Actor Ronald Allen, who plays David Hunter, that dashing and impeccably dressed manager of the Crossroads Motel, looks so totally at ease in tailored suits you'd think he'd been born wearing Saville Row nappies.  But, according to this handsome six-footer, in his private life, he rarely ever wears a suit at all.

 

"I do like the ones I wear in the series.  But when I'm not working I'm much happier in casual clothes."

 

During the last four years as David Hunter he hasn't had the chance to wear down-beat clothes more than a handful of times.  But when he has, the reaction from his female fans is quite phenomenal.

 

"In the storyline last year I was living in a country cottage, which called for my wearing casual clothes.  I was absolutely astounded at how much more fan mail I got in that period."

 

Ronald Allen may get more response from the girls who have designs on David Hunter in jeans, but his personal sense of style shows through whatever he wears.  Although as the Motel manager he has to look smart, it comes naturally to him to pay minute attention to details: collars and cuffs just so, finger nails well manicured, and regular visits to the hairdresser.

 

He is obviously a well-groomed man and apart from a watch and gold ring, the only other jewellery he wears hidden under those crisp, well-laundered shirts, is a long antique chain around his neck.  As a man who goes for well-designed accessories, I asked Ronald what he thought of those clever little clutch bags men in Rome have been carrying for some time.

 

"They're very practical, obviously save stuffing your pockets with cigarettes, lighters, keys and all those things, but I don't think they would work in England," he says.  "Most Englishmen, apart from being not quite so adventurous as men in Rome dress-wise, don't have the right attitude towards them.  It's rather silly when you think that we'll happily be seen walking around with a brief case and not a clutch bag."

 

Photographed here - as Crossroads followers have never seen him - is the real Ronald Allen, wearing clothes chosen to suit his relaxed life-style.  When he isn't gardening at his home in South London, he's either searching for antiques in street markets or musing around London's art galleries.

 

Ronald likes corduroy, safari styles, blouson jackets and subtle colours.  He hates to look contrived.  However carefully he may have dressed, he likes to look as if he had had only two minutes to put on the first thing that came to hand.

 

"That," he says.  "Is what fashion is all about."  And he's right.