Left Sherborne School at age 16, then enrolled in night school to finish his O-levels
Worked as a hospital orderly for several years after leaving school
Took up acting while studying for his A-levels at Brooklands Technical College because he was in need of a third subject and, as importantly, the girl-boy ratio in the class was 3 to 1
His first acting job was as Alan Strang in a touring production of Equus
Acted with the Royal Shakespeare Company for several years after leaving drama school