achieve when you set out to write the second series?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe just tried to make it an even better version of itself! We
didn\u2019t want to overhaul it, we just wanted to make it a bit
bigger in scope and see how far we could push it with some
even more \u2018twisty turny\u2019 cat and mouse detective stories \u2013 I
really like the sense in this show that our two detectives are
being toyed with by the \u2018nemesis of the week\u2019. Jason and Tala
are now so settled into their roles and it\u2019s a real joy to write
with them in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe first two hour film revolves around a murder on a hot air
balloon and the suspects are a group of friends who were all
famous in the 80s. The second film involves a body discovered
in a railway tunnel. The victim is a professional rugby player
and the suspects are a group of girls from Glasgow who are
down in Bath for a birthday weekend. The third episode
follows the murder of a social media influencer during an
operation at a cosmetic surgery clinic and the suspects are the
married-but-divorcing couple who run the clinic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are there any new recurring characters in series two?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have a new recurring character on the police team. DC Milena \u201cWe wanted to introduce a Polish officer, because we tried to What\u2019s the secret to the show\u2019s success?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe central pairing, that duo, is everything. We have two actors Where do you get the ideas for the outlandish murders?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey just sort of gestate. I\u2019m not quite sure where they come \u201cIt\u2019s really fun casting the guest stars too. In episode one, for We never see McDonald and Dodds\u2019 private lives, even in \u201cWell, never say never, but that\u2019s just my preference to stay \u201cWe do refer quite a lot to McDonald\u2019s boyfriend, but you never While you don\u2019t focus on the pandemic in this series, Covid is \u201cI wrote series two in summer 2020, so at the time I didn\u2019t know \u201cI also thought about how people\u2019s language has changed Why do we never learn Dodds\u2019 first name?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI might reveal it in the very last episode, if it ever comes up! Are you already working on ideas for a potential third \u201cWe are talking and kicking around ideas. Whether it will How does it feel to be coming back for series two?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s exciting. The first series seemed to be such a big hit with How fond of Dodds are you?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI love playing him, and I really hope to continue to play him \u201cWhat I also love about him is that while he is self aware in some Has the relationship between McDonald and Dodds evolved \u201cYes, it does grow, but it grows in increments. Their Would you like to see Dodds find romance on the show?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell Dodds doesn\u2019t really have a romantic life. It would be Is there any of Jason Watkins in Dodds?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere is a bit more of Jason in him than I would probably \u201cLooking at him, he is older than me, both in spirit and age. He \u201cOnce I put the anorak on, the tank top and the glasses on top of \u201cI think that friendship off screen really helps with your onscreen How did you find filming during the pandemic?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis was my first experience of filming during the pandemic. We \u201cTala and I were in a bubble, and Rob Brydon who guest stars in This series has some great guest stars, including Martin Kemp, Patsy Kensit, Cathy Tyson and Rupert Graves in the first film as a group of people that were famous in the 80s. What are your favourite memories of that era?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was great seeing Martin Kemp on set because I was a “It was also great to chat to Patsy Kensit because she was in a You have amazing chemistry with Rob Brydon, who guest \u201cNot really, I did an episode of his panel show, Would I Lie To You? \u201cHe made us all laugh on set doing Alan Bennett impressions, and \u201cRob and I also wound each other up. I was winding him up about \u201c about how high the ratings were. He would wind me up and Dodds is in a hot air balloon at one point in the first episode. \u201cWe actually went a little bit up in the air, there was a big crane You have played such varied characters over the years. \u201cAt the moment it tends to be The Crown because it has made \u201cI get recognised for W1A a lot too, and also from The Lost Speaking of that latter role, where do you keep your \u201cIt\u2019s not hidden, but it\u2019s not prominent either. It\u2019s not on a \u201cI know Hugh Grant says he shines a light through the eye of How does it feel to be coming back for a second series?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s great. We were so lucky to actually get to do it this year \u201cWe knew quite early on after the first episode aired that we \u201cIt was strange filming under Covid restrictions because all the Was it very easy to slip back into the character of \u201cIt was actually. I was a bit worried at first. I was like, \u2018Oh my The first series marked your first leading television role. \u201cPeople seemed to love it. I did get a bit of recognition when it \u201cMy mum was so excited, she bought a new tv to watch it on \u201cI had a lot of people texting me, telling me off for not Did you feel more confident going into series two than you did \u201cYes, I thought I was going to get sacked every day the first time As a black woman with a lead role on a British tv show, do you \u201cYes there is more diversity, and yes there is still a long way to go. \u201cOn McDonald & Dodds it really felt like Mammoth made a In series one, McDonald was set on getting out of Bath as \u201cShe doesn\u2019t mention leaving as much this series. I think she \u201cThey have a rapport going and their work relationship is Does it help being mates with Jason when you have to play a \u201cDefinitely yes. Jason and I work in quite a similar way, which is McDonald\u2019s boss, Superintendent Houseman (James \u201cHe is still giving her a hard time and is on her back a lot. Her The show gets some pretty famous guest stars. Do you ever get \u201cYes, by most of them. It was amazing to have Rob Brydon in the And Sarah Parish is just great in everything she\u2019s in, so it was lovely Have you got any better at solving the whodunnits when \u201cJason and I think we have become detectives now. We\u2019re \u201cHopefully there will be a third series so I keep finding out about What attracted you to this guest role?