A nine-month-old baby is dropped on its head on the floor of a concrete swimming pool. It's 1948 in Southern Rhodesia. And from the baby's ensuing convulsions emerges a figure who has become a much-beloved actor of stage and screen. Colonels, Cads and Charmers follows the real-life adventures of Miles Anderson. From his childhood in (now) Zimbabwe (including his father Major General Jock Anderson's historic dismissal from the army for resisting Ian Smith's regime) to his award-winning stage career and his popularity on British television. In the African tradition of vivid storytelling, moments of hilarity mix with poignant tales of loss and thoughtful provocations. There are perspectives on acting and insights into the entertainment industry - from the original House of Cards to the ever-popular Soldier Soldier, along with the impactful Cry Freedom and the improbable Sky Bandits. The tales travel the gamut.

Talking to a bear in Malaya. Diving from the skies in Singapore. Playing a dog at the Royal Shakespeare Company. Quitting the West End to become a Greek fisherman. Cremating a friend in a hysterical funeral. Each story shimmers with a dramatis personae of charismatic characters - and not a few romances.