Editing Richard Wilson (Scottish actor) (section)

== Career ==
Wilson worked in a laboratory at [[Stobhill Hospital]] in Glasgow as a research assistant<ref name="bbcfaces">{{cite web|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/faces/richard_wilson.shtml |title=Richard Wilson&nbsp;– Drama Faces |publisher=BBC |access-date=28 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216141832/http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/faces/richard_wilson.shtml |archive-date=16 December 2008 }}</ref> before switching to acting, aged 27.<!-- This gives the impression he was a lab assistant until the age of 27 at Stobhill. After national service, aged 21/22, he moved to London..see BBC Desert Island Discs summary. -->. He trained at [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]] (RADA) in London, graduating in 1965 with an Acting (RADA Diploma).<ref name="rada">{{cite web |url= https://www.rada.ac.uk/profiles/richard-wilson/ |title=RADA Student & graduate profiles: Richard Wilson |work= rada.ac.uk |access-date=16 May 2020}}</ref> He then appeared in repertory theatres in [[Edinburgh]] ([[Traverse Theatre]]), [[Glasgow]] and [[Manchester]] (Stables Theatre).<ref name="theatre">{{cite web |url= https://theatricalia.com/person/a7t/richard-wilson |title= Richard Wilson - Past Performances |work= theatricalia.com |access-date=29 October 2023}}</ref>

Wilson initially turned down the role of [[Victor Meldrew]] and it was almost offered to [[Les Dawson]] before Wilson changed his mind.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jul/26/victor-meldrew-role-les-dawson-one-foot-grave-in-grave-richard-wilson |title=I don't believe it! Victor Meldrew role almost went to Les Dawson |first=Richard |last=Plunkett |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=26 July 2016 |access-date=13 August 2016}}</ref> Wilson has stated that he came to hate Meldrew's catchphrase of "I don't believe it!" to the point where he now refuses to say it except for charity.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wise |first=Louis |date=2021-08-18 |title=Richard Wilson on Victor Meldrew, THAT catchphrase and coming out in his 70s: 'I just wasn't very gay' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/what-to-listen-to/richard-wilson-victor-meldrew-catchphrase-coming-70s-just-wasnt/ |access-date=2024-10-25 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref>

Wilson was appointed an [[OBE]] in the [[1994 Birthday Honours]]<ref>United Kingdom list: {{London Gazette |date=10 June 1994 |supp=y |issue=53696 |pages=1–30 }}</ref> for services to Drama. In April 1996, he was elected [[Rector of the University of Glasgow]] for a term of three years.<ref name="bbcfaces" />

The narration of "[[The Man Who Called Himself Jesus]]", from Strawbs' 1969 [[Strawbs (album)|eponymous first album]], was performed by Wilson.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.strawbsweb.co.uk/45s/jesus/jesus.asp |title=Strawbs website |publisher=Strawbsweb.co.uk |date=22 November 1968 |access-date=7 August 2011}}</ref>

Wilson's biography, ''One Foot on the Stage: The Biography of Richard Wilson'', was written by [[James Roose-Evans]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vialibri.net/cgi-bin/wants_search.php?refer=start&authword=roose-evans&yearmin=&pricemin=&titleword=foot+stage&pub=&yearmax=&pricemax=&keyword=&curr=EUR&sort=yr&order=asc&fed=&sgd=&dj=&submitted=TRUE&act=search&hi_lo=hi&z=8268 |title=One Foot on the Stage on Vialibri |publisher=Vialibri.net |access-date=7 August 2011}}{{dead link|date=May 2015}}</ref>

In March 2011, Wilson presented an edition of the [[Channel 4]] current affairs programme ''[[Dispatches (TV programme)|Dispatches]]'' entitled ''Train Journeys From Hell'', with transport journalist [[Christian Wolmar]] highlighting the failings of the [[Rail transport in Great Britain|British railway network]].<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/episode-guide/series-85/episode-1|title= Train Journeys From Hell|work=Dispatches|publisher=Channel 4|date= 21 March 2011|access-date=21 March 2011}}</ref>