Larry Lamb, author of All Wrapped Up

A FIRST novel by popular Highgate actor Larry Lamb, famous for his role in TV’s Gavin and Stacey, spotlights not the stars of a film but the people who work behind the scenes.

In the entertaining All Wrapped Up, the real drama takes place during a film shoot on a Spanish island in the Caribbean. The film in production is set in the 60s and features the kidnap of Sandy, an American diplomat’s daughter, by a band of local freedom fighters, who demand a ransom.

The US government, under cover, lands a troop of marines to rescue her and get her off the island.

The film they’re making has an action-packed plot, but the most interesting character in the book is the charismatic first assistant director Killian Wilde, who as the keystone of the crew works his socks off from early morning till late at night.

He has to cope with delay due to the film director’s new baby falling ill at home back in Camden.

Then there are problems with a consignment of imitation weapons and ammunition, to be used as part of the drama, being denied clearance by the local customs – and if that isn’t bad enough, there is also talk of the island’s president being removed.

In this film shoot, if something can go wrong it will go wrong.

As for the stars, there’s a problem between the two leading actors. Their characters are supposed to fall in love in the story but in reality they loathe each other.

Author Lamb, 77, brought up in Edmonton, describes his new book as “a way of showing readers what life on a film shoot is all about”.

He said: “The thing that interests me most is the camaraderie among the crews that make films and TV. So I wrote an adventure story set behind the scenes on a film in the Caribbean – it’s the book I always knew I wanted to write.”

Lamb told Review he got into acting quite by chance 50 years ago. He was a keen amateur actor who jumped at an opportunity to turn professional while supervising a construction project in Eastern Canada. “Since then I’ve always loved working alongside crews of highly skilled film people, often very similar in character to those I’d worked with before I moved into acting.”

Growing up in the 1950s, Lamb had a difficult childhood with his parents constantly arguing, and the young Larry being bullied by his father. It was all written about in his first book in 2011.

“Today I want to show the reality of what the film business is all about,” he said. “I always had this idea that somewhere at the centre of it would be the first assistant director.

“They are known as ‘The First’ and they are the key person on the crew. If they are no good then the film doesn’t have a chance.

“That’s why directors prefer to work with Firsts they know because if there are problems of any kind, from an earthquake to an earache, it’s the First’s job to get it sorted and keep the shoot on schedule.

“If anything goes wrong there’s only one person the crew turn to and it’s not the stars.”

Lamb believes at his age it’s important to keep fit and he enjoys walking or running across Hampstead Heath and swimming every day, often at The Lido at Parliament Hill Fields or Highgate pond. He gave up booze about 20 years ago and also cycles regularly. If he’s not cycling he’ll get on his exercise bike for an hour.

Two of his favourite cafés to relax are Bistro Laz at the bottom of West Hill, and the Parliament Hill Fields Café.

“They both provide good food and are not pretentious. It’s great to sit, talk and relax after a long day.”

• All Wrapped Up. By Larry Lamb, Softwood books, £9.99