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI loved the script. It\u2019s a great story about five friends from the \u201cHe organises a day out for himself, my character Barbara, Jackie Can you describe your character, Barbara?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe was a presenter in the 80s and a bit of a trendy girl about \u201cShe is quite lonely and relies deeply on the contact with her Did you know Martin, Cathy or Rupert before working on the \u201cI have known Martin for years. I met him when I was 14. I think I \u201cMartin and I have wanted to work together for ages, he is a great You also share scenes with another guest star, Rob Brydon, I have known Rob for years. Again, one of the funniest men on the What was it like filming the hot air balloon scenes?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t get to go properly up in the sky, but we did do a Having shot to fame in the 80s yourself, are you at all like \u201cWith any character you play, there are going to be elements of \u201cMy sons often say to me, \u2018You had it so lucky\u2019 because there are What is the secret to your career longevity?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think it is because I don\u2019t go out to a lot of celebrity things. I have \u201cWhen I wanted to start work again, I was blessed that I got work. Were you worried about less roles coming your way when you \u201cNo, I turned 50 and it was just another day really. I was up for a going for! I didn\u2019t mind not getting the part when they said that Are you a fan of detective dramas?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI love crime. I love the Crime and Investigation channel! I\u2019ll be \u201cI think I would make quite a good sleuth, because I don\u2019t miss a What attracted you to this role?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen I first read McDonald & Dodds, it reminded me of an What is your character Mick like?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe was great fun to play. He was a music executive in the 80s \u201cPlaying Mick, I had a wealth of those characters to draw on, \u201cMick is the leader of this gang of four friends who have all tasted Was it challenging filming the hot air balloon scenes?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen I first read it, I was like, \u2018how on earth are they going to What was it like working with Patsy, Cathy and Rupert?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was great. We formed a really nice bond really quickly, You also share some scenes with Rob Brydon. Are you a big \u201cHe is absolutely a pleasure to work with, and even funnier offscreen Is crime a genre you enjoy?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, I love crime. Who doesn\u2019t at the moment? We are being fed Is the 80s one of your favourite eras?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, it has to be yeah. I remember my parents talking about the 60s \u201cThere wasn\u2019t a moment when I realised I was famous. I was really We\u2019ve recently seen you presenting with your son, Roman, as \u201cIt\u2019s nice to come back to anything because it gives you a break What\u2019s coming up next for you?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDuring lockdown, I have been writing my first piece of fiction. I How did it feel to be coming back for a second series?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was nice to get back in the saddle and revisit Houseman, and What kind of reaction did you get to Houseman when the last \u201cWhen series one went out, a lot of people were like, \u2018Oh look, Is Houseman still giving McDonald a hard time and hellbent \u201cYes to both. McDonald always lets herself down in front of \u201cAs for Dodds, he still barely sees him, but when he does get Your wife Sarah Parish guest stars in episode three this series. \u201cI like the third episode the best because my good lady wife is in it. The first series of McDonald & Dodds was your first TV gig as \u201cYes, I didn\u2019t feel as shy around Jason Watkins this time around! \u201cI did watch the first series when it went out but I watched on my Do we see any new side to DC Craig this series?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, I think so. We see how he deals with responsibility when he How does he feel about the newcomer to the team?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cInitially he is very intimidated by how much better at the job she is You and Lily were in a bubble together during filming. How did \u201cLily is fantastic, the loveliest person in the world and she made
Paciorkowski is played by Lily Sacofsky, and when we meet her,
she\u2019s a bit of an outsider. She\u2019s quite reserved and focused on the
job. She doesn\u2019t draw too much attention to herself, she is a lowkey,
modest character, but she captures the attention of one of
her colleagues, so there is a bit of romance there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
reflect contemporary Britain. The characters we come across try
and reflect the world we are in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
who can really run the gamut between the serious and the comic.
