- He studied medicinal science and worked as a hospital laboratory technician at Paddington General before applying to RADA to train to be an actor at the age of 27.
- He initially turned down his most famous role as Victor Meldrew, since he was only 53 and the character was supposed to be over 60.
- He was the Rector of the University of Glasgow from 1996 to 1999.
- Wilson is famed for his parties, which he organises with meticulous attention to detail.
- He is a strong supporter of the gay rights group Stonewall. He is also a close friend of fellow actor and prominent campaigner Ian McKellen. He served as best man at Antony Sher's civil partnership ceremony in December 2005.
- Wilson left school at 17 and worked for 10 years - mostly at Paddington General Hospital as a lab technician - before applying to RADA.
- He suffered a heart attack in August 2016 at the age of 80.
- He favours flamboyant clothes, yellows and pinks.
- He received the Outstanding Contribution to Film and Television accolade at the 2013 British Academy Scotland Awards.
- David Jason described him as someone who had great timing, someone he admired enormously and was very pleased about the success he went on to have.
- He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1994 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to drama.
- He gave up smoking in 1975.
- He graduated from RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, England) in 1965, having made his professional debut in the previous year.
- He is the godfather to Angus Deayton's son.
- He grew up in Greenock, near Glasgow, the son of a shipyard timekeeper.
- He was a supporter of the Labour Party and an opponent of the Iraq war.
- He is an Associate Member of RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, England).
- Appeared on the Graham Norton Show on the same night as an exotic dancer and her ping pong balls.
- Friends with Annette Crosbie.
- He had an elder sister, Moira, who died in 2021 aged 91.
- He is Patron of Shareholders United, a not-for-profit, democratic and non-party political organization whose members are Manchester United supporters holding shares in Manchester United football team as part of their emotional stake in the club.
- Made his Televison debut in Dr Finlay's Casebook.
- He was a hospital technician before military service in Singapore then on return joined RADA.
- He studied at RADA left there on a Friday ad started his first job on the Monday which was a part in Dr Finlay's Casebook.
- His father was a shipyard time keeper and his mother a housewife.
- He was a possible for the role of Sir Percy Heseltine in Lifeforce (1985). Aubrey Morris won the role.
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