After being a firm fixture on British TV for 25 years Neil Morrissey has announced he's leaving showbiz to concentrate on managing a pub.
The former Men Behaving Badly star has filmed his final scenes as deputy head Eddie Lawson in school drama Waterloo Road and now intends to put his energies into his latest project, a 17th-century Yorkshire watering hole called Ye Olde Punch Bowl Inn, which he part owns.
"Acting has been good to me, but a lot of what I do now is nothing more than factory television," the 46-year-old tells the Daily Mirror. "I find running a pub far more challenging, much more creative."
Neil, who has a 20-year-old son from his marriage to actress Amanda Noar, won't be turning his back on his former craft altogether, though. This summer he'll be treading the boards in a theatre version of Tom Cruise flick Rain Man. He'll also be relying on his lucrative deal as the voice of Bob The Builder while he tries his hand at being a landlord and brewer.
The TV star has developed his own beer with pal and co-owner Richard Fox. Morrisey Fox Blonde Aleat is on the menu at the pub in Marton cum Grafton, North Yorkshire.
Photo: Rex
