'I've played a lot of sneery bastards': Roger Allam on bad singing, big paydays and Elgar's level of 'gitacity'

Roger Allam's career has spanned decades, with notable roles in Les Misérables, The Thick of It, Cabin Pressure, Tamara Drewe, and Endeavour. Born with a baritone voice, Allam initially toyed with classical singing before focusing on acting. He attributes his distinctive persona to his experience playing characters who often embody the suave but beleaguered middle-class sex symbol.

The Thick of It remains one of his most cherished projects, with Allam praising John Finnemore's scripts as "glorious." The show's appeal lies in its portrayal of politics as making announcements rather than substance. Although he's performed in numerous voice roles, including CBeebies' Sarah and Duck, Allam feels uncomfortable being himself on television.

In contrast, Endeavour, where Allam played DI Fred Thursday, resonated with him due to the character's working-class background, which aligns with his own family history. He found this role more relatable than playing the typically middle-class characters that have made a name for him.

Allam recently appeared in The Choral, a film that explores the lives of everyday people who coalesce to create beauty amid hardship. This theme resonated with Allam, who has long been drawn to stories about community and art. He now considers joining a choir or taking singing lessons to explore his own voice.

On set for The Choral, Roger Allam was not too thrilled when he had to sing in Elgar's "Gerontius," admitting that it "was terribly difficult" due to his low baritone voice. However, the experience was exhilarating once he began performing with the choral society.
 
🤔 I think its awesome how Roger Allam is trying new things now that hes retired from acting. He's always been a talented actor, but singing in choirs and taking lessons shows he's willing to push himself outside his comfort zone. The way he talks about feeling uncomfortable being himself on TV is so relatable. I mean who hasn't felt like they don't fit into one role or box? It sounds like The Thick of It was a big part of his career, but Endeavour really stood out to him because it was more authentic, you know? And thats what art is all about - exploring those real connections with the characters and stories. 🎵
 
I'm reading about Roger Allam's career and I gotta say, I love how he's finally finding a connection with stories that don't make him feel like himself on screen 🤗. Playing DI Fred Thursday in Endeavour was a highlight for him, you know? It's nice to see actors who are drawn to roles that reflect their own experiences or backgrounds. And now, he's thinking of joining a choir... I think that's amazing! Singing is all about embracing your voice and finding your own rhythm 🎵. Who knows, maybe he'll discover a new passion or talent 🤞.
 
🤩 just saw an interview with Roger Allam and I'm loving how humble he is about his career! 😊 He's been in so many iconic shows like Les Misérables and The Thick of It, but what really stands out to me is that he's always drawn to roles that explore community and art. 🎨 I think it's awesome that he's considering joining a choir or taking singing lessons - who knows, maybe we'll see him on stage soon! 🎤 I'm also curious about his experience playing DI Fred Thursday in Endeavour, he seems like an everyman kind of guy #TheThickOfItForever #RogerAllam #CommunityFirst #SingingIsInHisBlood
 
I'm telling you, it's all about finding your niche and staying true to yourself. I mean, Roger Allam had a great career spanning decades, but only recently has he found something that really speaks to him – singing! He went from being a classical singer to focusing on acting, but now he's thinking of exploring his own voice with choir or even taking singing lessons 😊.

It's awesome that he's embracing his passion and trying out new things. I'm not surprised he felt uncomfortable playing himself on TV, though – it can be tough to see yourself portrayed by someone else. But hey, it sounds like he found something that resonates with him in The Choral, which is all about community and art.

I do think it's cool that he drew inspiration from the working-class character in Endeavour, btw 🤝. It shows that he's not afraid to explore different roles and find his own voice (no pun intended). Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to practice my singing – or at least try to! 😅
 
Roger Allam is so underrated 💯! I mean, have you seen him in The Thick of It? Genius 🤣. He's got this charm that just draws you in. And I love how he's finally exploring his own voice – singing lessons or joining a choir would be amazing for him 🎵👏. His roles as middle-class characters might have worked out well for him career-wise, but it's clear he's more than just one type of actor 🤔. The way he talks about playing working-class DI Fred Thursday in Endeavour really resonated with me – it's great to see actors taking on roles that reflect their own experiences and backgrounds 💕.
 
