He trained as toolmaker

When Gambon left school at 15 years old he did not have any formal qualifications but was accepted to be an apprentice with Vickers-Armstrong, gaining a certificate to become a engineering tech and worked the job for a year.

Of his decision to leave the profession, he said: “No. I think I drifted away because I got a job as an actor, and I just thought, ‘This is nice. This is easy, acting. Just standing there with a spear all day. Anyone can do that. There’s more money in this. I’ll do this.’”