What have been the hardest scenes to film? I suppose the scene where I'm saying goodbye. It was where I was going to Dubai, when I was still married to Abi. I had to go into the changing rooms and meet the lads and say goodbye to them all. They all kinda' clapped me, which was quite emotional, mainly because I realised I was leaving Dream Team. But then I came back and filmed the death scene. I then kinda' realised that I was actually killing the character off, it was quite hard for me.
Which cast members from the past are you still in touch with? Quite a lot of them. Daymon, who played Sean Hocknell, we're really good friends. There's Phil Barentini, who played Billy O'neil, Martin Crewes, Ali King, Jim Alexander who played Jamie Parker. Chucky Venice aswell. I do keep in contact with a lot of them. We all get busy doing our own things like filming but it's always good to get back together.
Who was Fletch's one true love? Lynda, Abi or Gina? I don't really know! I would have thought it would have been Abi because he married her and she eventually turned round and broke his heart, but yano, I think his one true love is actually himself!
How did you feel when you heard Fletch was going to be killed off? I actually had a feeling that my character had run its course, I'd been doing it from day one and realised that the show needed some new blood and I knew they couldn't keep relying on my character because I'd actually done as much as I could do. There was a mixture of sadness obviously but I accepted it and realised it was probably the best idea. It was weird when they asked me to come back, it was strange. I didn't really know how they could do it. I hope it's worked. I did feel saddened when I heard he was going to be killed off but Fletch had run his course.
After you left Dream Team, did you continue to keep with the show throughout series 9 & 10 and what did you think of it? I didn't watch it religiously as I was doing my stuff but I did watch it when I could and it looked good and the show still had a good quality in it.
Was there any stories you wanted to do with Fletch but never got the chance to? I think everything I wanted was really done. I would have liked to play for England and have an England storyline, I don't know if Fletch was ever good enough though. Na, I think all the storylines I wanted to do were done to be honest.
When Dream Team began in October 1997, you were in the first ever episode, would you have ever believed that 10 years later, Dream Team would still be a part of your life? It is weird because when I first signed up to do Dream Team, I only signed up to do 5 episodes. Basically, I only thought I'd be in 5 episodes, and then I just kept coming back. It was only when we got to Series 3 I realised this could go on. I didn't realise it would go on for so long, I'm just happy to be part of it to be honest.
How did you feel when you heard Dream Team would end forever? I was sad when I heard. I would have liked it to go on for longer but obviously the powers to be, the producers and what not, didn't feel like it could continue much longer. You want it to be remembered and what better way to have it remembered than to finish on a high. I'm glad the producers have decided to stop now while it's still good rather than less and less people deciding to watch the show and having it just fade away quietly in the future.
If Dream Team was to continue for another 10 years, would you have liked to be involved? NO!! In a perfect world, yes, but there's no way I could be involved, I'm dead!
Fletch and Lynda are without a doubt the two biggest character's in the shows history. Are there any characters who you think are worthy of joining you in this half of fame? I don't know. I'm honestly just flattered people like our characters. It's obviously a mix between good writing, and hopefully, what we've brought to the characters. I don't know who else though, there's so many good characters who were also unbelievably popular. I wouldn't want to say any names because I wouldn't want to leave anyone out. I'd say everyone's worth of being up there in Dream Team because everyone works so hard and gave the show such life. I'd say everyone I've worked with on Dream Team character wise. I know it's a boring answer but it's too hard to decide.
Which real life footballers have you met through Dream Team? This was actually one of the great things about Dream Team, being able to meet these guys. A lot of them would actually watch us and that was quite flattering. I've met Rio Ferdinand. Robbie Keane, I was on holiday and Robbie Keane came over to me and we had a good chat. Frank Lampard, Les Ferdinand, John Barnes obviously because he was in the show for a bit. Then there are the managers we've worked with Ron Atkinson, Harry Redknapp, John Gregory and Ian Hollaway. It was mind blowing. I think that's the good thing about Dream Team which other football shows didn't have. They didn't have players and managers coming in and I think that was our cutting edge over other football shows.
Is there any cast pranks that happened during filming or any funny bloopers that you can still remember? I'll tell you one! We're always messing around on set winding each other up and trying to make each other laugh in front of camera and stuff that was the part and parcel of Dream Team. I remember my first ever scene, it was Series 1 and Ron Atkinson dragged me off the pitch to be replaced by Dean Hocknell. Anyway, I went to grab my jumper off the coach in the dug out. The dug out was so low I smacked my head on the top of it and nearly knocked myself out, that was all on camera, we had to do another take because I had just properly smacked my head. I nearly knocked myself out on my first shot! It was unbelievable. Such a bad start!
What does the future hold for you now? Well, I'm an actor; I'll just be going up for jobs, casting work. I'm actually starting filming a football film next week. It's by a sort of Bollywood company. I'll be working with a lot of old faces from Dream Team, like the first-team extras from the show who can play good football. It's going to be like an underdog conquers all kind of story. Like Bend It Like Beckham, it'll be like a male version of that. I'll be starting that next week and then who knows? I'll just keep plodding on.
Will you be taking away anything from the set on your last day of filming? How about a peg from the dressing room!? Haha! I have previously taken various items of clothing, kits and stuff. Friends of mine and my brother have asked for shorts and socks and stuff, so yeh, I've taken kit. I haven't really ransacked the place, I defiantly took loads of kit though!
Well thanks for the interview Terry! Really appreciated, hopefully we'll see you on our screens soon! It's been a pleasure, cheers!
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