A French comedy set in a military nursing home has brought together three veterans of stage and screen. PAUL REVEL talks to Art Malik, Christopher Timothy and Michael Jayston.

HEROES, which opens next week at the Churchill Theatre, looks at three First World War veterans who pass their days bickering, bantering and planning their escape. The one-act play, set in 1959, has been adapted by top British playwright Tom Stoppard from the original by Gerald Sibleyras.

"It just works, I don't know why," says Art Malik, star of everything from James Bond to Holby City. "It's the language. Tom Stoppard's writing is extraordinary, there's never one syllable which feels out of place."

Art is about to appear on the big screen again in Nina's Heavenly Delights, which opens next week.

"It's a great film, a lesbian love story set in the Asian Diaspora of Glasgow.

"For me it was great fun to do and I had to manage a Glaswegian accent."

Art, now 53, recalls the excitement of getting a role in a James Bond film, The Living Daylights, nearly 20 years ago.

"The Bond films are such a big institution, I suppose bit like the National or the RSC. You come along as someone new, thinking I just hope I don't screw it up'.

He also starred in the Arnold Schwarzenegger action film True Lies he but says there is no comparison with doing live theatre.

"You know straight away how it's going. If you look down and half the audience is snoring you know you've got it wrong," he laughs.

When Art graduated from drama school in the 1970s, was it a difficult time for an Asian actor?

"It was difficult but incredibly exciting," he reflects. "Because non-traditional casting had just come in, no more blacking-up. Producers were saying We've got these British actors, why can't we use them?'"

He mentions old friend and fellow Holby City star, Ghanaian actor Hugh Quarshie, who played Captain Panaka in Star Wars I, The Phantom Menace.

"Hugh and I talked 20 years ago how we'd love to be on prime time TV and we both said: Yeah, right'. And here we are."

Michael Jayston has been appearing on our TV screens since the early 1960s. The 70-year-old refuses another cup of tea.

"It's not my favourite drink," he chuckles.

When not appearing in everything from Eastenders to The Royal, cricket is his passion.

"I play for Rottingdean, outside Brighton. I've played about 20 games this season. Last year I managed to play nearly 40 games." He grins. "It depends whether you're working or not."

Michael is enjoying the rehearsals of Heroes.

"It's got zaniness to it, a lot of funny lines which come out of the humanity of the characters," he says.

"I knew Tom Stoppard when he was at the Western Daily Press before he wrote Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

"He was a journalist covering weddings and funerals but he'd try out different styles, such as Trollope. The editors would say What the hell are you doing?' Despite starring in many shows including Outside Edge and A Bit Of A Do, Michael is often remembered for his brief appearance in Only Fools and Horses.

"I only did eight days on it and people still come up to me in pubs and say I know your face, you're Del Boy's father-in-law.'"

However, avid Dr Who fans certainly remember Michael, who played Valeyard, Colin Baker's evil alter-ego.

"I still get a couple of letters a week about Valeyard, even though it was 20 years ago. A chap recently said he's written to the BBC about getting me back in it."

People of all ages will recognise Christopher Timothy, whether as Dr McGuire in daytime drama Doctors or as Britain's most famous vet, James Herriot, in the series which ran throughout the 1980s.

Christopher describes the Heroes script as "smashing" and is a long-time Stoppard fan. He was in the original cast of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead when it opened in 1967.

Despite his prolific TV career he retains a love of theatre.

He says a highlight was playing Jesus in the York Mystery Plays in 1980.

"I'm not religious but it's one of the greatest stories ever told. It had a cast of 300 amateurs and the commitment was fantastic.

"Not many actors can claim to have been baptised by St Peter."

As the star of All Creatures Great And Small, does he agree with the old showbusiness saying, never work with children or animals?

"I've never worked with an animal or child with whom I wouldn't work again but I could give you a list of grown-ups," he replies.

However, his animal co-stars certainly made for some memorable moments.

"I was doing a scene with Carol Drinkwater. We were talking while doing something to a cow's hoof.

"It was supposed to be a tender, touching moment.

"During the scene I noticed a strange look appear in her eyes but I just carried on to the end.

"The cow had pissed and filled her welly boots, right up to the brim."

Heroes, August 31 to September 9. Churchill Theatre, Bromley, box office 0870 060 6620 or visit churchilltheatre.co.uk