DIARY
1er Juin 2000
Robson returned to his roots to film a new TV series on Tyneside last week. He will play a successful commercial lawyer in the ITV series Close and True. The series centres on Robson's character, John Close, returning to his home city of Newcastle to take over a rundown legal aid practice.
Hordes of technicians moved into the trendy Quayside area as the cameras began to roll and the Chronicle managed to get a sneak preview of the shoot. Famous North East landmarks featured prominently as backdrops and viewers will be able to spot well known sights such as the Tyne Bridge when the series hits the small screen. Small crowds of Robson fans defied the downpours and gathered in the rain to watch the filming.
Production company chiefs were today keeping details of the new prime-time show under wraps but bosses hope it will prove a huge smash. Naomi Phillipson, spokeswoman for Robson's London production company, United Productions, said the film crews would return to Tyneside to shoot more scenes later this summer.
She said: "The drama was to have been called Close and Innocent but that title has now been changed. We have been filming in Newcastle, London and Malta for this new six-part series which will be shown on ITV in the autumn. It's a very powerful role for Robson. We hope the audience will take John Close to their hearts for many years to come."
Other actors appearing alongside the Geordie heart-throb include Brookside's Mark Moraghan and rising young North East actor Jamie Bell. At just 14, he was one of the stars of the Cannes Film Festival after winning a rousing reception for his first film, Dancer, at the French festival last week. (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)
19 Mai 2000
British television actor Robson Green waded through the green blue sea in Dwejra yesterday, as the film crew tried to steady their cameras in the shallow water. Battling against the strong winds on the cliffs of Dwejra, the crew zoomed in on Green and Maltese actor Ray Attard, who has clinched the part of diving instructor in the British television series Close and Innocent.
Filming of the series, to be aired on ITV in the UK later this year, started in Gozo yesterday and is expected to be wrapped up tomorrow. The scenes being shot in Gozo form part of the opening and closing sequence of the first episode and will portray the island as contemporary Gozo.
Press officer Naomi Philipson, who was on site yesterday morning, said the production companies specifically chose Dwejra because it was known for its "brilliant diving facilities. We are just praying for better weather conditions, because we are not here for a long time. It's a pity that it's so windy," she said.
The series is a co-production between United Productions in association with Coastal Productions, which is owned by Green himself. The two companies had contacted Mediterranean Film Studios about two months ago and MFS resident production manager Malcolm Scerri Ferrante and Malta Film Commissioner Winston Azzopardi met in Gozo to plan things out.
The companies were very well equipped and they needed minimal help, but Mr Azzopardi and his people accompanied the crew to Gozo. "We are here to help them coordinate matters. We want to ensure that things run smoothly," Mr Azzopardi said.
Ms Philipson said the presence of the commission made their job much easier, especially when it came to shifting from one location to another. Today the crew will be taking shots of Marsalforn, Xwejni Bay and Mgarr. The series is produced by Rebecca Keane and directed by Renny Rye.
Close and Innocent revolves around a business lawyer John Close, played by Green, in Gozo learning how to dive. "But while on holiday, he was summoned back to the UK to help his friend deal with a criminal case," Ms Philipson said.
All in all, the filming of the six-part series will take a total 18 weeks. It is not yet known when it will be aired, though it is expected to hit the screen by the end of the year. (The Times (Malta)/ 10 May 2000.
robsongreen.com
@Coastal Productions
At home in Billingham, Cleveland, Jamie admitted: "Acting's good fun but I don't fancy Hollywood at the moment. Maybe I'll go down to London sometimes but I really want to stay here. The drama is about a murder case, and Robson's a lawyer sorting it out and I play his client's son, who has to give an alibi. I've heard people calling me the new Robson Green because we are both from around here, but I don't know if I will be. I wouldn't mind that kind of money though!" (News of the World)
03 Août 2000
Shoppers in Newcastle city centre stopped in their tracks yesterday when they saw TV heart-throb Robson Green. The former Soldier Soldier star, who was born in Dudley, Northumberland, was back on Tyneside finishing filming for his latest drama series, Close and True.
In the six-part series, Robson plays a successful lawyer, John Close, who returns to Newcastle to take over a run-down legal aid practice. Filming started in Newcastle back in May before location shoots in London and Malta. Newcastle Crown Court is featured as a backdrop in many scenes and the filming has also taken place elsewhere along the Quayside.
