In the latest episode of On the Marie Curie Couch, bereavement expert Jason Davidson meets Larry Lamb.
British actor and presenter Larry took up amateur dramatics while working in the oil industry in Nova Scotia, Canada. When he returned to the UK, he decided to take acting more seriously – and, in 1981, landed a role opposite Kate O'Mara in Triangle. He's since starred as the cold-hearted Archie Mitchell in EastEnders, Mick in Gavin & Stacey, and Ted in New Tricks. In this episode of On the Marie Curie Couch, Larry opens up to Jason about the death of his brother Wesley at the Marie Curie Hospice, Newcastle.
A brotherly bond
"I went and camped out in the [hospice] room with him and spent the last week of his life there. One of the most important things I've ever done was confronting that and sitting there and taking care of him. Just holding his hand and talking to him whether he was asleep or whether he was awake, because he couldn't speak anymore with what he had, he'd lost all of that, so we became, kind of, like two little brothers again."
Putting things right
"At one point, I was leaning over him and he looked up at me and he just puckered his lips up and he pointed at them, just pointed at his lips. I said, 'You want me to give you a kiss?' And he nodded, just like a little boy. So, I gave him a kiss and stroked his funny old head, and it was like that was it."
Listen now
Tap the link near the top of this page to listen to Larry's chat with Jason. Alternatively, listen to or download it via Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you'd prefer, you can read a full transcript of the episode.
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Content note: discussion of death and grief with reference to themes/topics that might be triggering or upsetting.
