After such a climatic last season what were your thoughts on such a dramatic ending? Well I was happy, after all, I knew I was gonna survive it as I wasn't on the coach. I say it all the time but this is the best job around, great show, stories, cast, crew, from make-up and design to costume to the big guns upstairs, I love it and to leave will be like leaving family. That was the only downside, to lose all my friends in one episode, I still see all the guys and girls but not as often, missing you all guys!! But the show hasn't had a spectacular ending since five and explosions are always a ratings and storyline winner and I think Jane wanted to start fresh which meant new cast an all! I was a lucky survivor.....phew!!! The new series would either be sink or swim and after filming the first 10 episodes I think you are gonna love the new look show, its gonna be great!!
What are your hopes for the progression of Ryan this season? Well we have seen Ryan go through so much from losing his father, best friend, Chelsea and now his team mates, he needs to embark (check me out with fancy words, swallowed a dictionary over summer!) on a journey that will allow him to learn from last year, grow and eventually find happiness. From losing everything it would be nice if he could find or begin to build a new family, a solid base, someone he can lean on or talk to again, he's just a lonely kid. Bad things always happen to Ryan, he's still only 21, so hopefully he can get over the deaths of his friends, concentrate on his football and England career and hopefully a nice 20 or 30 ladies can cheer him up along the way.
Are you still in touch with any of the now departed cast members and are there any you wish had escaped the cull? Ah ha a trick question, I like it but I've had me cuppa and I'm on to ya!!! Everyone who has left, we will always keep in touch. Like I said earlier, working all day everyday with people you become so close and we all catch up when we have the time, even characters from as far back as series 6, we all keep in touch and wish each other well or meet up for the odd party (ok you got me, every party going, we are there for the opening of an envelope!!!)Any excuse eh? hee hee
Can you describe a typical working day, from the time you get up; to the time you go to bed. Well my first alarm goes off at 5am; turn that off, sleep again, next, 5:30am. The alarm is thrown violently across the room, hmmm just 5 more minutes! Did I say 5? My body disagrees, it thought it heard 30 minutes, I'm now running late! Run into work, makeup is my first point of call where I catch up on all the goss and have a good chin wag wit da 'beautiful handmaidens of gorgeousness' (my name for the makeup girls) and Stu (Lucy-head of makeup's fion, fe, fiansea, fiancé, the guy she's gettin married to). After they do all they can to make me look half normal or at least awake, off to costume (more gossip! I'm such a bird!!), where I put on my bat suit (dammit no, that's the weekends!!) I mean I jump into Ryan's gear. Off to set where we run through our lines, rehearse have a giggle and finally make miracles happen and film some magic!! Lunch, if we have time pizza hut all you can eat (that's where I like to get my own back on restaurants and eat and drink the place dry) If no time, Tesco's and up to green room where the boys and miss Naomi Ryan work out, us being the finely tuned athletes we are have to keep in trim, cant be bothered by the time we get home. The afternoon consists of the cast trying to stay awake through scenes after the food and workout kicks in (the changing room is so cosy and warm, gotta fight it, stay awake!!) More magic happens, a lot more giggles and the magic words 'that's a wrap'. Home time and back to my beautiful princess who greets me with a cheeky kiss and cuddle. Din dins (I'm northern, that means I have my dinner), then if we don't go out, we will stay in and watch the news channel or documentaries, yeah right, I whack on a film, have a quick read through tomorrows lines and off to bed, sadly though that bits censored.
What do you think is the biggest factor of Dream Teams success? Something for everyone. Beautiful women for the guys out there, great looking guys for the girls, a bit of footy and some great stories for those who love drama! With a football team you have 15 players and their wives or girlfriends, so there's always room for a story there and it can stay fresh as the cast are so large. This show could go on for a longtime to come!
Who have been the biggest influences in your life and career? It sounds cliché but my mum and dad were behind me all the way when I decided to leave university and join the cast of dream team. I have a huge family and a lot of friends who were behind me and will always keep me grounded. I owe a lot to Tez Maynard (Stuart Naysmith) too as he taught me so much in my first years of acting, what a teacher to have, thanks dad! Obviously the powers that be at dream team that gave me the chance too i.e. Jane and all the producers I've had, they changed the direction of my life towards acting and I'm grateful for the opportunity. Lastly and more recent, is my ickle lady Sassy, she's my new rock that keeps me striving to do better there you go, a preview to my Oscar speech ha ha boom boom!!
