One of the country’s most-loved and respected musical theatre artists – who has starred in a string of hit West End shows – was caught drink-driving by police after quaffing champagne at a dinner party.
Actor and singer Robert Meadmore, 54, of Rokeby Road, Brockley, has appeared in ‘Phantom of the Opera’ ‘Brigadoon’ ‘My Fair Lady’ ‘Bless the Bride’ ‘The Gondoliers’ ‘Oklahoma!’ ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ ‘Metropolitan Mikado’ and ‘Camelot’.
Romford-born Meadmore (pictured) pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol on his breath in Farringdon Street, Central London on October 14.
Prosecutor Mrs. Alexa Morgan told City of London Magistrates’ Court it was ten minutes to midnight when police – routinely checking documents – stopped the Saab driven by Meadmore.
“There was a smell of alcohol on his breath and his speech was slurred,” added the prosecutor. “He told officers he had two glasses of champagne at a bar and he then failed the roadside breath test.”
At the police station Meadmore was breath-tested and gave an alcohol reading of 53 microgrammes of alcohol – the legal limit is 35.
“I went to a dinner party, not a bar,” Meadmore told the JP’s. “I am so sorry about this. I am devastated by this, it is so bizarre, I am not a big drinker.”
The driving ban will effect Meadmore’s career. “I am in the theatre business. I drive to a lot of concerts around England.”
Meadmore has appeared with stars all over the world and led over 50,000 people singing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ in the Mall during the Queen’s 2002 Golden Jubilee and sang ‘All I Ask of You’ with Charlotte Church at the 2001 Royal Variety Performance.
He released his first classical album ‘After a Dream’ in 2005, reaching No.2 in the UK Classical Charts and gaining a Brit Award nomination.
He is also a regular radio broadcaster, appearing on BBC Radio 2 and 4 on numerous occasions – often singing show tunes.
His producer is music legend Mike Batt and the pair teamed up with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to perform the official anthem of the Channel Tunnel opening ceremony before the Queen and France’s President Mitterrand.
Meadmore is a product of London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the son of a pianist mother and opera-singing father.
The magistrates fined him £360, with £90 costs and disqualified him from driving for twelve months.
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