You can write it as best you can, and direct it as best you can, but it
does stand or fall on the casting and the actors being able to
deliver it. Jason and Tala are two smart, intelligent funny actors
who have obviously formed a bit of a bond and have great on
screen chemistry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
from, they just come into my head at random points. A lot of it
connects to thinking about who the guest characters are –
coming up with the guest characters often helps me come up
with the idea for the murder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
example, because the characters are all 80s icons, I wanted to
cast actors who were also big in the 80s, which is why we
went for Martin Kemp, Patsy Kensit, Cathy Tyson and Rupert
Graves. It was also a great laugh writing for Rob Brydon in that
same story, as he can make just about anything funny. If
anything the challenge was reigning in the writing slightly
when we wanted to do the serious bits.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
series two. Why did you make the choice never to follow
them home?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
out in the field with them. For it to be interesting when they go
home, it has to be dysfunctional, and then it goes into that whole
tortured detective vein. The thing with McDonald and Dodds is
that there is no big traumatic backstory for either of them, they\u2019re
actually quite happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
see him, so I always think he is like the equivalent of Mrs Columbo
in Columbo. Like her, he\u2019s a character you only hear about and
imagine what he might be like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
given a passing mention in a few of the episodes. What was
the thinking behind that?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
what situation we would be in when it aired, but I did know it
would still be very much part of the landscape and people
wouldn\u2019t have forgotten about it. I wanted to do it in a light way. In
episode two, Covid is used in the investigation, it becomes a clue at
one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
since I wrote series one. For example, the word \u2018isolation\u2019
means something different to what it meant pre-Covid. So I
just thought, let\u2019s not ignore the pandemic entirely, but at the
same time this is still escapism. You don\u2019t want to see
everyone walking around in masks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The truth is, I don\u2019t actually know what his first name is. I just
decided not to give him a first name as I like a bit of mystery
around him. I like keeping some things back so that the more
you have to imagine about him, the more intriguing he
becomes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
series?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
happen or not, we don\u2019t know as yet, but we need to get
moving to be able to shoot in the summer, as the show is
quite summery in its look. I do think the show could run and
run, but that is a question for Jason and Tala as their characters\u2019
names are in the title. As long as they are still keen, I am sure the
ideas will keep coming.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nJason Watkins (DS Dodds)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/JasonWatkins-DSDodds.jpg?ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
viewers and we really enjoyed making it, so it was nice to
come back and do more of what we enjoyed, but with the
added thumbs up of it being appreciated by the viewers.
\u201cI followed what people said on social media about it when
the first series went out and a lot of people wanted to take
Dodds home and look after him. I think the show has been
successful, though, because it knows what it is – it\u2019s a series of
audacious whodunnits shot in a beautiful place with a really
engaging central relationship and a great sense of humour.
Our show is also the perfect bit of escapism for viewers during
these difficult times. It\u2019s what we need.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
for more series. Robert Murphy, the creator, has really created
a wonderful character. You could say he is a bit like Columbo,
but there is also a bit of Poirot in there too. Dodds has a
gentleness to him, a naivety, but in many ways that is his
strength. He is able to use his perceived innocence to get
information out of whoever he is with and use it to his
advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ways, he is completely unaware of his strange quirks, like eating
his chips dipped in butter. I think there was even a chips and butter doing the rounds on social media during the first series!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
at all in series two?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
understanding of each other grows and so does their affection
for each other, but what is great is that their growing friendship
is always dashed in moments of insecurity from McDonald. Or he
will make a massive blunder which sets them all back again.
