INTERVIEW DE ROBSON GREEN À PROPOS DE WATERLOO ROAD
ROBSON Green went to school just up the road from me. He was at Seaton Burn High just after I left my Sixth Form to embark on a career in journalism.
I met up again with Robson recently and asked him if he had ever gone back to his old school.
“No. I think there’s always something wrong about that. It’s just weird,” he replied.
“When I was there, you’d get guys and girls who had left and they’d hang around the gates, for some unknown reason.
“I couldn’t think of a worse thing to do, other than being invited and talk to the kids. But not to hang around. Definitely not.”
Mr Green returns to TV tonight as a new regular cast member in Waterloo Road.
Well, at least for the next 10 weeks.
You can also see him presenting ITV1’s Perspectives documentary on the true story of the Pitmen Painters at 10:15pm this Sunday.
My MEN feature is below, followed by some interview extras for those who want to read more – including his thoughts on Being Human.
ROBSON Green grins: “I just had this image of Glee in Rochdale. Dancing and talking about things I’d have no idea about. And they were wonderful.”
A new term is about to begin at the nation’s favourite comprehensive school with fresh faces among the cast.
Waterloo Road (BBC1, tonight, 7.30pm) sees the arrival of Robson, 46, as site manager Rob Scotcher. “Posh words for caretaker,” he explains.
The Geordie actor stayed in Manchester for 10 weeks to film his episodes of the show, voted Most Popular Drama at the National Television Awards in January.
“I was as nervous as anyone else going into a new series. It doesn’t change. If anything, it gets worse. Especially walking into Rochdale. Someone had described it as a holding pen for The Jeremy Kyle Show. I disagree. I think it’s a lovely place.”
His fears of Glee evaporated when he arrived on location at the former Hill Top Primary School in Kirkholt and discovered the young cast who play the students were every bit as professional as the more seasoned stars.
That includes Warrington-born Britain’s Got Talent winner George Sampson, 17, whose character Kyle is taken under Rob’s wing.
“You know my views about reality television,” says Robson, who is not a fan of the genre. “But George is talented. I think Britain’s Got Talent is a different beast. And George is a phenomenal dancer. Supremely confident in front of the lens. So a joy to work with. I hoped he was going to dance but he never did.”
The former Wire In The Blood star filmed Waterloo Road at the same time as shooting his final scenes as werewolf McNair in BBC3’s cult hit Being Human.
“With the Rochdale set being an old school, I was talking to the director and you’ve got your hands behind your back because you think you’re talking to your headmaster.
“At first there was an uncomfortable two hours of, ‘I’m not really happy in this place.’ Stupidly, I went, ‘Can someone direct me to my caravan?’ We all had classrooms for dressing rooms – it was a nightmare,” he laughs.
Rob has a son at the school called Aiden, played by Oliver Lee. “Basically my character’s objective in life is to care for his son. He wants to be a role model for his child. Not the teacher or, as we do in life, call footballers role models. I think it’s ridiculous.
“Wayne Rooney’s a role model? For who? Poor him. What a burden to have, being responsible for other people’s children. People say I’m a role model. Rubbish. No I’m not. Look after your own kids.”
Former Coronation Street star and Manchester drama graduate Debra Stephenson arrives later in this seventh series as Rob’s ex-partner. By which time the caretaker’s relationship with head teacher Karen Fisher will have taken a romantic turn.
Karen is played by Amanda Burton, who will be seen on screen with Robson for the next 10 weeks before they both leave the series, nominated in the Continuing Drama category at the British Academy TV Awards later this month.
“She’s a headmistress and I’m a caretaker. So we go for the awkward romance. He asks her out for dinner and, yes, there are kissing scenes. I’ve met Amanda socially many times but never had the chance to work with her.”
Robson had been asked before to join the cast but was working on other things. “To be deeply honest with you, the reason why I took on Waterloo Road was because Mark Benton was in it.”
The two actors have co-starred together in many TV dramas, including Manchester’s Northern Lights and Clash Of The Santas. Mark plays bumbling new maths teacher Daniel Chalk.
