Robert Lindsay, 74, admits he learned to speak in a posh accent in a bid to seek approval – ahead of using his own Derbyshire twang on screen for the first time

Actor Robert Lindsay has admitted that he developed his eloquent RP accent in part because he was seeking the approval of his classmates.

The actor, who has starred in shows including My Family and GBH, says he learned the so-called ‘adopted pronunciation’ because he wanted to be ‘a little bit better than where he comes from’.

Mr Lindsay added that learning the Queen’s English, as it is known, helped him get roles, but it was also because he wanted to be “approved”.

The 74-year-old actor, who rose to fame in the late 1970s for his role as Wolfie Smith in Citizen Smith, said he wanted to “improve his position”.

In an interview, he said his upcoming appearance in the new series of BBC1’s Sherwood will be the first time he has used his native accent in a role. He grew up in Ilkeston in Derbyshire.

The actor said he learned the so-called accepted pronunciation because he wanted to be “a little better than where I come from” (portrayed in the 1977 sitcom Citizen Smith)

Speaking with The ObserverIn The New Review magazine he was asked about his RP accent.

He told the interviewer, “You made me say that,” adding, “If I’m completely honest, yes, it was a class issue.”

He added: “I wanted to be a little bit better than where I came from.”

The actor, who also starred in the 1980s revival of the musical Me and My Girl, told the magazine: ‘I was told I could be other people [with RP]: that the world would be at my feet, that I could play a thousand characters – and that’s what I always said about it, that it was just about acting.

“But you opened my eyes to something. Yes, I wanted to be approved, I guess, to elevate my position.”

He will star alongside David Morrissey and Lesley Manville in the second series of BBC1 crime drama Sherwood, written by leading playwright James Graham.

The first season saw murders take place in a Nottinghamshire mining community still struggling with the aftermath of the 1980s miners’ strikes.

Monica Dolan and David Harewood will also join the cast for the second episode, which airs on Sunday.

Mr Lindsay added that learning the Queen’s English, as it is sometimes called, helped him get roles, but it was also because he wanted to be ‘approved’

The 74-year-old performer, who rose to fame in the late 1970s for his role in Citizen Smith, added that he wanted to “elevate his position” (pictured in My Family with Zoe Wanamaker)

In an interview, he said that his upcoming appearance in the new series of BBC1’s Sherwood will be the first time he has used his native accent in a role. He grew up in Ilkeston in Derbyshire

Mr Lindsay said that when he visited his home in Ilkeston during the miners’ conflict, there were “horrible confrontations between fathers and sons” in the local pub, adding that “it’s still painful”.

In the interview, Mr Lindsay admitted he is trying to be more careful on social media after becoming embroiled in a “confrontation” with former EastEnders actress Tracy-Ann Oberman on Twitter over Jeremy Corbyn.

The actor told the magazine: ‘I’ve found that I just can’t get involved in certain issues. I had a falling out with Tracy-Ann Oberman [ who is Jewish ] on Twitter about Corbyn and his support for the Palestinians. I think on some issues it’s easier to take a step back.’