\u201cThere is never any romance on the agenda between them,
which I like. Once that romantic element is removed, you are
dealing with other things like friendship, support and taking care
of each other. It\u2019s more subtle in a way. There is a real affection
between them which may not be romantic, but it is touching.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
interesting to explore him dating at some point. He is often
thrust in front of women that he might find attractive, but I
think he is often just overwhelmed, even by the prospect of
it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
admit. That\u2019s one of the reasons I like playing him really. I
mean how much of an alpha male am I? You could say I hide
behind characters in my work, just as Dodds hides behind his
work. Also, like Dodds, I don\u2019t like confrontation, so we share
that characteristic. I only get confrontational under extreme
stress – like homeschooling perhaps!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
dresses older than he is, all that kind of sports casual stuff. It\u2019s
very beige! That is certainly not me. He could be my dad\u2019s
younger brother. At one point, we tried to make his wardrobe
more colourful, but on reflection that seemed wrong – his
clothes really do state who he is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
my head, I really do feel in character. We have a nice crochet tie
this series too – beige of course – and I rather love that.\u201d
Were you excited to team up with Tala [Gouveia] again?
\u201cYes, it is a real joy working with her, she is very talented and
works so hard. We are very fond of each other, like McDonald &
Dodds are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
chemistry. We both want to enjoy what we are doing, but
also get the most out of every scene. We talk about our scenes
before we shoot, but with a lot of the comedy stuff, we just let
that happen in front of the camera.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
started filming in September and we did it for four months. The
testing was fine, but it\u2019s a bit uncomfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
the first film was also in our bubble, but we had to social
distance from the rest of the cast and crew. It\u2019s difficult
because you couldn\u2019t socialise or debrief as a cast after work or
anything, and we couldn\u2019t have a wrap party this time at the
end like we did for series one. It\u2019s different but we just felt so
lucky that we were able to work during this pandemic. Theatre
has been really diminished and I have so many friends who have
struggled.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spandau Ballet fan back then. I was into New Romantics and
groups like Thompson Twins and Everything But The Girl. I went
to drama school in London in the 80s and we used to go
clubbing to Camden Palace and Cafe Royal. It was buzzy. It was
nice to remember the 80s, when I had hair!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TV show in the 80s called Silas Marner, and we gave my eldest
son Freddie the middle name Silas. It was nice to share that with
Patsy, and of course Cathy Tyson is just an icon. Rupert is brilliant
too, we felt very lucky to have him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
stars in episode one. Did you know him before working
together?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
and I met him once before that, years ago, in a lift somewhere –
as you do! We really hit it off, he has a great sense of humour,
which is blindingly obvious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
we also had an Ian McKellen-off at one point where we both did
our best McKellen impression. I thought my McKellen was as
good as his, quite frankly!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
the fact that he really just does light entertainment now and he
was winding me up saying all I do is serious dramas, both of
which are clearly untrue. The series Des, which I had a part in, was
also airing while we were filming, and the buzz on set was all <\/p>\n\n\n\n
say, \u2018Well, you may have got ten million but Gavin and Stacey
got over 17 million.\u2019 There was a lot of gentle ribbing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Were you actually up in the air or was it all green screen?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
taking me up. I am terrible with heights – I remember going up
St Pauls and Monument on the same day when my boys were
younger and it was just awful. The balloon wasn\u2019t as bad as I
thought though, you do feel secure when you are in there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What do you get most recognised for?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
such an impact internationally, but I have to say I do get
recognised for McDonald & Dodds because it has been sold all
over the world. It\u2019s sold well in Scandinavia, it shows on Britbox
in the States and that is a wonderful thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Honour of Christopher Jefferies because it was shown again
during lockdown, so audiences have been able to revisit
some of my older stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BAFTA?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
plinth in the middle of the living room, it is in the kitchen on
the top shelf. I have to say I have moved it down a couple of
shelves on occasion and then somehow it has been tidied
back up to the top again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
the award from behind, which I find quite amusing. I do have
a little spotlight that we can move like an anglepoise on the
shelf and sometimes the spotlight might find itself drifting
up towards my BAFTA\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nTala Gouveia (DCI McDonald)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
which has made it even better. Last year was all about creating
the show, which was great in its own way, but this year we
really knew the characters and got to really have fun with
them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
were doing a second series, but I was a bit worried we wouldn\u2019t
be able to film because of the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
crew were in visors and masks and all the actors were split into
bubbles. You could only have lunch with your bubble so if Jason
wasn\u2019t there one day, I would be sitting on my own listening to
all the other bubbles laughing, that was a bit sad!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
McDonald?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
god, I don\u2019t remember her!\u2019 But as soon as you get the suits on
and as soon as I am back on set with Jason really, it all comes
back. Me with my iPad, him with his little glasses\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What reaction did you get from the public?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
came out, I went to the pub once and got recognised and then