“Mark’s character arrives on a bicycle. It’s hilarious. We have fun. He’s just a joy to work with. And I think as the 10 episodes progress there’s some lovely stuff with me and him.”
Having filmed a new series of Extreme Fishing, Robson can be seen in ITV1’s Perspectives documentary at 10:15pm this Sunday night, exploring the story behind The Pitmen Painters.
He’s also been spending time in Hollywood. “I think I’ve made inroads to Los Angeles,” he smiles, having attended Elton John’s post-Oscars party this year. “We’d been on the road driving there for about 40 minutes when I realised I’d forgotten my ID. So I had to turn round and go back for my pasport, because you go through all this security.
“And then when I finally got there, they went, ‘Hi Robson, Elton’s waiting for you, come through.’ It was fabulous. Just wall to wall charisma. And Elton was very nice. He went, ‘Hello handsome, what you doing here ?’
“They were all there – Randy Newman, Smokey Robinson, Nicole Kidman. And the cast of Glee…”
Q & A
EXTRAS À L'INTERVIEW
Were you ever bullied at school ?
“I was never bullied. I always a good runner and good hider. A good runner beats a good fighter, I tell you.”
What were your schooldays like ? Did you like school ? Were you a good pupil ?
“Yeah, sometimes. I don’t know what a good pupil is. What is a good pupil? I got O-levels, I got A-levels but I didn’t have many girlfriends there. I don’t know why. It was kind of weird. I enjoyed some teachers. There were teachers there... if you reflect about your school life, you realise how difficult it was. "
"I was in schools where the classes were 43 kids. That’s impossible. And we’d be put into leagues. We’d have Division One, because the Premiership wasn’t around then, because I’m so old, Division Two and then the Vauxhall Conference if you got a certain percentage in your test. So if you’re in the Vauxhall Conference, you’re frowned upon. It’s like if you had free dinners. ‘Oh, the poor folk.’ You’re like a leper.
“They shall remain nameless but there were teachers there who disciplined by fear. You’re kind of scarred by that, the hitting and the mental scarring. But there were some wonderful teachers there. Their job is impossible. You see them more than you do your parents and they become role models, supposedly.
“But we had some really good ones, guys who nurtured me in what I wanted to do. I wanted to be a pilot or an actor, that was it. And then realised that if the RAF and I were to survive we would have to part. So I pursued this wearing make-up and doing dialogue. I loved it. It was a great way to feel confident and express and learn and educate.
“But that was not encourage in the north east of England because no-one understood why you wanted to be an actor. There were good teachers. But there was a time in my school life where we were disciplined by fear. And I’d like to have a chat with them now but it’s impossible because they’re all dead. Ah, what a shame, never mind.”
What did you get in trouble for ?
“Well it wasn’t fighting. (laughs) Talking. I think just expressing myself in a way that was inappropriate. I just wanted to be the centre of attention. It’s what an actor is, you know. If there’s a lull in the room you try and make it a better, lighter and nicer place. That was one of my objectives in RE (Religious Education).
“I’m not going to tell you the name of the teacher because the last time I told a reporter about my headmaster, he went round to his house and said, ‘You brutalised Robson.’ He did. He used the cane. It was terrifying.
“RE – here’s this man who’s trying to tell us that confiding in an invisible friend is going to sort out our problems. It’s just lunacy. All I’m seeing in the imagery I’m being fed, it’s like, ‘Sir, everything in the name of religion is just war and hatred.’ He said: “Get out. Don’t be so stupid. It’s love.’ And I said, ‘I can’t see it, sir. I really can’t.’ "
"And when I go to church I find these men deeply suspect and suspicious, saying, ‘I’ve just been talking to God.’ No you haven’t, you liar. You’re making it up. But we all accept it. I found religion scary. It’s a guy on a cross being nailed. Horrendous. A spear in his side. Awful.”
The affair between Rob Scotcher and Amanda Burton’s character. Is there kissing ?