Crowds watched as filming took place in and around the Monument, including one scene where Green, decked out in his beloved Newcastle United strip, ran up Grey Street to join up with other Toon fans.
Robson said: "This series is about a young lawyer who comes back to Newcastle to do something that matters. He has spent 10 years of his life as a corporate solicitor but has never felt there was purpose to his work. Now he wants to help the people he grew up with and give them a voice."
The series, which is the third ITV co-production between United Productions and Green's own company, Coastal Productions. Producer Rebecca Keane said: "This is a very distinctive legal series. It tells powerful stories with wit and charm and is a very strong role for Robson." (Newcastle Journal)
Robson took a deep breath before plunging into his latest role in the new six part drama series Close and True. The setting was the crystal clear waters off the Maltese island of Gozo, and Robson was playing a lawyer on holiday, learning to scuba dive.
It was a daunting moment as he donned wet suit and breathing apparatus, and prepared for his first dive.
"I have no fear of water, and I was happy to go down to ten metres. But I am afraid of big fish. If you are going to go, you don't want to be eaten by a fish. So it was a bit scary," confesses Robson.
Robson trained with a scuba diving expert in a swimming pool before travelling to Gozo, which is a mecca for diving enthusiasts. On each deep-sea dive he was surrounded by a team of experts to ensure his safety.
"It was an exhilarating experience, but I didn't think I'll take up scuba diving as a hobby," he says.
In Close and True Robson plays John Close, a shy and polite man who has been working - not very successfully - as a commercial lawyer in London. He decides to change his life and take over a virtually bankrupt legal practice situated on the banks of the Tyne.
But his idealistic crusade to give a voice to people who can't afford legal representation is not quite what he imagined:
"The practice has run down to the point of collapse and is staffed by people who have accepted its inevitable failure. John sees he has been wasting his life, and that this practice actually can change other people's lives for the better. John suddenly realises that with a massive effort on his part, he might be able to turn its fortunes around" explains Robson.
"But John is a commercial lawyer with experience in balance sheets and business plans. In terms of criminal law he is totally out of his depth."
John ploughs all his money into the practice, and also secures a loan from his ex-girlfriend Jessica in an attempt to salvage the business.
"The senior partner Mr. True is living out his life in a mental home. But he has an incredible mind. When John is unsure of things he goes to Graham True to ask what to do and he realises what a genius Graham True is. Graham True was like John once - full of ideals, fighting on behalf of the underdog, and warns John not to continue his pursuit or he will end up on a psychiatric ward too."
The two men strike up an odd friendship, and agree to become partners in a new practice - Close and True. Robson was highly daunted when he prepared to play his first scenes with the actor playing oddball Graham True - his childhood hero, James Bolam.
"I was very nervous before James arrived on set. I had never met him, but I had always been a huge fan because of When the Boat Comes In, The Likely Lads, Beiderbecke, and End of the Affair. He is such a fine actor. Here was someone I had always held in high esteem, and I was going to work with him for the next four months- it was nerve wracking. But he's an absolute gentleman and told me what a pleasure it was to work with ME !"
"We just hit it off. He has beautiful timing, and he can speak without talking. He has got IT. Sometimes when the camera wasn't on me, I would watch James working and his CV would be going through my head, and I would forget my lines. When we finished working together he gave me a hug and said it had been fun. And it was fun. He has great anecdotes to tell. When that was happening off camera, it just got better in front of camera."
Robson knew James Bolam would be perfect for the role: "When I first heard James had agreed to take the part I felt the same euphoria as when I got my first job. When you have James Bolam you know he will bring warmth to the show."
The character of John Close is quite different to some of the romantic leading roles he has become best known for recently. John is a more vulnerable character and is very shy with women. Very old fashioned, he feels uncomfortable in casual clothes and prefers traditional suits, and has bookish spectacles perched over the trademark blue eyes.
"John Close is an honest and true man. But he's no good with women because he can't articulate his feelings, and he's spent his life so far following a fairly meaningless career to please his dad. Now he has the chance to do something with his life.
What makes this series different is that it isn't just courtroom drama. It's a show about human beings and their strengths and failings, with a great mixture of pathos and humour. I think the warmth of the show will come from that. The legal pursuits in each episode are just a backdrop."