How long does it take to film a series of Dream Team? We start filming in July and it takes one and a half weeks to film an episode but don't try and work it out. Usually we finish filing around the first week of April depending on whether or not we are behind schedule. We get the odd week off here and there and a fortnight at Christmas, it's a bit like school, in fact its a lot like school detention, we get homework, told off when we misbehave and the dinners suck! Great fun though!!
Was it easy to film the final scene's with Terrance, with you playing his son for so long, did you find it overwhelming and very emotional? Oh my giddy aunt!! It was hilarious; we were very emotional for that scene as we knew that Tez was leaving the show for real too. We did the first take and we were soooo emotional that we couldn't even get our words out; we were crying our eyes out!! We had to stop and take 10minutes to pull ourselves together and decided that it was just too much and we should tone it down a bit. We had been father and son so long it felt like I was losing my dad and he a son for real and it choked us. Eventually we got the right balance and I think we came up with a scene I'm really proud off, I saw Jane Hewland a little after and she said she saw it twice and cried both times even though she knew it was coming, so a scene well done I think.
How has your lifestyle changed since you joined Dream Team? Well I can't go out, I get mobbed, I drive a Ferrari, just drink champagne and live next door to Robbie Williams, cribs are coming round in a bit!! My life hasn't really changed that much, at the end of the day it's just a job, a great job but just that! Sometimes fans will spot me and I'll sign a few autographs, have a few pictures or a little chat, I get to go to a lot of great parties and meet people I wouldn't have dreamt about meeting. Its strange sometimes when I look through my phone some of the names on it, but hopefully what ever happens, even if god willing I made it big in film of something, I like to think id stay the same, my mum wouldn't let me change too much, I still have to take the bins out when I visit or I get a clip round the ear!!
How would you like to exit the show? ALIVE WOULD BE NICE!!! Always room for a return that way. I'm not sure, an emotional exit would be nice, perhaps I'm transferred to a foreign team and my partner cant come and we have the whole dramatic airport stuff where there's a will she wont she get to Ryan in time to tell him she loves him and wants to go with him! Something with a happy ending would be nice, for all the tragedy that's happened to Ryan, for him to leave happy would be nice.
What's your favourite single episode? For me, I don't have a favourite episode; I have favourite moments like the siege when Jaime Parker breaks down. For me that was one of the best scenes if not the best scene I've seen on dream team, Jim was amazing.
Besides the characters you play, who is your favourite character of all time on Dream Team? Gotta be Fletch, Ryan has kind of followed in his footsteps and had many of the storylines fletch had when he was younger. Fletch has been through everything, he was adored by men loved by women, a real leader and great character. Though he wouldn't be the same if it weren't for Terry Kiely who played him, Tel is a great actor who taught me a lot also, he made Fletch come alive!
Are there any storylines you have disliked doing/being part of? There are always directions or stories that an actor would prefer or dislike, ok dislike is the wrong word to use as there's no such thing as a bad storyline, it's always good to be involved. Sometimes I've wanted a bit of redemption for Ryan as he always gets into trouble and instead of redeeming himself, he digs himself deeper. Its great to play as its fun being a bad boy, nice guys are boring to play; everyone loves a bad boy now and again.
Do you enjoy playing football when you're not acting and what football team do you support? I'm a cheeky northern monkey from Manchester and am an avid man utd fan I'm afraid. Supported since I was a young whipper-snapper!! I love playing football and it's definitely one of the perks of the job. Training ground scenes are great and we often try out doing each other trying to embarrass each other on national TV. If someone nutmegs you, it's bad enough without it going on air for the world to see!! Our charity games are also fun, and we have a great record of about 3 defeats in 5 years, tasty little team we are, play good football too ha ha boom boom,ok that was poor, I'll try harder later!!
What have you been up to during the summer break? As I was coming back, it's often hard to find work that fits into our 3month break without overlaps, so I've been away with the missus to Jamaica for a well earned holiday, then I went with her to Indonesia to watch her do a modeling shoot and DJ'ing. Apart from that its been pretty quiet, I can tell I'm getting old, I've been doing a lot of DIY, I know my dad will be wettin' himself, I used to take the mickey out of him when he used to do it!!