“Yes. There is. We go for the awkward. There’s something about…you get to a certain stage in your life and the sexual pursuit either becomes awkward or it becomes funny. Or it can become stressful. It’s not easy. I’ve got a responsibility to a child and so has she. And she’s a headmistress and I’m a caretaker. A site manager. Janitor. I’ve met Amanda socially many, many times, but never had the chance to work with her until now.”
Why did you finally agree to join Waterloo Road ?
“To be deeply honest with you, the reason why I took on Waterloo Road was because Mark Benton was in it. I’d been asked to do Waterloo Road a few times and, for whatever reason, it didn’t happen. I was kind of humming and harring with my agent. And he said, ‘Mark Benton’s in it. He’s a funny teacher.’ I went, ‘Can I have lots of scenes with Mark?’ He went, ‘Yes.’ And I said, ‘I’ll do it, then.’
“And obviously to work with Amanda. She’s great and very charasmatic and fun to work with. Incredibly committed. It was just great. We worked out a way of doing it and it was very relaxed, very awkward and, hopefully, quite endearing, the way we approach it all.”
We find out in episode three that Rob has completed an Open University degree and is studying for the PGCE. Was this storyline originally designed to turn to turn Rob into a teacher ?
“No. I was only there for 10 episodes. He’ll probably spontaneously combust, I don’t know. They had this idea that if I was to accept a further series, I would be a teacher there.”
Former Coronation Street star Debra Stephenson arrives in episode four ?
“Yes, she’s the ex. But my son’s behaviour is partly because of her leaving and her behaviour and her rejection of responsibility. So basically my character’s objective in life is to care for his son. He’s passionate about his son and his son’s future.
“My son Taylor was watching a bit of the first episode and said, ‘Hey dad, you’re the oldest there. And isn’t Mark funny? Mark’s really good in this dad. He’s better than you.’ Get out. (laughs)
“But again the relationship with Karen Fisher is very adult. I think the way we play it, it’s kind of something you haven’t seen for a while. It’s romance.”
How was it working with Mark again ?
“Just like we do all the time. I went, ‘Have you learnt it?’ He said, ‘No.’ With Amanda, she’s just word perfect. An absolute master of learning dialogue in that short space of time. It’s brilliant. But Mark just goes, ‘Do you want to keep it fresh?’ Because I’m always knocking on the door of any actor, saying, ‘Do you want to run it?’ We’ll go through it and we’ll do it and we prep. And I’m a stickler for dialogue.
“But when I know I’m working with Mark, the script goes out the window. In a good way because he just harbours it and then we can play with it. It’s just a joy. It’s just so funny. He has a great entrance. "
"Mark’s character arrives on a bicycle. Say no more. It’s hilarious. It’s so funny. Mark Benton on a bicycle. Why is it funny ? It just is. There’s me working away to try and get people to care for the character. He arrives on a bicycle and you’re with him, totally.
“We have fun. I love him and I tell him I love him and he loves me. He’s just a joy to work with. And I think as the 10 episodes progress there’s some lovely stuff with me and him. I hope there is, anyway. Certainly I remember it being good. You know when it’s right.”
Was he really the main reason you took the job ?
“It ain’t the money, let me tell you.” (laughs) “Yeah. Absolutely. It was. When I think about it, yeah. I remember watching the first series. I had a couple of mates on it. It’s good and it’s popular and it’s well written and it’s well executed. And the young people in it are phenomenal. I was going to say kids, but they’re kind of not. The way they are and how professional they are.
“They would come in and they’re talking about the script and running lines and stuff. They’e amazing. Because it’s a very quick turnover. I could not have the energy to sustain 20 episodes. It’s backbreaking. And how Amanda got through it, I will not know to this day, knowing how an actor prepares.”
Tricky coming in at series seven ?
