Mr T

Mr T, how ace was it being in the A-Team?

It was one of the greatest experiences of my life. It gave me a platform to tell people not to take drugs, and to listen to their mothers.

Do you have a favourite episode?

The best one is when my mother asked all the drug dealers to get out of the building and they pushed her. And I just went berserk. I said, ‘Face man, get on the plane. We’re going to hit them fools!’ And he said, ‘BA, you don’t fly!’ And I said, ‘I fly this time!’

Do people still quote catchphrases at you?

Oh yeah. They say, ‘I ain’t getting on no plane, sucker!’ or ‘I pity the fool!’ And now my hairstyle’s coming back, too! In the 80s, a lot of children got a Mr T haircut – even some of the little girls – but now it’s coming back with the punks, rockers and footballers.

You had to drink loads of milk in the A-Team. Did it put you off?

No, because I love milk! Milk’s got vitamin B – it’s good for you. If more people drank milk, they wouldn’t be alcoholics.

How was your job as a bodyguard?

I loved it. My business card said: ‘Mr T – Bodyguard Extraordinaire. Next to God, there is no better protector than I.’ If I was hired to protect you and someone slaps you, and then I break their neck, I haven’t done my job. Because you weren’t meant to get touched. If there ‘s a gun, I take the bullet. I was a kamikaze bodyguard and I would lay my life down for my client.

Did you get on with Sly Stallone in Rocky III?

Yeah, it was great working with Sly. When he picked me, I said, ‘Sly, for whatever reason you’ve picked me, I will give you 150 per cent every day.’ And he replied, ‘I know you will T, I know you will.’ I didn’t want to let him down because he took a chance with me.

Is that where ‘I pity the fool’ came from?

It was when the phrase got legs. It actually came from a 60s blues singer called Bobby Bland, and we just put it in the movie. When I’m asked if I hate Rocky, I say, ‘No, I don’t hate Balboa, but I pity the fool’, meaning I feel sorry for him because I’m going to beat his butt.

And what are you up to nowadays?

I’ve just finished filming the new advert for Snickers. I’ve been eating Snickers bars since I was a kid. So go to the candy shop and buy some Snickers – and tell them Mr T sent you.

Anything else you’d like to say to us?

Quit your jibber-jabber. Don’t make me mad! Grrrrgh! To celebrate Mr T’s return for Snickers, go to facebook.com/Snickers Get Some Nuts for his tips on health, fitness and being a man