Only Fools and Horses star Daniel Peacock has taken his career in a different direction as he is now working at a care home in London.
The 64-year-old, who portrayed Mental Mickey in the BBC sitcom, has said that working in the community is more inspiring than anything he’s ever done - despite creating TV series and starring in legendary movies including Quadrophenia and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, writes My London.
Three years ago, Daniel embarked on his new career in a 'real job' with the lifestyles team at Hastings Court Care Home. He took up his new career path when his father, Trevor Peacock, who played Jim Trott in The Vicar of Dibley, was in a separate residential home amid a dementia and Alzheimer's battle. Dan was inspired to help others.
After finishing writing the second series of his UK TV comedy ‘Marley’s Ghosts’, Daniel found himself at a loss and decided to apply for a job completely different to his established career.
He said: "I bought a caravan in Kent as I thought I really wanted to get some solitude and I’ve always loved holiday parks. So there I am in my caravan writing every now and then, enjoying no pressure and stress. I started watching TV programmes I’ve never watched before in my life, not the greatest, but they were on TV. Then my son Charlie said 'Dad you’re watching way too much television' and suggested I get a job.
"At that time, I thought 'I don’t even know how to do anything else', he found me a job at Hastings Court." Although Dan is still working on projects in the TV industry, he has committed himself to enhancing the lives of the residents at the care home where he arranges activities. Together with the lifestyles team, he keeps residents entertained and engaged, and he goes the extra mile to ensure their families are also included.
Dan's father passed away in March 2021 after spending three years in a care home and despite finding himself in a sad situation, the experience sparked a new passion for helping others worlds away from the small screen.
He explained: “Because my dad had been in a residential home, tragically, with the most awful disease Alzheimers, it was the first time I came face to face with this terrible condition and I wasn’t overly impressed with the care home. So when I got here at Hastings Court, it was like a very impressive hotel.
“I started to inject some entertainment and conversation between the residents and bringing them all together. A lot of the residents have lived history, during and at the end of the war so you bond with people here. My dad died of that horrible disease but working here has made me a better person."
Daniel has been recognised in his new career and has been nominated for a National Care Award 2022 for his work at the care home and says if he wins, it will be his proudest moment.
He adds: “I try to inject fun and love into every day, it doesn’t become exhausting, I find myself very lucky to be here. This is my first job, ever in my life. I was 61 years old when I got here. I’m passionate about making the residents' lives as fun and fulfilling as I possibly can.
“When I went to visit my dad in Yeovil, I spoke to my family members and family members of others who were in there, and although we weren’t ostracised we weren’t always as catered for. So here we started a thing called the memory cafe, a support group for family members every couple of weeks where it's a safe place for individuals to come.
"Sometimes people break down and cry, which they haven’t been able to do as they suppress it. We get lovely responses from family members, their handing over their loved ones to strangers. So it is important that the love they feel for their family members continue here at Hastings Court.
“I love my relationships and bonding with the residents. I’m taking a lady, Joan, for lunch tomorrow with my family, my treat, as her family has been on holiday. To be honest I can afford it and I don’t want to see Joanie upset.”
Dan was just 15 years old with no qualifications when he left school as he couldn't spell very well, but being inspired by his father, Dan knew he could make something of himself in the acting industry.
"I remember thinking my life would be nothing as I couldn’t communicate with people", he explains. "But I wasn’t worried because I always assumed after watching my dad do lots of musicals I would follow in his footsteps.
"I remember him writing the songs in our house then going to the West End and hearing them and thinking 'I remember that that song, look at all these people listening', that had influence over me."
Daniel appeared alongside his father Trevor in his own series called Mud and Trainer. But it was Dan's own experience with his dad's care home that made him to start his new career.
“This is fundamentally why I wasn’t put out when Charlie said to get a job," Dan says. "In a care home I’ve learned families need to be supported, whatever the challenges the resident may have.
"Without a shadow of a doubt, I wouldn’t have been here without my dad's situation in later life, I’ve learned a huge amount. Now that is the most rewarding time of my life, I wake up every morning happy I’m going to work."
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