Actor Will Mellor has recounted an unexpected encounter with Prince William, revealing that the future king once intervened to stop a fight involving him at an upscale London nightclub.
The 50-year-old actor shared the story during an appearance on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast, describing the incident as one of the highlights of his autobiography, Where There’s A Will: My Story.
Mellor, best known for his role in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, explained that he was on crutches when he became involved in an altercation with another nightclub reveller.
Recalling the incident, he described how he was on the floor fighting with another man when someone suddenly placed their hands on his shoulders and told him to stop.
He initially continued reacting to the confrontation before recognising the voice telling him to leave the situation alone.
The person intervening was Prince William, who repeatedly urged him to walk away, telling him: “Will, leave it. He’s not worth it.”
Actor Was Still Shouting as Security Removed Him
Mellor continued recounting the encounter, explaining that he was frustrated because he believed the other man had knocked him off his crutches.
He recalled shouting at Prince William, insisting that the other reveller had caused the confrontation and asking him to explain what had happened.
The actor also noticed members of the Secret Service moving closer as the situation unfolded, with security personnel surrounding the future king.
Realising the potential seriousness of the situation, Mellor recalled thinking that he had got himself into trouble.
Despite his attempts to explain his side of the incident, he was eventually escorted out of the nightclub.
He continued calling out to William as he was being removed, asking him to confirm that the altercation had not been his fault.
According to Mellor, the prince responded calmly, reassuring him that everything was fine.
The actor said the incident became even more amusing when a friend contacted him the following day.
His friend told him he would never forget seeing Prince William standing with his hands on Mellor’s shoulders, telling him to leave the fight alone as though he were an old friend.
Mellor Opens Up About Depression Following Family Bereavements
Away from the humorous nightclub story, Mellor became emotional during the podcast as he discussed his struggles with depression following the deaths of his sister and father.
His sister Joanne died from a heart attack in 2012, aged 44.
She had been born with Marfan syndrome, a genetic connective tissue disorder that left her with both mental and physical disabilities.
Mellor explained that Joanne experienced several serious health scares throughout her life, with the family repeatedly being told that she might not survive.
However, in 2012, she returned from a respite break organised by a care company and died from a heart attack two weeks later.
Reflecting on the loss, the actor admitted that he struggled to cope and became difficult to be around.
He described himself as naturally positive and someone who enjoyed making other people happy and laughing, but said his sister’s death left him unable to maintain that outlook.
Mellor revealed that there were periods when he did not even want to get out of bed, affecting his ability to be positive around his children.
He said he had never imagined finding himself in such a dark emotional state, adding that he struggled with the fact that he could no longer protect his sister or change what had happened.
Drinking and Gambling Worsened Actor’s Mental Health
Mellor admitted that he turned to drinking, gambling and going out in an attempt to find temporary excitement while dealing with his grief.
However, he explained that these activities made his depression worse and left him feeling increasingly unhappy with himself.
The actor said he became particularly skilled at hiding his struggles from other people, who could easily mistake his behaviour when he was out socialising for genuine happiness.
He explained that people might see him enjoying himself at a pub and assume he was doing well, but the feelings of depression returned when he went home and woke up the following morning.
Mellor acknowledged that he had been making his situation worse through his attempts to escape his emotions.
He also revealed that his wife played an important role in helping him recover, standing by him and encouraging him to make changes for the sake of their children.
Wife and Children Helped Him Through Depression
During the conversation, Fearne asked Mellor when he first realised that he was beginning to cope better with his grief.
The actor explained that his recovery started when he stopped engaging in the activities that were worsening his mental health, particularly drinking and going out while pretending everything was fine.
He credited his wife’s support and his relationship with their children as important parts of his journey through depression.
Mellor described his children as his world and said being around them helped him find a reason to keep moving forward.
As he discussed the experience, the actor became tearful and apologised for his emotional reaction.
He explained that he finds it difficult to contain his emotions when discussing subjects that matter deeply to him.