Can you give any hints to how this series is looking at this early stage? Haven't seen much, just a few scenes here and there, we have the viewing of episode 1 this week or next. But from reading the scripts so far and talking to the producers about their plans for the series, it should be one of the best series ever. Focus has moved back to the players and the trouble that we all get into, so it's gonna be fun, slick and a great series to watch!
If you could choose any past Dream Team storyline to be involved in, which would it be? Has there been any storylines about a player having too many women at once? Can't really think right now, I'm quite happy with everything I've had since I've been on the show, it's been quite a hectic journey for the youngster who's been through everything you can think of by the age of 21!! Women, heavy drama, footy related stories and I've had a few stunts which is always fun!!
Are you anything like Ryan? We look similar; I'm a bit taller than him in real life, though that depends on the size of your TV! I like to think I am nothing like Ryan, he's young, naive, and impetuous, im definitely more laid back and calm. I'm a confident outgoing person who is always playing practical jokes on my mates and work colleagues. We have both had problems with women but I'm now settled with sassy and happy where as he has nobody to turn to, no family, girlfriends have left him and his friends are dead.....sniff, poor kid just needs a hug!!
Which cast member (past and present) has been most like their characters? Most actors tend to bring a bit of themselves into any character they portray unless they are playing character roles where by they need a whole new identity like jaws. Fletch was pretty much like Terry, energetic, cheeky chappy (though he changed the role a lot when he returned last year) Clyde too was similar to Tim, the lovable cocky rogue
How much influence do you actually have over the way your storylines and character progress? Not much to be honest, we have to have faith in the producers and script writers and I think they do a great job (yeah I'm brown nosing, how do you think I survived all these years!!!!) When they find something you are good at, they tend to drift that way, but they are always willing to listen to any ideas we have. In my first few years, I did a lot of tragedy and the producers thought I played it well so Ryan ended up getting into all sorts of trouble. When I did some comedy stuff they said they didn't realize I could be funny so tried me in different directions. They seem to like me being a ladies man at the moment, Ryan's getting a few more ladies here and there, yeah I know its terrible, bring on the tragedy....not hee hee
Do you enjoy doing carrying out interviews and photo shoots? Yeah I don't mind them, a lot of guys get bored with them or can't be bothered but I say hey, it won't last forever, so ill talk while people are still interested. I think it's a chance to get your own personality across as people tend to just think you are like your character.
If you could choose to do a photo shoot for a magazine, which magazine and photo shoot type would you like to do? I don't know really, to be on the front cover of a well known magazine like GQ or something would be nice. I've always wanted to do a mean and moody photoshoot, black and white in the rain or something like all the Calvin Klein ads.
Would you ever consider a naked photo shoot for play girl or cosmopolitan magazine? Would I accompanied by these playgirls? If it was classy where nothing can be seen, nothing smutty and of course the money would have to be right, £2.5 mill ought to do it!!!
It is apparent that you like to keep in tip top condition is it embarrassing to shower in front of each other or do changing room scenes and who's body are you most jealous of? Well, most of the boys are sportsmen and it goes back to school sports day when everyone showers with everyone. You are used to it, of course some may get a bit more stick in the showers than others but hey, nothing a bit of warm water can't fix.....wink! This year we have a new set of guys and for all those interested, they are all in pretty good shape. We are in the gym a few times a week to maintain our finely tuned frames, sometimes we even workout while we are there!!
Have you ever used your celebrity status as a chat up line? "Do you know who I am?!" ...or do you know of any other cast members that has done? Also what is your favourite chat up line? Argh I hate people who think they are special because they are on TV or famous, it's just a job!! If anything, I deny it's me. Anyone who has asked me before will back me up about this, but when girls ask me what I do, my usual answer is I'm a door to door salesman. I hate people who will only talk to you when you are a face or rich, its nice to get to know people, then if later you find out they are multi billionaires, bonus.
what's the best practical joke you've played on another cast member? Oh my days, you are talking to the right guy, I have played so many pranks I can't remember! Me, Tyson, Ansah and Sexy when they were here tended to get the ball rolling and others would join in. Ansah played a great joke on Tim(Clyde) and chucky(Curtis).A big feature film were filming at our studios and Ans told the boys that they were looking for two guys to play small roles in the film but to keep it quiet. Chucky and Tim nearly bit his arm off at the chance to become big screen stars and ran to the producers to tell them that they were interested in the roles. They returned with red faces when the producers turned them away having no knowledge of the parts!! Man that was embarassing; they got stick for the next year and a half about that!!
