RICKY TOMLINSON OPENS UP ABOUT PRISON, REDEMPTION, AND HIS BIG BREAK IN THE ROYLE FAMILY ON THE LATE LATE SHOW
Dublin, Ireland — Beloved British actor Ricky Tomlinson sat down for a heartfelt and revealing interview on RTÉ’s The Late Late Show, reflecting on his extraordinary life — from years behind bars to becoming one of the most recognizable faces on British television through his role in The Royle Family.
Now in his eighties, Tomlinson spoke candidly about his time in prison during the 1970s after being convicted for his role in the so-called “Shrewsbury Picket” case, which stemmed from union protests in 1972. The actor, who served two years in jail, has always maintained his innocence, calling the conviction a miscarriage of justice.
“It was the hardest time of my life,” he told host Patrick Kielty, his voice filled with emotion. “But it also made me who I am. You learn a lot about yourself when the world turns its back on you.”
Tomlinson revealed that prison gave him time to reflect and discover his true voice — one that would later resonate through his acting. “When you’ve been to the bottom, you stop pretending,” he said. “You start living honest — and that honesty is what makes a character real.”
Years later, that authenticity would become his calling card when he landed his career-defining role as Jim Royle in The Royle Family, the BAFTA-winning sitcom that changed British television with its raw, humorous, and relatable portrayal of working-class life.
Tomlinson recalled the moment he got the part:
“I’d done a bit of acting before, but when I read the script, I knew this was special. It wasn’t glamorous, it wasn’t fancy — it was real. Jim Royle was every dad, every bloke who loved his telly and his family.”
He laughed as he remembered how viewers quickly fell in love with the show’s simplicity. “All we did was sit on the couch and talk — but that’s what families do! People saw themselves in that living room.”
Reflecting on his co-stars — including Caroline Aherne, who co-created the series — Tomlinson’s tone softened. “Caroline was a genius,” he said. “She saw beauty in the ordinary. We miss her terribly, but her work lives on every time someone laughs at one of those old episodes.”
Tomlinson also touched on his lifelong commitment to social justice, describing how his experiences continue to inspire his activism and his empathy for working people. “I’ve been poor, I’ve been locked up, I’ve been famous — but the only thing that ever mattered to me is fairness. Everyone deserves a fair shot in life.”
As the interview drew to a close, Tomlinson was met with a standing ovation — a moment that visibly moved him. With a humble smile, he said:
“If you’d told that lad sitting in a cell that one day he’d be sitting here talking about his life on TV, he wouldn’t have believed you. But life’s funny — sometimes the darkest roads lead you to the brightest places.”
For viewers, it was a reminder that Ricky Tomlinson isn’t just a comedy icon — he’s a living story of resilience, redemption, and the enduring power of laughter.