“No, they were great. Luckily I knew the director, Andrew Gunn who, when I was very young, I started a film company with called Citizen Film Productions. And me and Andrew set it up in the north east of England and we shot pop promos for local bands. And we went our separate ways. I hadn’t seen him for nearly 30 years. And he was there doing it. He was brilliant. Mark was there and working with Amanda is a joy and all the young actors in it were just wonderful.
Why didn’t you want to do it previously ?
“I don’t know. I was working. I was doing other stuff. I was doing Wire In The Blood, Touching Evil.”
How long were you filming series seven for ?
“Ten weeks. And I was doing Being Human at the same time and The Pitmen Painter’s as well. I stayed in north Manchester. It was very nice. The family came to visit. The set is what it is. It’s an old school.
“And it’s not Vanya’s (his wife) cup of tea, the school, as a place. ‘Can you do something abroad, on a beach. do you think?‘ But Taylor (his son) thought it was cool. They’re all great. I’d take him into make-up and they can do all that.
“But he enjoyed…I was bringing all the stuff back from Being Human, all the werewolf stuff, as that was going on. He kind of likes that.”
Does Taylor want to be an actor ?
“He could be one. Easily. He’s got all the ingredients. I see it now. He’s so confident. He adores reading and that’s to do with his mother, primarily. And I enjoy reading to him and he enjoys reading to me. He’s a brilliant saxophonist. He is supremely confident in coming into a room and talking. Has no problems. "
"Comes to LA with me recently and he’s talking there to the big execs and stuff and just has no airs. I just don’t know if that’s upbringing. I’m sure it’s something to do with me, hopefully. (grins) But I just see confidence in the boy and it’s one of the things you need as an actor, that ability to stand up and do this.
“It’s quite terrifying sometimes, it really is. Especially if you’re confronted with someone of a certain stature. He’s ten.”
Waterloo Road winning Most Popular Drama at the National Television Awards this year ?
“I was in Milan and it was on the TV. They got the Chilean miner, didn’t they? ‘Waahalllooo Rowww…‘ And everybody was going, ‘Who won? Is that us?‘“
Is there a level of snobbery from critics about the drama? I told Robson there was a gasp from some in the Press Room at the NTAs when the win was announced:
“I don’t know. Is there? I think it’s well executed. It was up against Doctor Who which I think has had its day, personally. And it was up against Sherlock. Was there a gasp? Did you gasp? You weren’t surprised? It’s a public vote, isn’t it? It’s not satisfying intellectual vanity, I’m sure. Or theatrical vanity or dramatic vanity. It’s there for the public. I know loads of teenagers who watch it. All the teenagers go crazy. My step-daughter watches it.”
What TV shows does he watch ?
“What do I watch? Aircraft Investigation on Documentaries. It’s a guy landed a plane on his own in the Hudson River and saved a hundred and odd lives. I think that’s amazing. I watch the History Channel. I watch a lot of American drama. I love CSI, I adore it. I watch Grey’s Anatomy, I think it’s fab. I watch a lot of American stuff. "
"Downton Abbey at the weekend, I thought I’d delve into that. But that’s the kind of thing I watch. I’m not into series at the moment. I caught the Jimmy Nesbitt thing, Monroe. I watched a bit of that because I’m a mate of Jimmy’s. I love him, I think he’s a great actor. I watch mainly American stuff and DVDs.”
Is he ever starstruck ?
“I kind of messed up in Soho House when a lovely Canadian actor who I’d worked with many years ago called Kal Weber went, ‘Hey, stay cool, you just want to be cool. Clooney’s behind you, OK ?‘ And I went, ‘George Clooney, where ?‘ And he’s right there. The one who did it for me years and years ago was Ralph Fiennes. He walked into a room and I went, ‘Jesus Christ, you’re stunning.‘ And he was. It was extraordinary. And it’s kind of like that in America. "
" You can kind of see why the audition process is like it is. You walk through the door and they’ll have you. They’re just charisma personified. They are. They’re beautiful, extraordinary looking people. And they fit the remit. ‘We want somebody who looks like this, this height and who looks amazing and has the mechanics.‘ You don’t really have to read. Well, I do. But hey.”
