Fair City's Tony Tormey on life with wife and adult kids - and he addresses his future on the show

The RTÉ favourite opens up about playing Paul Brennan for 35 years, what his wife Kate and kids, Max and Issey, make of him on the show and if he would ever leave Carrigstown

Fair City legend Tony Tormey has said 35 years is a long time to be playing one character.

The actor has played businessman and flanderer Paul Brennan since the very first episode of the RTÉ show in 1989 and he likes that he can mix his most famous role with other projects.

The TV favourite also lifted the lid on life at home with his wife Kate and their grown up kids; Max and Issey.

Read more: Fair City's Tony Tormey was approached fan in tears as she revealed how the show kept her goin g

Read more: Fair City star Michael Sheehan had a very different career before joining the show

Tony told RSVP Magazine: "We’re lucky on Fair City that we’re allowed to do other projects. No matter how much you enjoy it, you’d go mad if you’re doing the same thing day in, day out.

"It’s nice to be able to dip your toes into different things.

"That’s the saving grace – 35 years is a long time to be playing one character."

The ever popular Fair City turned 35 last month but former RTÉ drama Glenroe was massively successful too, and it was cancelled after 18 seasons.

Tony said: "Everyone has fond memories of Glenroe, but the timing was right. It was of a particular time and the country and the viewers had moved on.

"Ireland was turning into a completely different place in the late 1990s. There was no animosity between either set of actors."

Is he like Paul in any way? "Some parts of me bleed into Paul and some parts of Paul bleed into me. Sometimes, when I’m in bad form, the kids will say, 'That’s Paul'.

"I don’t have his nerve or his appetite for women and making money. I prefer the simple life."

Tony's kids are all grown up now, and they are busy forging their own paths away his world of acting.

He said: "My son Max is 20 now and he’s in NCAD studying illustration. Issey is 18 and she’s just finished her Leaving Certificate. They’re not kids anymore, but they’ll always be a little boy and a little girl in my mind’s eye.

"My own father was the same with me. They grew up with me on Fair City, so me being on TV isn’t strange to them.

"I’m just going to work. It’s not glamorous to them, they see me learning my lines in the kitchen after dinner.

"That’s the reality at home."

With all the different relationships and affairs Paul has had on the show, his wife Kate doesn't pay much attention to his actions on screen.

Swipe across below to see the full gallery of images for yourself

In Pictures: Fair City star Tony Tormey with wife Kate and their kids Max and Issey

View gallery

Tony said: "She finds it hilarious and she laughs along with it. She gets to see the real Tony though!

"I can’t watch those kissing scenes, it’s embarrassing sitting there with your wife.

"She’s cool about it and she knows it’s my job and we’ve to make a few bob."

There have been cutbacks in RTÉ and Fair City has been affected by a change in the production schedule.

Tony said: "I want it to keep going. If there’s an appetite from the public, then why shouldn’t it continue? But that’s not up to me, that’s up to somebody being paid a lot more than I am."

Tony admitted there is a worry he could lose his steady job.

He said: "It’s always a worry because it’s been my life and my job for 35 years.

"As an actor, you always worry about when the next gig is going to come in. That’s a reality of life."

Read the full interview and see our fabulous Fair City anniversary feature in this month's issue of RSVP Magazine - on shelves now

Fair City airs three nights a week on RTE One and RTE Player. Have you been following any of the storylines recently?

If you're a Fair City fan, join our exclusive Facebook group to get the latest spoilers, interviews and pictures - Here

Join RSVP Live's WhatsApp community to get celebrity news and our top stories