the coronavirus hit and I didn\u2019t come out again! Thank God we
got a second series, otherwise it would have felt like the whole
thing didn\u2019t happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
and we all went round for a viewing party. In the second
episode of series one, McDonald shouts at Dodds and my mum
was getting all tearful and then she shouted at the tv: \u2018Oh sod
off!\u2019 I was like, \u2018Mum, who are you saying that to?\u2019 and she said,
\u2018You! Well, your character\u2026\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
apologising to him. I was like, \u2018It\u2019s not actually me, I\u2019m not a
police officer.\u2019 Everyone just loves Dodds, though, he is
adorable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
series one?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
around! I felt much more confident and like I had much more
ownership over the role in this series.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
feel like there is more diversity on screen today, or is there still
a long way to go?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019ve had some brilliant shows come out in the last year with
diverse casts. I May Destroy You, Small Axe, It\u2019s a Sin, and Bridgerton
to name a few. And they have proved really popular. But it\u2019s not just
about who\u2019s in front of the camera, but who\u2019s behind it as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
conscious effort to create a more diverse environment. It was nice
not to be the only brown person on set. Ian Aryeh our director on
episode three was the first black director I had worked with on
screen. Which was lovely, but also really sad that it had taken so
long to get to that point. I think with the BLM movement there is a
real momentum at the moment to have more representation, and
to be more conscious of the stories we are centring. I just hope
the momentum continues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
quickly as possible. Is that still the case?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
doesn\u2019t want to put roots down but they are just growing
anyway. Series two picks up some time after the end of series
one, so she and Dodds have had a few more cases in between
that have happened off screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
stronger. There is an underlying friendship there that is growing.
They both give something to the other person and they are
both beginning to lean on and rely on each other.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
double act?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
great. We don\u2019t make big grand plans for how it has to be
before filming a scene. We tend to talk it through and work it
out together. We had more of a shorthand this time, having
worked together last series.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Murray), gave McDonald a hard time in series one. What is their
relationship like in this series?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
success rate with her cases is pretty good, but he doesn\u2019t seem to
recognise that. He is still out to get Dodds too, but McDonald is
protective of Dodds now, she recognises his weird genius and is
willing to put herself and her career on the line for him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
star struck?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
first film. We were so lucky to have him and he and Jason just
bounced off each other. It was like I had a free comedy show
watching them every day, because I was in their bubble.
\u201cSharon Rooney is in episode two and I was just obsessed with her
when she did My Mad Fat Diary. I was so excited to work with her,
and she was brilliant. She plays this character that has to speak at
700 miles an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
to get to work with her. She\u2019s such a pro and we had a lot of fun
working together in episode three. She plays a cosmetic
surgeon with a lot of status and there is a lot of power play and
mind games between her and McDonald. I am such a corpser,
though, and in one scene the director got Sarah to close her
eyes when I was doing my close-up shots so she didn\u2019t make me
laugh. He tried to make me do it to the back of her head, but
that just made me laugh even more!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
you are reading the scripts for series two?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
always trying to work things out in a detective-like way. But the
script still twists our brains in knots. The details and plot twists
are brilliant. And I always get surprised when I read who the
killer is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
McDonald. I think the show really has the potential to keep
going and evolving, so long as the writers can keep coming up
with ideas. I don\u2019t know how they do it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nPatsy Kensit (Barbara Graham)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
80s, four of whom have stayed really close and have this unique
friendship. They all live in the same block of flats together in
Bath, and Mick, played by Martin Kemp, is the ringleader of the
group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Cathy Tyson) and Gordon (Rupert Graves) in a hot air balloon, but
then this fifth member of the group turns up, someone my
character Barbara can\u2019t stand. We get into the balloon and it all
turns to chaos. Five of us go up in the air, but only four come
down alive\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
town. In the present day, she is doing commercials and she has
built a nice life for herself. She often doesn\u2019t think before she
speaks, and that can get her in trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
other three friends, especially Mick. Because they all were quite
big in the 80s, it\u2019s almost like they have one mind, and are in sync
with each other. They think they are untouchable and can do as
they please – even trying to cover up a crime.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
show?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
was doing a drama at the BBC when Spandau Ballet used to do Top
of the Pops there. I would be there in period costume, running into
various pop stars in the corridors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
guy and hopefully we will get to do something together again in
the future. I didn\u2019t know Rupert or Cathy, but I knew their work and
loved it. We all just kind of clicked. I just adore Rupert, he has the
most wicked sense of humour. And Cathy is lovely, she is very
passionate and she has a very wonderful spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
who plays an aviation expert helping McDonald and Dodds
investigate the balloon murder. What was he like to work
with?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
planet and he is just brilliant in the scenes that I did with him. I did
Would I Lie To You? with him, and I managed to fool everyone.