I handed Robson a printed copy of a tweet he had made from Glasgow Airport after an encounter with security staff (voir le tweet). He then told the story in his own words :
“‘Oh Robson. We’re your biggest fans. I loved that Reckless. Are you doing that again ?’ That’s like years and years ago. “Touching Evil, I loved that. And I really like that thing. What was it called ? Oh Grafters. You and Steve Tompkinson. Brilliant. Love it. Don’t we ? Love you ? Oh fantastic…can I see some ID ?’” I was going, ‘Are you for real ?‘ She did, I swear, she did. I just thought it was a beaut.”
Series four of Being Human ?
“Don’t know. They’re talking resurrection. We shall see. It was great fun. And, again, it’s something you don’t do for the money. They’ve got nothing. But what they do with what they’ve got is phenomenal. Surviving for 27 years, it was kind of one of the most enjoyable experiences. It really was. Just the mechanics of it all. I’m in awe of the make-up department. That was just phenomenal. And they’re just a great team. I just love them.”
You seemed to get a new audience from that ?
“Yes. Being in LA there was a couple of things I was tested for and they want to test me for something else, because of Being Human. It’s weird. That alone. And it’s very popular. It’s kind of more popular than the American version of Being Human out there. It was just fun. And working with Jason Watkins. Just gorgeous. And Russell.”
Pressure to be on a diet – is it off now ?
“It might not be because of this thing. (A possible new BBC role) My trainer is still with me, God knows why. We might have to train a bit more for this next role.”
Still not boozing ?
“No. It’s hell. It’s been the worst 10 minutes of my life.” (laughs)
How long has it been ?
“Since LA. Since that party. I had two glasses of champagne. And that was it. It’s really hard.”
Coastal Productions ?
“They’re developing ideas. I focus on my acting. I distanced myself from captaining the ship. It was a hard 10 years. It needs other personalities to take over now. That was really hard. I did what I did. There’s this whole thing of people getting together. People saying, ‘Well what about drama in the north east ?‘ Stop saying it. Do something. You have to be pro-active with it. You can’t just expect things to happen. You have to make them happen, especially in this industry. You do. You have to understand infrastructure, you have to understand investment but you have to understand commissions.
And you only get it if you get a decent writer and a decent story. And then you have to pitch that whole package. And if you’re unable to do that, you then have this whole embittered department going, ‘Oh God, there’s no work in the north east.‘ Expecting some knight in shining armour from the south to come up and solve it all. It doesn’t work like that. Never has. But it’s still going and there’s three really good things in development. One with the BBC.”
AUDIO : INTERVIEW DE ROBSON SUR LE TOURNAGE DE WATERLOO ROAD POUR SUNDERLAND RADIO (2010)
BACK IN THE CLASSROOM
NORTH DUO: Robson Green joins Waterloo Road as site manager Rob Scotcher – as does Mark Benton as new teacher Daniel Chalk
HE was a werewolf in Being Human not so long ago. Now, Robson Green looks more his normal self and has gone back to school.
Waterloo Road returns for a fresh series with Amanda Burton in charge as headmistress Karen Fisher, who’s joined by Green as new site manager Rob Scotcher.
The drama kicks off when a Year 12 pupil abandons her baby in the school gym, and then claims it. Karen is understandably concerned for the girl, her child and the dark secret she’s keeping.
We are also introduced to new teachers Eleanor Chaudry (Corrie veteran Poppy Jhakra) and Daniel Chalk (Mark Benton, another North-East actor), who want to make a good impression, but the kids aren’t going to give them an easy ride.
“Chalky” is instantly marked out as a soft target, while Ms Chaudry’s strict rules land Sambuca Kelly (Holly Kenny) in the “cooler”.
What Eleanor sees as unruly behaviour in Sambuca is just a personality clash according to Tom, but her erratic behaviour gives cause for concern.
Meanwhile, new boy Aiden Scotcher (Oliver Lee) has caught the eye of Jess (Linzey Cocker), but it’s her friend Vicki (Rebecca Ryan) who’s got his attention.
