Nigel Havers reveals his unlikely connection to Jack Whitehall as he admits he warned him to ditch comedy and be a ‘doctor or a lawyer’

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By LAURA FOX FOR MAILONLINE

Published: 01:46 GMT, 28 March 2025 | Updated: 01:50 GMT, 28 March 2025

Nigel Havers has revealed his unlikely connection to Jack Whitehall as he admitted that he warned him against pursuing a career in comedy.

The veteran actor, 73, revealed that he became Jack’s godfather after his father Michael, worked as his agent for four decades.

He said: ‘I suppose I can’t ignore the fact that I had an agent called Michael Whitehall, who was my agent for 40 something years. 

‘So he was a pretty big influence, and tough. You know, he would tell me what to do and get the appropriate money, I think.’

Kate then noted that Nigel and Michael went onto become good friends, to the point where he was chosen as his son Jack’s godfather.

Nigel Havers has revealed his unlikely connection to Jack Whitehall as he admitted that he warned him against pursuing a career in comedy

The Chariots of Fire star quipped: ‘Yeah. Correct. Yeah. Useless Godfather. Gave him all the wrong advice, you know.

‘Well, he wanted me to come and see him. He said, I want to be a stand up. And I said, don’t be ridiculous. And he said, well, come and see me. In one of his very opening shows in a pub in Putney. 

‘And afterwards he said, what do you think? And I said, well, you know, I really do think you should be a doctor or a lawyer, but don’t do that, whatever you do.’

Jack’s father Michael previously served as Nigel’s agent along with a host of other stars including Colin Firth and Judi Dench.

Nigel had also previously shared that he and Michael were so close, he was present for Jack’s birth.

Speaking on This Morning, he said: ‘[Michael] told me to come into the hospital. As I walked into the ward, Hilary was giving birth! I walked straight into that scenario.’ 

‘Jack is a fantastic boy. I went to see him in a pub in Putney when he started. I said ”do you know something Jack, have you ever considered being a doctor?” I was wrong!’

Along with his career as a talent agent, Michael Whitehall also worked as a producer on shows including Element Of Doubt and The Good Guys.

The veteran actor revealed that he became Jack’s godfather after his father Michael, worked as his agent for four decades

Nigel admitted that he previously advised him that he should be a ‘doctor or a lawyer’ instead (pictured with Jack in the series Brian Pern: A Life In Rock)

Elsewhere during his interview with Kate, Nigel also recalled the unlikely success of the classic British hit Chariots Of Fire, which won the Oscar for Best Picture.

He said: I always come back to Chariots of Fire as a sort of golden time. Because we didn’t realise. We just didn’t. We just sort of hung out and it was-everything worked, you know? The sun shone when it was meant to. 

‘David Puttnam, who became a great friend, and Hugh Hudson, also the director, they said it was almost as if Eric Liddell had been hoping and praying from the heavens that we would make it good. And it did. He did. It did work.

‘We went to the Oscars. David said to us, look, we’re not going to win anything because we’re up against these films and they’re incredible. So just enjoy.

‘You’re here for the beer. Just have fun. So we’re sitting there and then the first award goes for the best screen screenwriter. And the winner is Chariots. You know, it just kept coming. And eventually the big one. And he just could not believe it.’

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Nigel Havers reveals his unlikely connection to Jack Whitehall as he admits he warned him to ditch comedy and be a ‘doctor or a lawyer’

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