It's something in your head telling you don't do it. Normally, don't fucking do it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I mean, that's it. Yeah, I get it. You know, because it's too late when you're laying there. You're saying dreams are all bollocks anyway. You're laying there and there's a lion eating your stomach out while you're looking at him. Get ripping open your stomach. I thought this might happen. I wish I'd have listened to my dream. Really? Do you really want that? Yeah, yeah.

1:04:38Romesh Ranganathan:Ray, you're an absolute legend. We're so grateful to you for coming to talk to us. Bless you. It's been an amazing chat. Please give it up for Ray Winston. Thank you. Thank you, guys. Thank you. Unbelievable. You're blind. I love you to death, Keith. Oh, thanks, Robert. Honestly, it's such an honour. Thank you. You're a brother. Thank you so much for watching and listening to this episode. Before you go, if you've enjoyed this episode and you've not subscribed, that's a bold decision. Crazy behaviour. Follow and subscribe to The Romish Ranganathan Show wherever you listen. It helps me. Really, like, really helps me.

1:05:11Romesh Ranganathan:It helps the team. And it costs you absolutely nothing. We drop episodes every Monday and Thursday. Mondays, I'm joined by great guests. Thursday when mum Shanti joins me to answer your questions and family dilemmas. I'll see you Thursday with mum who, let's face it, is who you're actually here for. If you've got a problem you want to solve or a story you want to share, send it to podcast at rhangabi.com, voice not or text us on 07731 623 355. We can't promise good advice, but you might end up on the show. See you soon. Oh, shut up, Romesh. This episode is brought to you by ChatGPT. Hey, it's Bill Simmons from the Bill Simmons Podcast.

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1:06:16Romesh Ranganathan:Espolon Tequila Balanced, delicious 100 % agave, 0 % ego Just add ice, lime, and your mouth For a real margarita Ride the rooster Espolon Tequila, 40 % alcohol by volume, 80 proof Copyright 2026, Compel America, New York, New York Drink responsibly