After a quarter of a century in the business, Green decided to take a few risks last year in the hope of landing some different roles.
“I hadn’t had an agent for 25 years and only took one on last year,” he explains.
“One of the reasons was to get away from me captaining a ship for so long, with the company and my own business.
I kind of wanted to pass that over to someone else, but you do ignore the business side at your peril.”
His new representative suggested the part of a werewolf in BBC3 hit Being Human, and Green jumped at the chance.
If he looks rather buff in this series, that’s probably because he burnt off a few calories training for the BH role, and a load more running from that set to Waterloo Road’s.
“I was no stranger to the sweet trolley when I first started, so I took on a personal trainer, John Ashwood, and he got two stone off me within four months,” says Green.
“They wanted me totally bald, but because I was doing another job (Waterloo Road) and the producer of the other job said, ‘no, we can’t have you bald. You’re playing the love interest with Amanda Burton, she’ll not go for a baldie,’ so I had to juggle a certain amount.”
He admits it was a bit of a crazy period dividing his days between the two BBC series.
“No joke. I was driving from Waterloo Road to Cardiff,” he explains, adding: “Do you know what ? I love what I do. It’s not work to me. My dad, God rest his soul, always used to say, ‘work is not something that’s meant to be enjoyed. That’s why they call it work’.”
ANY programme featuring poorly children is bound to leave even the hardest-hearted person with at least a wobbly bottom lip, so seeing the brave youngsters who’ve been dealt terrible blows so early in life is likely to cause some serious sobbing.
Children’s Cranio Surgery charts the work of staff at the world-renowned craniofacial unit at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital. From the initial consultation, through the incredibly complex surgery to the nervous moments of first recovery, we see parents, surgeons and children as they undergo their high-risk, unpredictable and ground-breaking procedures.
Among those being treated is two-yearold Coral who has Crouzon syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes her brain to grow through her skull. Her mum and dad now face a difficult decision that could positively change her life, or cause a stroke, paralysis, coma or death.
ROBSON GREEN: 'I’M TEACHER’S NEW PET !'
A new series of Waterloo Road kicks off with Robson Green joining the cast of BBC1’s school drama !
A new series of Waterloo Road kicks off with Robson Green joining the cast of BBC1’s hit school drama. The former Soldier Soldier actor is playing Waterloo Road’s new caretaker Rob Scotcher, who soon gets very flirty with head teacher Karen...
There’s going to be a fling between your character, the new caretaker Rob Scotcher, and the head teacher Karen, played by Amanda Burton. Is that right ?
“Yes, there’s a frisson that gets us together and he does ask her out to dinner. And yes, there are kissing scenes! But we kind of didn’t go for the obvious, we went for the awkward. There’s something about getting to that stage of your life and the sexual pursuit becomes awkward, or stressful.
It’s not easy, especially when you’ve got the responsibility of a child. And, of course she’s a headmistress, I’m a caretaker – or a site manager !”
Have you worked with Amanda Burton before ?
“Yeah, well I’ve met her socially many, many times. I’ve been asked to do Waterloo Road a few times, but for whatever reason, it didn’t happen. Amanda’ s very charismatic and incredibly talented. We worked out a way of doing it that was very relaxed and hopefully, quite endearing.”
What’s it like working with Mark Benton again, as he plays new maths teacher Mr Chalk? You were such a good double act in Northern Lights...
“It’s great. Amanda is absolutely brilliant at learning dialogue in a short space of time, whereas Mark is always trying to keep it fresh. I’m a stickler for running through dialogue with another actor. But with Mark the script goes out the window – but in a good way! It’s just a joy, so funny. He has a great entrance. Mark’s character arrives on a bicycle. Say no more! It’s hilarious! Mark Benton on a bicycle! I love him. As the series progresses, there’s some lovely stuff between us. You just know when it’s funny.”
Do you watch the show ?
