Rafe Spall admits to Steve Pratt that acting with his father, Timothy, on A Room With A View on ITV was the best career decision hes made so far

RAFE Spall was 15 when he turned to his dad and said I want to be an actor. His famous actor father Timothy Spall was both flattered and appalled C pleased his son was impressed enough to want to follow in his footsteps but appalled because he knew actings such a difficult profession with 90 per cent of actors out of work.

Hed been in a couple of school plays and then we worked on some pieces together when he was going to audition for drama schools. I had to decide whether it was a good idea or not.

We did some work and I thought flipping hell, youre good. I had to make a decision when he was 16 whether he could pursue acting, and I thought he could really do it, says the Auf Wiedersehen Pet star.

Rafe, 24, has been proving his worth in a series of leading TV roles, including The Chatterley Affair and Wide Sargasso Sea. Now he and dad Timothy are together on screen for the first time in ITV1s production of E M Forsters A Room With A View, in which they play father and son.

Theyre cast as working class Mr Emerson and son George, who are enjoying a visit to Florence in 1912 and encountering a collection of British tourists, including 18-yearold Lucy Honeychurch with whom young George falls in love.

They were cast independently, although adaptor Andrew Davies says he came up with the idea of them playing the Emersons.

I remember going home, seeing the script on the floor in the front room and asking him about it, recalls Rafe. I think he got offered it first and then I got offered afterwards. I would definitely have done it independently of him doing it because its such a cracking part.

It was just a lovely bonus he was in it. Were in it together but there arent many scenes where we actually talk, no direct conversations between us. But maybe a warmth comes across, that you can see theres a connection between us.

And there are the similarities between us and the Emersons. Mr Emerson really loves his son and vice versa, hes very supportive.

And thats what Ive had growing up, loving and supportive parents.

You detect a certain reluctance by both of them to work together just for the sake of it. The roles have to be right. They said they wanted Rafe to do it anyway, says Timothy.

That was one of the reasons I thought I might actually do it because there were no provisos. Its difficult when youre working with people you love so much, you dont want it to be an emotional decision.

Then I read the script again and read the book, and realised what a marvellous book it was and what a marvellous adaptation C and thought it would be silly not to do it.

L OCATION filming in Florence became a family affair with Timothys wife and Rafes mother and Rafes girlfriend visiting. It was a really special time for me. It was a family affair and we all got on so well, says Rafe.

Father and son enjoyed working together. It was like having your best friend on set, says Rafe. I was nervous before I started and at first rehearsals because its a bit scary working with an established great actor, a nerve-racking experience for a young actor. When its your dad as well, its a bit more scary. But you get over it.

Timothy thinks his sons performance in A Room With A View is lovely and Im so proud when I see him doing so good, Im utterly delighted hes doing so well.

He had a good time too. What was immediately apparent when we stepped on the floor together was we both liked what were doing.

As well as father-and-son questions, the pair also have to deal with the fact that Forsters novel was made into a film by the Merchant-Ivory team, with Daniel Day-Lewis and Helena Bonham Carter in leading roles, 20 years ago.

I read the book before I started filming but didnt watch the film.

Im going to watch it now so I can compare it, says Rafe. I never worried about it. People are too busy comparing, its just another adaptation of the book. Jane Austens work is getting adapted all the time.

For Timothy, who hasnt seen the film either, the adaptation is what matters and he believes Davies version gets to the nitty-gritty of the story. I think one of his fortes is love. A lot of people would say sex, but he gets to the centre of what love is and the human condition, and this novel is such a beautiful story about love across the divide or love will conquer all.

The Spalls would be happy to work together again, if the right project comes along. Hes one of the best actors of his generation and to work with someone like that is an honour, dad or not, adds Rafe.

ö A Room With A View: Sunday, ITV1, 9pm