After the show, whilst a number of cast members hurried away, I managed to get Luke Treadaway’s autograph on my program. Nicola Walker was different. She took the time to speak to all of her fans. Before she came over to our group, Nicola met with some friends, including Josh Bolt, her on screen son in Last Tango in Halifax. Then she came back to our group. She told us, “When I saw Josh who plays my son in Last Tango in Halifax I almost stopped in mid pay to say hi to him.” Nicola said that she’s very nervous about the Sept. 6 live performance that is going out to theaters across England and other countries.
This time I was determined to ask a few questions about Spooks which I kept forgetting to ask in previous encounters. Nicola told us how much she enjoyed her time on Spooks, first being offered the part of Ruth Evershed, then leaving because she was carrying “this heavy child” and then being asked to come back. “Of course I jumped at that.” She described Jane Featherstone as “truly brilliant,” and remarked that Featherstone had succeeded in a world dominated by male producers and she deserved the credit for creating Spooks, “It was her child, her creation. You have to give her the credit for creating this magnificent show that had a wonderful run.” I believe Nicola was surprised by how much I disliked the ending of Spooks although I said the scene was well acted. Nicola said that she loves working in any medium, theatre, television, “wherever the work is because you don’t know when an offer will come along.” She also said she would love to work with Kudos again.
Nicola stayed and chatted with us until we all agreed she needed to go home. It was Saturday night and she would have Sunday off. She looked at me and said, “you’re leaving tomorrow.” I nodded. The she reached over and hugged me. A word about hugs. The inside secret is I am not big on hugging. As a teacher you have to be careful who you hugged and who you did not hug. As an individual I tend to hug very close friends, and family and few others. Nicola gave me a hug when we parted after we spoke that first time. I didn’t mind it but I tweeted about this. One of my new friends, Emily, remembered that tweet and decided to have some fun with me. As we were leaving, Emily pulled me in for a hug and wouldn’t let go until I gave in and hugged her back. We all had a good laugh over that.
I’m very glad that I went on this trip to London. People who have seen the pictures of me taken on this trip, smiling, are really happy I went on this adventure. My friend Wayne is glad I wasn’t murdered and was pleased when I told him how genuinely happy I felt for the first time in years. This trip was as much about meeting Nicola Walker as it was about taking control for myself and letting myself be happy. Being on my own meant that I didn’t have to worry about what others wanted to do. I could do as I pleased and see what I wanted including Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, Changing of the Guard and so many other sites.
I wish Nicola would do work in the US but I can see why the Brits may not want her to leave. She’s a national treasure. I hope to again return to London and see the marvelous Nicola Walker in a play, or perhaps someday she will be on Broadway, which would make it a much easier trip for me. Still I loved the Southbank, The National (whose staff were fantastic in helping me find my way around), and Big Ben whose ringing I awoke to every morning, and went to sleep by every night.
Please Note :
This website owns the copyright for this version of the report. If you wish to repost the whole or any part of this report elsewhere, please Email Us for permission. Alternatively, you may contact the fans involved and ask them to provide you with a differently worded version of these events.
Back to Close Encounters : Main page
Dee,
This is a great report, I’m so glad you enjoyed your trip to London.
I’m inspired by this article, you seem like a truly lovely person and I’m glad that you came to London by yourself. It sounds like you had a blast.
My aunt’s granddaughter has special needs and I feel this is something that affects many many people and it’s refreshing to know there are people like you out there helping others.
All the best with your future endeavours, I agree there is a natural reporter in you.
Thank you for your kind words and I do teach in Virginia. Like to think we are better at what we do as we learn more each year especially related to ASD. Many would like for me to return to reporting, but for now I love teaching.
Dee,
Thank you very much for allowing us to share your extraordinary time in London. I still can’t believe that you saw Nicola so many times in such a short time. It was also great that you met with Nicola’s British and European fans.
The play has a strong resonance for me too. One of my sons, adopted from the orphanage of Zagreb, spent 13 years with special needs and autistic children. My filing cabinet is full of IEP and reports from various institutions (which I shall not name) throughout Virginia! I also sub in special ed classes. During the NT live broadcast, which luckily takes place in a dark movie theater, I hope that I won’t burst into tears in watching Nicola. I know too well the difficulties and sometimes the absurdity facing the parents of special needs children.
I became hooked by Spooks and even more so by the relationship between Harry and Ruth. Even though over the years I have enjoyed the performances of regular and guest actors, I am fascinated by the chemistry between Peter Firth and Nicola. As much as I hated the implausible ending of Spooks, Nicola had a point regarding the importance of Jane Featherstone in the creation of Spooks. However, without Peter and Nicola, the show would not have lasted that long.
I am just amazed how Nicola takes the time to chat to all her fans after two grueling performances in one day. I love your lively insights into Nicola’s past and future roles. You capture so well Nicola’s inner and outer beauty. The hugging part made me chuckle. I hope that you can go back to London some time in the future. We, the fans of Nicola, are looking forward to your reportage. You might be a teacher now, but you are still a reporter at heart.