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Interview with Nicola and Rupert Graves
(cue music from Last Tango in Halifax)
David : BBC Radio Leeds and if you love that music, it is of course from Last Tango in Halifax. We are going back on set, this time Nick and I met Nicola Walker who plays Gillian and the new cast member, Rupert Graves.
Right we are on set with Last Tango in Halifax. We have Nicola Walker with us, we have Rupert Graves. Rupert’s obviously just joined the brand new series. Ladies first, Nicola, series three, did you really think that after starting it, it would go this far, Last Tango in Halifax, cos it just seems to be able to go on and on and on. There’s more even in this series. What did you think when you first started, did you know it would run this long?
Nicola : I didn’t know. I just read the first six episodes, that first year, and thought it was brilliant writing, but then half way through that first series, Sarah Lancashire especially was saying they’re gonna, this is going to keep going, and she was absolutely right. She’s rarely wrong, Lancashire, cos she was absolutely right.
Nick : Lancashire, that’s what we call her round there. Rupert, you’re the new boy and you just got a round of applause. Did you do something very good there?
Rupert : Yeah I just finished this block of filming, so they give you a clap, just to tell you to get out quickly hahaha.
Nick : So what’s it like, coming on set, cos obviously these guys already have a relationship, they’ve already been in two series. What’s it like coming in as the new guy?
Rupert : I was pretty nervous the first time, cos I mean, I had to do a scene where most of the actors were sitting around a table and I’m thinking, you’re brilliant, you’re brilliant, and you’re brilliant, and ohmigod you’re brilliant and you’re Derek Jacobi. So its quite intimidating but they’re very friendly and as Nicola’s said, the writing is so good you can kind of surf your way in on the back of that, really.
David : And Nicola, what do you love about Gillian as a character?
Nicola : Its self evident, isn’t it really, when you watch her. I haven’t seen a woman portrayed like Gillian very often, because she’s, oh god, she’s totally fallible and very … she puts her hands up when she makes mistakes. And her sexuality is interesting, its kind of messy, and but again, unrepentant. She’s obviously got that dark secret in her past, from her first relationship that sort of sits underneath all of that and keeps it a bit darker. Its got the very dark heart of the show, I think.
Nick : Me and David were just sitting in that little store room watching you guys film on the TVs. And you were having some trouble with some of the frozen stuff back there. Is it a bit cold, were you struggling a bit there?
Nicola : No, he kept coming in too soon, on the take …
Rupert : I kept blowing it …
Nicola : So then I was just throwing the choc-ices in. I mean, I put my hands up, I haven’t had that much experience with stacking frozen goods.
Nick : Oh you did it beautifully …
Nicola : I’ve done tins, I’ve been trained on tins, but I haven’t actually had the frozen section training, so I felt like …
Nick : So the time with the Cambridge Footlights were totally worth it.
Nicola : But yeah, they didn’t do that.
David : And obviously we’re in Lancashire today but its filmed hugely on the other side, on the Pennines in Yorkshire. What’s it like to be filming in West Yorkshire.
Nicola : I’m never sure where I’m filming, if I’m completely honest. All I know is that they keep taking us either to very very … I’m not normally in the supermarket, I’m normally just driven to very beautiful locations, stuck in a field and told to mend, you know, a stone wall, and then someone who really knows what they’re doing then comes and does it. Or told to clip sheep’s toenails, or inject them with something, and then someone who really knows what they’re doing, again, comes and does it and then I step in at the last second. Its been a pleasure filming up here, its so beautiful.
Nick : And what’s been great today is that we’ve come into the Co-op and there’s still customers wandering around. Is it quite exciting to be on a set like this?
Rupert : A set like this is great cos its kind of make you feel very very real. I much prefer … I always like filming on location rather than a studio, although a studio is more controllable. But yeah, you can’t help let reality impinge on what you’re doing. I really like it. I think she’s …
Nicola : A man just asked me about the pricing on chocolate gateaux and I was really trying to be helpful. So I was nervous, I just went, ‘ooh, ooh, I dunno … ’
Nick : You know you’re supposed to actually take them to the aisle and tell them exactly how it is …
Nicola : What I felt really proud of was the fact that I obviously really look, the costume, that I look the part.
David : Exactly. And finally, for both of you, what’s next after Last Tango?
Nicola : I’m moving into Rupert’s, I’m going to do some light dusting for him and his family.
Rupert : Yeah, yeah.
David : Does he need light dusting?
Nicola : I’m going to do basic chores for them all, in a very respectful way.
Nick : Are you going to pay her well, Rupert?
Rupert : No, not very well, no.
David : Lets see how well she gets on in the supermarket aisle with the ice cream.
Nick : Let me just ask finally, what can we expect from this series. Obviously it has been massively successful. We love it all over the country but we really love it in Yorkshire. What can we expect from this series?
Nicola : You can tell that even when you step out of Piccadilly Station, people will stop you. I’ve never had that, people stop you and talk about how much they love the show. What can you expect? Well I can’t tell you that cos there are some …
Nick : We’re not asking for spoilers …
Nicola : … but there’s some huge story lines this year …
David : What people can expect is more wonderful writing, great acting, and just beautiful locations and that sort of thing.
Nicola : There’s great writing. She cares about her characters, and she’s brought some new characters in. And its getting stronger and stronger.
Rupert : I think what’s kind of wonderful, being new to the show, is the way that she does everything so gently. You don’t suspect … and then something amazing, very organic, happens. There’s a few big kind of nice things that’s going to happen in this next series, but they’re just … they’re brought in and you never for a second, while reading it, and hopefully when you’re watching it, you never for a second think its tricksy or anything. Its just beautifully and expertly written.
David : I can’t wait for that new series. Last Tango in Halifax. Nick and I were on set last weekend. Talking there to Nicola Walker, who plays Gillian, and new cast member Rupert Graves. There’s a lot of mystery about what role he’s going to play in the series, so Nick I can’t wait.
Nick : We kept getting told off, didn’t we, cos you’d agreed to something, you’d agreed to not ask any questions, I kept saying, what’s happening …
David : I said I’m not signing anything, I was going to ask difficult questions, so its great! So if you love Last Tango in Halifax it is one of the highlights this Autumn on BBC 1.
Order from Amazon UK
Order the Series 1 & 2 (Regions 2 and 4 compatible) DVDs from Amazon UK. Your purchase using this link will benefit Nicola’s nominated charity.
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