They were very peeved!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
takeoff on a crane, which swooped us up about twelve feet in the
air. It felt really exciting, but we weren\u2019t allowed to go any higher.
I have never been in a hot air balloon in real life, I\u2019ve wanted to go
in one since I was a kid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Barbara?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
you there. I think it is really important to like the character that
you play. This gang are very much living in their past glories
though, and that\u2019s not like me at all. I had some incredible times
in the 80s and 90s, though, it was lots of fun and we didn\u2019t know
how good we had it. I mean, look at the world now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
restrictions on everything now. Who would have ever thought that
would happen? But I am very content and I don\u2019t look backwards or
live in the past. I am just grateful that I managed to keep going and
managed to keep working.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a lovely quiet private life now. I was on Holby City for four and a half
years and it was a really lovely time, but I left because I wanted to
be around more for my kids. One of them was about to start his
GCSEs and I was always at work, so I stepped back for three years
and was mum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People say that it\u2019s hard to find parts for women my age, but I have
been really, really lucky. I hope it continues.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
turned 50?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
movie recently and I was told I looked too young for the part I was <\/p>\n\n\n\n
as it\u2019s not something you usually hear at my age!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
watching some documentary about kids that kill their mother
and my sons are like, \u2018Why are you watching that stuff? It\u2019s not
normal!\u2019 But I am not empathetic to the murderers on these
things, I just love the detective work and how they solve the
crimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
thing. Sometimes people don\u2019t think that about me, but then
they come unstuck. I\u2019m very on the ball!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nMartin Kemp (Mick Elkins)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
episode of Miss Marple I did which I had so much fun on. Then
when I found out who else was in this episode, that was it.
\u201cPatsy Kensit is an old friend of mine who I have known since we
were kids. We have been close to working together a few times
over the years and it\u2019s never come off before. We lived out in LA
at the same time, just after I did The Krays movie, and we were
both doing independent movies out there. Everyone was trying
to put us together to make a film and it just never happened.
When I saw her name on the cast list, I thought, \u2018Yeah I have got
to do this one.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
and I come from those days when music execs were not all they
seemed to be. You could never quite work out why they were
successful. They were almost like market traders, rather than
someone who should have been in Sony or wherever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
because during the 80s in the record business, everything was
larger than life, including the amount of money being earnt.
Everybody\u2019s egos were inflated, it was a very hedonistic time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
fame in the past and he is the one they look to. He is a strong
character, which I love to play, but there is also some vulnerability
to him. He is the one that organises the balloon trip which ends
with a fifth member of their circle not making it out alive. There are
lots of secrets and myself, Patsy, Cathy and Rupert\u2019s characters are
all suspects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
make this work within a four foot balloon?\u2019 But they did. We had a
crane to lift us in the air, but it was all done against a green screen.
