Richard E. Grant says car was stolen and used in ram-raid while he isolates
He's quarantining in a hotel following a trip to South Africa
By Tom Skinner
Richard E. Grant has revealed that his car has been stolen and used in a ram-raid while he remains in quarantine.
The British actor is currently completing a 10-day period of isolation at a Holiday Inn at London’s Gatwick Airport after returning from a trip to visit his elderly mother in South Africa.
During his stay, Grant has been sharing a series of video updates on social media alongside various quotes from 1987’s Withnail And I, in which he stars as the titular Withnail opposite Paul McGann.
“Woken up at 4am – police called to report that my car had been stolen and used to ram-raid a Tesco Express!” Grant wrote as the caption to his latest clip.
“Like my pal Eric Idle is won’t to warble ‘ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE!’”
Quoting Withnail And I, the actor said in the footage: “I think we’ve been here too long. I feel unusual. I think we should go outside.”
You can see the post below.
According to the Mail Online, a 4×4 vehicle was pulled out of a Tesco Express in Hanworth, west London on Monday morning (December 6). The Metropolitan Police said they removed the car from the building at 2.30am GMT following a burglary, but have not confirmed that it was Grant’s vehicle.
“Officers attended and found that the suspect(s) had gained entry by using a vehicle,” a police spokesperson said. “A vehicle has been recovered from the scene. A crime scene is in place. No arrests.”
In a now-deleted video posted to Twitter, Richard E. Grant reportedly complained about being impacted by new travel rules. “I went to southern Africa to visit my 90-year-old mother and got caught by the red region COVID restrictions,” he began.
“It took over a week and many cancelled flights to finally get home, for which I am incredibly grateful.
“I understand that there are security costs in the hotel and you’ve got to pay for two COVID tests, but £228 a day to receive three meals a day of this very poor standard, in a supposed four star Holiday Inn hotel, beggars belief.”