Making my way through the many narrow roads in Mqabba, I arrive at Jonathan McLeish’s house of character, I am welcomed with a warm smile and the sound of Italian music on a harp. He leads me into his kitchen and over a mug of coffee we talk about Malta, travelling the world and the entertainment business.
After telling me to mind my head because of the low ceilings, Jonathan McLeish says: “I have noticed that most people who buy houses of character chip the walls to reveal the original stone. I dare not do that. I wanted my walls to be white so I could hang all my paintings and other objects on the walls.”
I have heard many things about Jonathan and apart from having worked with the largest broadcasting corporation in the world, the BBC, he has a rather contagious love for Malta. I am curious to know how this love evolved.
“The first time I came to Malta was in 1953 at the age of seven because my father was stationed here as a soldier. I was tutored in Malta until 1958 and although I cannot really remember much about the education I received, I do remember how much I enjoyed staying here.”
He came to Malta on holiday at the age of 24 and kept coming back two or three times a year. He decided he would spend the rest of his life in Malta in 2003 during the EU referendum and has been here ever since living in Mqabba.
“Jiena Mqabbi”, he laughs when I ask him what his experience has been like since living there. Jonathan has been accepted into the community and feels as though he has been living there all his life. He loves the town and is so grateful to everyone there for making him feel so welcome.
“I am a happy bunny here. Where in the world can you find shops and banks who deliver your groceries and your money without even needing to ask? Then again, where in the world can you find a place and people like Mqabba?”
Suffering a heart attack in June, Jonathan had to undergo bypass surgery and spend five days in hospital. Although petrified by the experience, he was amazed at the efficiency of the medical service in Malta.
“The ambulance was here in just 15 minutes and I was attended to immediately. I look at it now as a slight ‘blip’ in my life and my recovery has since been fabulous. It is one of many things I thank Malta for.”
With difficulty, I manage to lead Jonathan away from Malta and into talking about his life before his retirement. From a very young age, he took interest in the theatre and at the age of participated in his first professional show as a soprano. Ending his career at 15 because his voice broke, Jonathan took up dancing instead.
“I emigrated to Montreal for four years when I was 17. I must say it was an amazing time in my life and I think I did most of my growing up there.”
A series of underground plazas could be found there and whilst wandering around, he came across a little theatre run by a certain Mary Morter. Mary ran an English speaking lunchtime theatre and hired Jon to perform in the theatre.
At the age of 23, he stopped performing to move onto the technical side of the theatre. Whilst working at the theatre, Morter passed his name to an agent who was looking for male models for an Eaton commercial. “I spent six months working as a male model for Eaton’s clothing advertisements. After that a series of other jobs came along but during 1968 work was practically inexistent in Montreal so I took to dancing professionally with a company and went on a Euro-tour with them.”
Jonathan returned to the UK with an increased interest in the technicalities involved in theatre, and became an agent himself until he took on the post of casting director with the BBC at the age of 42.
“I began working with the late Julia Smith, who used to write E8, and started working on the project 15 months before it went to air with a different name.”
Eastenders was a big success and became one of the most popular British soaps to be aired over the past 28 years. Jon had left Eastenders for a period of time and returned once again for the final three years of his employment with BBC before retiring at the age of 52.
“I left the BBC at a good time in my life and do not regret my choice. I do not miss my career but I do miss the people I have worked with. One never really loses touch with this line of business but you do tend to be forgotten by some rather quickly.”
At 56, Jonathan had travelled around for a while before permanently moving to Malta which was when he decided he would spend the rest of his life here.
“I was very lucky in life although there were times when I thought, ‘Why am I doing this?’ I think that happens to everyone though.”
Being proud of what he has achieved in life, he feels he still has a long way to go and retirement is simply a 10-letter word.
“I do not feel 61. I do not want a career anymore because I am satisfied and love the career I’ve had. I can live happily in Malta even though I am not a rich man and there is still a lot of travel left in me.”
Asking Jonathan McLeish what he hopes to achieve, he replies that he would love to get a pure-bred black Scotty dog and call him Hamish because it would be a good Scottish name for a dog. “Apart from that, I can honestly say I have enjoyed my life to the full although I have to say, I am determined to get that telegram from King William when I turn 100.”