Interview | LEE INGLEBY
Q What’s the most difficult thing you find to do as an actor? A Auditioning is the thing I find most difficult. You spend an awful lot of work preparing and rehearsing for a role that you sometimes don’t always get. Q Martin Shaw, with whom you co-star in Inspector George Gently, described stage work as a ‘reconnection’. You haven’t done much theatre work, so would you like to do more? A I love theatre. It’s a place to explore and breathe as an actor. Rehearsals are intense and rewarding. Allowing the time to create is just fantastic: I’d love to do more theatre for sure.
John Bacchus (LEE INGLEBY), George Gently (MARTIN SHAW), Rachel Coles (LISA MCGRILLS) in Inspector George Gently PHOTO COPYRIGHT: BBC | COMPANY PICTURES | MARK MAINZ
Q Despite mainly ‘edgy’ roles, you appear to like to inject humour into situations. Who are your comic heroes? A My comic heroes are many. I loved Blackadder and The Young Ones as a youngster, I still enjoy watching them today. Also, you can’t go wrong with The Two Ronnies. Brilliant. Q Would you consider doing comedy, as it appears to be a thread that runs through your persona? A Absolutely. Q Obviously co-starring in the very popular TV drama Inspector George Gently as Gently’s (Martin Shaw) rule-breaking sidekick John Bacchus has been a huge part of your acting life for the past 10 years. Martin thought it was time to move on, did you? A I did. It was sad to see the partnership go. Both Martin and I loved every minute of Gently and we have become firm friends as a result. But yes, things can’t go on forever.
PHOTOGRAPHER: JOSEPH SINCLAIR GROOMING: GLORIA PEÑARANDA
Q Over that time how did you try to develop the character of John Bacchus? A I loved John’s complexity, he was an old fashioned man really and it was Gently who was the modern forward thinker. I always got the impression that John wanted to be like Sean Connery in Dr No, but it never panned out that way. >>>
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