Philip Glenister says his ‘Belgravia’ character is based on ‘Only Fools and Horses’ wheeler dealer Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter.
The 57-year-old actor plays James Trenchard in Julian Fellowes’ new ITV period drama series, and he says his alter ego is a "cross between Donald Trump and Del Boy" and a "self-made man" trying to elevate himself in society.
Speaking to the new issue of Radio Times magazine, he said: "He’s a cross between Donald Trump and Del Boy. He’ll go to the opening of an envelope and sometimes makes a total fool of himself. What I love is his ambition.
"Without Victorians like James Trenchard, we wouldn’t have a lot of the incredible infrastructure that we have today and take for granted.
"He’s the son of a market trader, who’s worked his way up, so he’s a self-made man. One of the themes of ‘Belgravia’ is the beginnings of the nouveau riche and he fits into that bracket."
The drama will begin on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and will focus on the Trenchards who accept an invitation to attend a ball hosted by the Duchess of Richmond for the Duke of Wellington and that party will set in motion a series of events with dramatic and long-term consequences for London’s high society.
Meanwhile, Julian has insisted his new series will be "darker" than his beloved period drama ‘Downton Abbey’.
The 70-year-old screenwriter has adapted his novel of the same name into a new ITV show, and he has teased fans there will be a "sadness" in his new programme, unlike the "sunny" ‘Downton’.
He previously said: "’Downton’ was a sunny place where people lived generally sunny lives, if not entirely, whereas we pitch darker in ‘Belgravia’. It has a sadness."
‘Belgravia’ will air on ITV on Sunday night (15.03.20) at 9pm.
Philip Glenister based Belgravia character on Del Boy