“It’s a good series, I remember watching the first series as I had a few mates on it. It’s good. The young people on the show – they’re not really kids – are phenomenal, so professional. I had this image of it being like Fame or Glee in Rochdale – which would be my idea of Hell! But it’s wonderful, a great script. There’s a very quick turnover. I don’t know if I have the energy to sustain 20 episodes, it’s back-breaking. How Amanda copes with it, I don’t know.”
How did you find the filming schedule ?
“I was there for 10 weeks but I was also doing Being Human at the same time. I was staying in north Manchester. The family came up to see me. The set is an old school so it really feels like you’re at school, and it smells like a school. When you’re talking to the director you’ve kind of got your hands behind your back because you think you’re talking to the headmaster. My son Taylor came along to the set, he went into make up and stuff. But he really enjoyed the stuff I did on Being Human because he’s really into that.”
Does Taylor want to be an actor, too ?
“He could be, he has all the ingredients. He’s so confident, and he adores reading. He’s a brilliant saxophonist. He’s supremely confident at walking into a room. He comes to LA, the BBC, sees big execs and he has no fear. I don’t know if it’s down to upbringing or because of me. But one of the things you need as an actor is that confidence, that ability to stand up and do this. It’s quite terrifying at times. He’ll want to go up and talk to big Hollywood stars like Laurence Fishburn, I’m like, no leave him alone.”
What were you like at school ?
“I went to Seaton Burn School. I was never bullied cos I was a good runner! And a good hider ! I’ve not been back there, as there’d be something weird about that...”
Were you a good pupil ?
“I liked school, sometimes. Yeah I was OK. I got O levels and A levels, but I didn’t have many girlfriends there for some reason! I enjoyed some teachers. When you reflect on your school days you realise how difficult it was for teachers -I was in a class of 45 kids! That’s impossible. There were teachers there who disciplined by fear and you’re kind of scarred by that, the hitting. But there were some wonderful teachers there, too.”
Were you a troublemaker at school ?
“I wasn’t in trouble for fighting or anything, just talking and expressing myself in a way that was inappropriate. I just wanted to be the centre of attention - it’s what an actor wants! If there’s a lull in the room you try and make it better. Last time I told a reporter about my headmaster he went round his house and said 'You brutalised Robson !'"
INTERVIEW DE ROBSON GREEN
Robson Green joins Waterloo Road as a school caretaker, Robert Scotcher, who quickly develops a flirty rapport with the headmistress Karen (Amanda Burton).
The 46-year-old actor is also reunited with his old pal Mark Benton, who plays another new member of staff, the bumbling teacher Daniel Chalk. Robson explains more…
You’re famous for starring with Mark Benton in Christmas Lights and its sequels. So what’s it like working with him again ?
It’s never like work with Mark. We stay in touch. I’ve always loved working with him, and I hope to work with him again in the future. It’s just we’re relaxed, we enjoy each other’s company, we share each other’s dressing room, and it’s easy – that’s the right word. Plus, we’re around the same age as well. So when you’re surrounded by 300 teenagers, it’s nice to have a like-minded person next to you.
How would you describe Rob ? Would you say he’s quite laid back ?
He is, but behind the façade he’s a character where everything isn’t quite what it seems. I’m trying to portray someone who really shouldn’t be a caretaker – no offence to caretakers. But that character shouldn’t be one. He has to devote himself to his son’s future and therefore he has to take on this role. So he’s a very loving father, but has ambitions of his own and he’s a person who should be teaching.
There’s lots of chemistry between Rob and Karen, played by Amanda Burton. How does that develop ?
It actually becomes very fine come episode four and onwards. It was very enjoyable to do, and we don’t shy away from the awkwardness of two grown-ups, especially a headmistress and a caretaker, trying to like one another.
In the past, you’ve starred in Wire In The Blood, and other productions made by your own company, Coastal. But are you taking a break from that now ?
Well, Coastal is a self-sufficient company now, and I can concentrate on my acting. I captained the ship for 10 years and I know that takes a lot of your energy, and there are people there who can hopefully continue that self-sufficiency. So I am focusing on my acting now.
