Once any actor becomes a part of something as enormous (and enormously successful) as Star Wars, their fans often feel some ownership over them. This belief can be expressed in a number of ways, and it’s a phenomenon Carrie Fisher explored quite poignantly in the HBO documentary Bright Lights. But for Sir Alec Guinness—the actor behind Obi-Wan Kenobi—that relationship between fandom and actor manifested in an especially odd way. In this 1977 Parkinson interview, Guinness explains how his Jedi guru figure became a beacon of hope for Star Wars fanatics. Guinness sums up a typical request for host Michael Parkinson: “My wife and I’ve got problems, would you mind coming over and living with us for a few months?” Perhaps Lucasfilm should consider Obi-Wan Kenobi: Marriage Counselor as its next spin-off. Then again, he didn’t prove too successful at helping Anakin and Amidala.

Even beyond that little tidbit, this short, rare interview with Guinness is a real gem for Star Wars fans. Guinness debuts a cute and not too wicked impression of George Lucas. And though later in his life, the actor famously distanced himself from the franchise and the unexpected attention it brought him, here we see a kinder, gentler Guinness. He still calls the dialogue “ropey” (he would later be much harsher), but also has a good deal of praise for the immersive world Lucas created. “There’s a wonderful freshness about, like wonderful fresh air,” he enthuses of the film, which would earn him a tidy sum. “When I came out of the cinema, I thought London’s sort of gritty and dirty and sort of rubbish, isn’t it, because this had all been so invigorating.” Gritty, dirty, and sort of rubbish? Sounds familiar.