What's the most romantic thing you have ever done for a lady/date? Ah heck, I'm an old romantic and like to do spontaneous things for my lady! Last weekend I took my missus to Paris for a surprise dinner! I'll leave her romantic notes in her clothes pockets, in her car, shoes and bags so she gets them during the day when I'm not there. Lots of little things like that make a big difference in a relationship, keeps the sparks flying
Have many people noticed that you were in Blue's video, Fly By and how was it working with the boys from Blue? Have you strutted your stuff in any other music videos? Dag nammit, you guys are the only ones who have noticed and I have denied it for years. I did it when I was at university and told nobody about it, but obviously when word at uni got round, whenever I walked into bars and clubs at uni, DJ's would start playing flyby for the laugh, embarrassing but hey I just kept thinking bout the Benjamin's (money!) They are good lads and it was actually that video where their manager approached me to form a new boy group. It Was like pop idol, every week I had to perform a different song for the producers at virgin records, and they would bring in different guys to see whether I liked them and we could gel. Got 3 of us together before I landed the dream team role and decided on acting instead, there's a little 'before he was...' fact.
What is the most embarrassing record in your collection? Hmmmmmm, depends, I like a variety of things from classical to hip hop, but I have to say that many a time a friend has been looking through my collection and my n'sync and backstreet boys albums have popped up, yes I lied and said my little sister left them there, I know I'm ashamed, I feel so wrong!!
If your lady was a game of footie, how would you play her? Flippin heck that's deep! Obviously there has to be respect there, don't assume you will easily pick up the three points, always room for an upset!! It's a game of two halves so if you have a poor first half, there's always time to make it up. You need a strong spine so you have a good understanding of how to play the game if pressure mounts. I like to keep it tight, let them come to you and catch them on the counter attack. Always have a great playmaker in the middle, he can be spontaneous and always come up with a surprise that can win the game for ya. Don't go all out attack, you are likely to concede. Play the ball not the man; don't get caught out by the odd step over or dummy leaving you exposed. Be patient, trust in your good points and ability and you can wear them down and eventually they will concede, and when they concede once you find that weakness and goals will come
Have you ever been arrested? Only by the fashion police, wahey boom boom, that was a cracker!!
Have you ever woken up with somebody and not remembered their name? No not me, I'm a good boy. Though I am bad with names so when I was single I just used to call everyone tiger, can't go wrong there!!
What's the drunkest you've ever been? I don't usually drink, a couple of tins of red bull does the job for me, I'm hyperactive and don't need drink to have a goodtime. But probably my 21st birthday, I was at uni don't remember much else. Was out with me best buddies Danny and Glen (bad combination to start with!! Think George best and Gazza!) Always messy when I'm out with them, think we were in Manchester, could have been London, ah well, if you can't celebrate on your b-day when can ya!!
Where is the strangest place you have ever woken up? Waterloo station stairs, I missed my train home after a night out and fell asleep waiting for the first train in the morning. When I woke up, someone had left me some change, they thought I was homeless, bless, I wouldn't mind but I thought I was looking quite tasty that night!!
What was the last text you received and who was it from? From the missus sassy asking what film I want to watch tonight, very exciting I know.
Have you ever been to an England match? I'm ashamed to say it but no, I've been to man utd games and a lot of other premiership games but never an England game, that's a lie, I went to an England ladies game, loved that, couple of the boys were thinking bout becoming footballers husbands!!
Which celebrities have you got off with? Can't be saying that, I'm not the type to kiss and tell, a gentleman if you will! Saving it for my up and coming best seller book, 'Ricky'. I'll have to leave you with my lady DJ Sassy(djsassy.com for those who don't know her)she's the most important one!(yeah I'm brown nosing again, luv ya baby x)
Have you ever kissed anyone of the same sex? Yeah all the time, I'm comfortable with my sexuality, on the cheek and even lips but never full on though and definitely no tongues, just a peck, go back to American pie 2 with stifler and that was pretty much why....wink
Which celebrity you've met did you hate the most? Footballers wives is filmed here and I met the one that played Tanya, what a stuck up cow, we said hello and she blanked us, she thought she was gods gift, she tried it on once in a bar drunk, it was my turn to blank her...hee hee revenge!
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