And you’re known for documentaries. Have you got any more of them in the pipeline ?
I’ve just finished filming a new series of Extreme Fishing With Robson Green. It’s not really a documentary, it’s a piece of entertainment, which happens to be backed up with fishing. I’ve just come back from Argentina, Siberia and Chile.
But you’re also presenting an episode of the new ITV1 series Perspectives. What’s that about ?
It’s a documentary directed by Jon Blair, who won an Oscar for Anne Frank Remembered. When an Oscar-winning director rings you up and says, ‘I want to work with you on a programme about The Pitmen Painters,’ It’s kind of a no brainer.
Who were the Pitmen Painters ?
They were a group of guys in the Thirties and Forties who were miners. In their spare time, which there was very little of, they painted and then became recognised within the art world as true artists — as true creative people. They didn’t do it for money, but any money they did make was distributed among the village of Ashington. They only did it for one thing and that was self-improvement.
Why does their story appeal to you so much ?
Well, my father was a miner, and I was surrounded by five pits when I was growing up. The miners were doing something that in today’s culture just couldn’t be thought of. People would say, 'What, you want to paint? People want to buy them, but you don’t want to sell them? And you want to continue mining?' Partly, it’s about how important coal was, and it’s a celebration of them and their industry.
ROBSON GREEN EXPLAINS 'WATERLOO ROAD' DOUBTS
Robson Green has conceded that his first days on Waterloo Road were uncomfortable.
The actor, who was last seen on BBC Three's Being Human, makes his debut on the school serial next Wednesday.
He told Reveal: "I feel like I should put my hands behind my back when I speak to the director, it's like talking to the headmaster !"
"At first, there was an uncomfortable two hours when I stupidly thought 'I am not really happy in this place'."
Green continued: " I asked for someone to direct me to my caravan, and we all had bloody classrooms for dressing rooms. Nightmare ! "
Meanwhile, referring to his own experiences inside the classroom, he explained: " I was brutalised by my headteacher. He used the f***ing cane - it was terrifying. "
" There were teachers who disciplined by fear and you're kind of scarred by that - by the hitting and the mental scarring. I talked too much. I think I just expressed myself in a way that was inappropriate."
The star added: " I wanted to be the centre of attention - it's what an actor does. If there is a lull in the room, you try to make it a nicer place. Later, I decided wearing make-up and doing dialogue is what I loved. "
" It was a great way to feel more confident and express and learn and educate, but that wasn't encouraged in the North East of England. No one could understand why I wanted to be an actor. "
ROBSON GREEN BACKS 'WATERLOO ROAD' LOVE PLOT
Robson Green has praised his ongoing Waterloo Road romance plotline, hailing it as a " proper old-fashioned " love story.
The actor's character Rob Scotcher has developed a slow-burning attraction to headteacher Karen Fisher, played by Amanda Burton, since being taken on as Waterloo Road's site manager at the beginning of the latest series.
Speaking to Take It Easy about the story, Green commented: " I think Amanda is a wonderful actress and the great thing about my character's relationship with her character is that it's a proper old-fashioned romance, without any of the bitterness you so often see in TV dramas. "
" It's just a genuine, loving relationship between two people who are attracted to one another. "
Green went on to confirm that he filmed Waterloo Road last summer and will only feature in the first ten episodes of this series. Karen is also expected to bow out in episode ten.
Discussing his future, Green said: " Ten episodes and I'm gone. But there's more Extreme Fishing, there's a big new drama series I'm involved with which is set in Newcastle, and I'm hoping to do a comedy drama about football mascots with my old friend Mark Benton, who I appear alongside in Waterloo Road. "
" The idea would be for me and him to play the mascots of our favourite football teams - mine is Newcastle United and his is Middlesbrough - and end up tussling on the pitch, in the way that real-life mascots have occasionally done in the past. The project is only at the idea stage at the moment, but I'd love to see it happen. "