🤔 I love how Roger Allam is evolving as an artist 🎬. He's been in so many iconic roles over the years, but it's great that he's now drawn to more meaningful projects like The Choral 🌟. It's awesome that he's got a new appreciation for singing and wants to explore his own voice - who knows, maybe we'll see him join a choir someday? 😊 His experience in playing relatable characters is also really inspiring, especially with Endeavour being so grounded in reality 💡. And can you blame him for feeling awkward about himself on TV? I think we've all been there at some point 📺. Allam's willingness to step out of his comfort zone and try something new is super admirable, and I'm excited to see what he does next! 👏
 
Roger Allam seems like a talented guy who's been around for ages. I love how he stuck to acting after trying his hand at classical singing - it's not everyone's cup of tea, you know? 🎶 His roles in The Thick of It and Endeavour are some of the best stuff out there, and I can see why he'd want to revisit that vibe with The Choral. But what really gets me is how much music means to him now - like, who knew Roger Allam was a closet choir enthusiast? 😂 I mean, joining one or taking singing lessons isn't a bad idea either... he's always been good at playing characters who are kinda awkwardly charming, maybe it's time for him to be himself on screen too 🤔
 
🤔 I think its time for Roger Allam to explore more dramatic roles, maybe something that showcases his acting chops without being typecast as a smooth-talking middle-class guy all the time 📺. He's shown his range in shows like Endeavour and The Choral, which highlighted his ability to connect with characters from different backgrounds 👍. Now he's thinking of joining a choir or taking singing lessons - who knows, maybe he'll find a new passion outside of acting? 🎶
 
Just watched an interview with Roger Allam and I'm totally inspired by his journey 🎬! I mean, who wouldn't want to play a suave but beleaguered middle-class sex symbol? 😎 But seriously, it's so cool that he's been drawn to stories about community and art, especially after playing DI Fred Thursday in Endeavour - it really resonated with him because of his own family history. 🤝 And can we talk about how fabulous The Thick of It is? John Finnemore's scripts are the best! 💥 I think it's awesome that he wants to explore his own voice now, maybe joining a choir or taking singing lessons... who knows, maybe we'll see him belt out some Elgar in no time 😊
 
🎭 The longevity of Roger Allam's career is truly fascinating, spanning over three decades and encompassing a diverse range of roles in both television and film. His affinity for characters that exude suave yet beleaguered middle-class personas is quite understandable, given his background in playing such characters.

What I find particularly intriguing about The Thick of It is the way it critiques the often superficial nature of politics, highlighting the dichotomy between announcements and substance. As an actor who has explored a wide range of roles, Allam's comfort level with certain types of characters is interesting to note – it's clear that he resonates more with working-class narratives.

The fact that he's now considering exploring his own voice through singing is a great move! 🎶 Who knows, maybe we'll see him trade in his acting gigs for a spot in the choir. The experience of performing in Elgar's "Gerontius" must have been a humbling one, given Allam's low baritone voice. Nonetheless, it's wonderful to see an actor taking risks and pushing himself outside of his comfort zone.
 
You know I've always said that life is full of unexpected twists and turns 🤯. Roger Allam's career is a perfect example – from classical singing to acting and now considering joining a choir... who would've thought? 😂 What I find really interesting is how he's drawn to roles that show people coming together, like Endeavour and The Choral. It just goes to show that our experiences shape us, and we often find what resonates with us in the stories we tell 🎥.
 
Just heard about Roger Allam trying out singing after doing a film about community & art 🎶👍 I gotta say, I'm impressed! He's got that deep voice thing going on, but it's all about owning it, right? 😊 Had to look up what Elgar's "Gerontius" is - sounds like some serious classical stuff 🤯. Anyway, hope he finds his own groove & maybe even joins a choir... who knows, maybe we'll see him in a musical soon! 😉
 
I think its really interesting how Roger Allam has found a new appreciation for singing now that hes played so many distinctive roles throughout his career 🎶👏. His experiences playing suave characters have likely shaped his perception of music, and it's awesome to see him exploring this side of himself in The Choral. Its also lovely that he's drawn to stories about community and art, as these themes often resonate with people on a deep level. Who knows, maybe we'll see Roger Allam singing at an Oxford choir event soon? 😉
 
Roger Allam's career is pretty cool 🎬. He's been doing this acting thing for decades and has had some awesome roles in shows like Les Misérables and The Thick of It. I think what's interesting about him is how his characters are often these suave middle-class guys, but he's actually said that playing those kinds of roles makes him uncomfortable 🤔. He's more drawn to stories about community and art, which is why this film about everyday people coming together resonated with him so much ❤️. I can see why he'd want to explore his own voice now - maybe joining a choir or taking singing lessons? 🎶
 
Ugh, I dont get why he only recently thinks of joining a choir 🤔... like, what took him so long? He's been acting for decades and suddenly he's all about exploring his own voice 🎶... sounds like just another case of middle-aged crisis to me 😒. And can you blame him if singing in front of people still gives him the heebie-jeebies? I mean, I can understand not wanting to be on tv, but this is a choir, it's supposed to be all about community and stuff... doesn't sound like the most ideal setting for someone who feels uncomfortable being themselves 🤷‍♂️.
 
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