“FREE your mind Pat, and your ass will follow,” says Antonio Fargas before falling asleep for two hours. So begins a day in the life of the iconic American actor, best known for playing Huggy Bear in the TV series Starsky and Hutch.

He’s currently appearing in Jack and the Beanstalk at the Lighthouse, Poole. I accompanied Antonio Fargas as he travelled to BBC Television Centre for an appearance on The Alan Titchmarsh Show.

In real life, Antonio is much taller than you’d expect. His six-foot frame, streetwise swagger and New York accent makes an immediate impression on passers-by. As we ride in the chauffeur-driven BMW to London, Antonio waxes lyrical about the benefits of meditation before dozing off. Only days earlier he’d flown from his home in Las Vegas and still has a bad case of jet lag. Tired and hungry we arrive in Shepherd’s Bush, where a runner from the TV production company leads us to a dressing room. We have an hour before the interview with Alan Titchmarsh and it’s now that I get to meet the real Antonio Fargas.

Sipping on a mug of tea and honey, Antonio explains the importance of image. He coolly unwraps an assortment of brand new clothing that includes a tailor-made shirt emblazoned with his monogram. Antonio shares a love of fashion with his most famous character, the sharply-dressed Huggy Bear.

He completes the look with an expensive-looking jumper and a pair of leather trousers. Antonio coolly eyes a TV playing X-Factor act Jedward and verbally dissects the musical talent show. “They said everyone gets 15 minutes of fame. Now they really do only get 15 minutes.”

However, the X-Factor judge Simon Cowell received faint praise for his “old school style of management”.

“When I was young, a manager would tell you how to dress and what to say. You can see Simon Cowell is like that. These days, celebrities like to dress and think for themselves. That’s what gets them into trouble”

I quiz Antonio before his interview with questions about his panto co-stars in Jack in the Beanstalk. We spend the next half an hour talking about music and everyday life. The time comes to head for the studio and Antonio tells me he’s now in character.

I wish Antonio good luck from behind the stage set and he springs into action. Shooting imaginary pistols as he greets Alan Titchmarsh, he quickly has the audience eating out the palm of his hand. That’s the thing about Antonio Fargas, the British public has a genuine affection for him.

After his grand entrance, the TV interview is over within seven minutes and we’re laughing and joking back to the dressing room.

“You’ve got to give the audience what they want and make yourself memorable. I saw how Titchmarsh was behaving with the audience before I went on. You simply judge the mood of the moment.”

We head back to Poole and Antonio is suddenly wide awake. He’s performed his duty as an actor and now he’s free to arrange an evening’s entertainment.

“I love whelks. Do you know a restaurant where I can get some tonight?” With that I leave a very upbeat Antonio Fargas to indulge in his love of seafood and the night.