The thing is, even though it is all green screen around you, your
imagination just takes over. You don\u2019t need to wait for the CGI to
be put in, your imagination is already seeing the trees and the
ground below.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
especially because we were all stuck inside that basket for the
first few days of filming. Patsy and I didn\u2019t have to work on
anything as we already had that bond, but with the other two, it
was really quick.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
fan of his?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
than he is on-screen. Rob is genuinely one of the nicest
famous people I have met for such a long time. He made me
laugh – sometimes he made me laugh a little bit too much.\u201d
\u201cWhen you work with great actors though, it really makes you
raise your game. Jason Watkins, for example, is a great actor and
he is very different in everything that he does, so I was really
looking forward to working with him too. He just makes everyone
lift their game.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
the best crime shows ever at the moment – I loved The
Pembrokeshire Murders. We all love a little bit of crime solving. I
would love to be a detective, without a doubt. They must have so
much fun. I mean, don\u2019t get me wrong, it must be a tough job but in
my fantasies, it would have been fun. In a parallel life that\u2019s maybe
what I would have done although my plan B was always to be a
footballer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
in a way like, if you weren\u2019t there, you\u2019d missed out. It\u2019s just a
generational thing. We all have that era of our lives that you
enjoyed the most and definitely the 80s was mine. It was my
formative years and I grew up then. Being in one of the biggest
bands and touring the world is a weird way of forming your
personality, but I did. I had a lot of fun in the 80s, so I have got
really fond memories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
lucky because I was a child actor so when I went into Spandau
Ballet, it wasn\u2019t going from zero to sixty. I understood that fame is
a job, I didn\u2019t see it as my identity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
well as releasing an album and a book with your wife, Shirley.
Was it nice to come back to acting with this project?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
from what you have been doing before. All my friends who are
my age are in that mid-life crisis where they would give anything
to change their job and just get out of the rut. I am really lucky
because I get to do different things and I feel like I am changing
jobs all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
can\u2019t give away anything about it as I am in the middle of writing
it, but that is taking up most of my time at the moment. Writing
is just something I love because it takes your brain somewhere
completely different. It takes me away from watching the news,
which is just all about Covid. That\u2019s what\u2019s good about a show like
McDonald & Dodds – for the viewer it gives you an escape from
the real world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nJames Murray (Chief Superintendent John Houseman)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
also put a bit more flesh on the bone with him this series. He is
quite elusive and mysterious so I worked with the writer to get a
bit more backstory on the screen this time. I can\u2019t tell you too
much about that as it is a bit of a reveal but we learn about his
home life a little bit, and we get to see a bit more vulnerability to
him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
series aired?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
there is that nasty guy from that show\u2019. But a lot of people quite
liked the nastiness, or so they tell me to my face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
on getting Dodds to retire?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Houseman and never quite lives up to what he perceives her to
be, after all she was his project. In the second episode of this
series, he starts to notice the new recruit DC Paciorkowski and
uses her as a bit of a threat and a warning to McDonald. He wants to
fast-track Paciorkowski through the ranks and sees her as a
potential successor to McDonald if she doesn\u2019t stay on her toes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
reminded of Dodds\u2019 existence, he remembers that he is dead wood
and wants rid of him. That said, there are modicums of him
recognising Dodds\u2019 achievements a bit more, especially when he
does something good in episode three.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How did you find working together again?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
That was fun to do. We actually tried to get Sarah in series one but
there wasn\u2019t a role that was quite right for her, but this part was. Our
characters didn\u2019t have an awful lot of do with each other but I did
have to dress her down a bit in one scene. That was great fun to do
without fear of any comeback because she didn\u2019t have any lines
back to me. Fantastic!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nJack Riddiford (DC Darren Craig)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
a series regular. Did you feel more comfortable this time
around?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you have that familiarity with the cast, it makes things so
much better. I learnt so much during the first series, just watching
the other actors like Jason, who is such a master of his craft, and I
tried to put all those things into practice this time around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
own and I didn\u2019t watch it live. I watched it a day later because
then I know six million other people aren\u2019t watching at the same
time. I didn\u2019t get recognised much though because I am very
different to Craig. He is very smart, clean-shaven and does his hair
and I am quite the opposite to that. I\u2019m probably a lot lazier than
him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
is given some more. He has always been good at his job but he
has always been safe and he knows what he needs to do to keep
McDonald and Dodds happy. But with Milena joining, he needs to up
his game a bit because she is better at the job than he is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
than him, but he also fancies her as well. She is quite guarded around him, so he has to work hard to chip away at her. He tries everything. He tries to be funny and cool around her and ends up making terrible jokes in his attempts to break the ice, but he always puts his foot in it in some way or another.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
you get on?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
filming in quite odd circumstances extremely easy. She is such a
brilliant actor and made it really fun. We got to build our on-screen
relationship very easily.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nLily Sacofsky (DC Milena Paciorkowski)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n