What was your favourite season of Dream Team, both as a viewer and the most fun to work on (season 6,7,8 or 9)? My favourite season has to be my first! It was out of this world. I came straight from uni and was introduced to the guys I had been watching on the TV not 3months before. The cast were fantastic and really welcomed me and the other new boys chucky, dhaffer, tez. The girls were all great too and we all quickly became a very close cast who were always out together. We all used to go to parties as a cast rather than what we did in later series as a rebellious small click of 4 or 5. At one point I must have been going out (and I can say this now I've left and the other guys have too) 5 nights a week and at one point we went out for 2 weeks straight. As long as it didn't effect our filming I didn't see a problem. They were all fantastic actors too, I don't think I've worked with such a talented cast since, no disrespect to the others, they are good too but Stuart, Jaime, Doyle, Tash, Abi, Marcel, Clyde, Curtis and the list goes on. Everyone was strong, believable and was a joy to work with. I wanted to be at work everyday!!
What was your favourite Ryan storyline? Chelsea without a doubt. I was lucky to have so many crazy storylines but I think my character and I really grew up when that storyline began. I think that Karen Ferrari and I had great chemistry on screen and it came across really well. The story was written so well and the dialogue made sense and was natural, it just flowed out our mouths when sometimes lines are forced and dont feel right. But that story was great. Karen was a great actress and we had a lot of fun filming all our scenes together. Our characters hadn't really met so we didnt see that much of each other till that year and that story. I thought she was quiet, shy and in a way she is..........till you get to know her then she doesnt shut up. Just kiddin but she came out her shell and used to take the mickey out of me all the time and make me laugh, a lovely girl who helped me improve as an actor.
Is there any storyline that you didn't like, or wish had a different ending? I wasnt too keen on the Cindi storyline this year. I thought my character has already been there and done that. I thought he would have learnt after the jaws stuff, though I was assured that some people just never learn. He didnt know that she was still with gavin anyway so I guess it was ok. Was great to work with dogs but I wanted something different to the jaws the dog storyline. Was a nice little story but I wanted something stronger like winning back players trust, or mentioning his dad, friends hes lost or just settled down with one woman, maybe a single mum. Then it would have been his turn to be responsible and keep a tear away kid on the straight and narrow.
Out of the 4 years which people you work with will you keep in touch with? I keep in touch with most of the cast over the four years. I phone tez, dhaffer, peter mack and ansah for advice, i call rachel brady, marem, kara, terry, im always out with chucky, tim, pressley(his name stuck, we dont call him james anymore). In fact I keep in touch with everyone ive worked with really, as long as I have their number. Only 1 person from series 8 I didnt want to keep in touch with and he knows who he is, and so does everyone else. A selfish, arrogant slob who didnt treat people with enough respect, get over yourself!! Though saying that, as I dont like grudges, if I met him on the street, id make up and wish him all the luck in the world...........wouldnt call him for a drink though, not my kind of friend...oooooooooh scandal I know.
Is there another character you would like to have played? On the show? I dont know really, I loved the fact my character could just do anything anytime. He was spontaneous, and unlike other characters he could literally get away with murder....hee hee. I guess I would have just liked different storylines but yeah I wouldnt change ryan for all the tea in china.....and that has nothing to do with me not liking tea.
Do you feel that Ryan has been underused at all in any of the 4 seasons? Hell yeah, especially this year. I was a little upset this year as I felt he was pushed to the side because everyone knew him. The powers that be felt they needed to introduce all the new characters which is fair enough as you guys need to get an affinity with them, feel like you know them and grow to love them. But I felt it lasted all year. I thought I had more storyline when I had a broken leg and couldnt play. Nothing that was supposed to happen to ryan this year did. I went back on the understanding that ryan was supposed to be struggling with the death of all his friends. This would affect his game and he would stop taking people on down the wings. Felix would then tell him this and move him to centre mid behind the front two which ryan would hate. He wanted to stay on the left as it was the only position that could garantee him a starting spot for england at the world cup. Him on the left, gerrard, lampard then beckham, he couldnt take over from the other 3 so felt if felix moved him he would be out of the squad. Felix was clever though and wanted him there to make him take people on,in the middle he had to where as on the wing he could just cross. Then Hector was to turn up and befriend ryan as they were both lonely souls. Ryan saw hector had no friends in the changing room and took him under his wing, then his girlfriend would turn up. She introduces herslef to ryan as hectors sister to con him into a visa. She would marry an englishman, divorce him and marry hector so the two could stay in europe. She flutters the eyelashes, ryan falls in love, his game comes back and he starts smashin it on the pitch. Ryan then proposes to hectors girlfriend, all the time hector feels horrible as ryan was the only person who gave him the time of day, he wants the visa but not to con ryan. However, un beknown to you guys, ryan was already married to his poor childhood sweetheart who didnt want the fame, just a happy family, and goes to find her to divorce her so he can marry his new evil lover. Its the whole sweet home Alabama thing and ryan falls for her all over again. He dumps the cheat, renews the vows and goes to the world cup a happily re-married man. Now thats a storyline, and thats the reason I came back. But it didnt happen, and I got more and more dissappointed as the story was cut to no marriage, then no sister and changed it all around and then to give me a dog at the end of it, I thought hmmmm. I love Jane Hewland to bits but I was really dissappointed that story didnt happen, if it had, I may have stayed for the final series but hey, a fresh start and I owe Jane everything.
What are your fondest memories of working on Dream Team? The changing room banter. Every year, whether the lads have been new or the same as the year before, i have never had so much fun at a job, it was hillarious. From ansah being stripped naked, egged and floured, to chucky celebrating too hard in a scene slipping in his boots on champagne. All I saw was him dissappear in front of me and two legs flying through the air, I nearly weed myself..............in fact I think I might of.......a little bit.
What have you learnt in your 4 years of being on Dream Team? Ive learnt a whole new trade. I never ever really thought of being an actor till it was thrust at me when I was offered the role. Ive realised its what I want to do in life, i love my job and enjoy going to work. Very few people can actually say they look forward to work but I cant wait to get through the door. Apart from time with the misus, its the place I like to be most. Its fun and all my friends are there, bar a couple of legendary uni buddies. Like I have said before, every actor who I have worked with has taught me something new, a new technique, feeling or system, im always learning and will continue to learn untill I retire after my seven oscar haul!!!
Knowing series 10 is the final series, how would you like to see Dream Team end – glorious success for Harchester, or carnage all round? In a way id like to see carnage all round, then ryan can come back in a spin off show on his own in spain or where ever he will go, bringing in past characters he and you know(that are still alive). Special episodes where he as contact with his father and chelsea, man thats a selfish answer. Sorry got a little carried away. It would be nice if harchester had a great season with no death, no affairs. people find single women, they dont have to be happy all the time (you need some drama) but the team has a good season. They start winning, playing well and who knows even the premiership or european trophy.
Behind Terry Kiely (Fletch) and Ali King (Lynda) Ryan is the 3rd longest serving character in the history of Dream Team? How does that make you feel? Ive never really thought about it like that but hey, i guess thats a great group to be in and I feel honoured. In a show like ours where players come and go(sorry I mean die) to last as long as he has is a great achievment, if I had of come back, it could have been 5 years! But thats down to Jane and the producers, Ryan was pinned into so many corners and always came out fighting. Just when you thought he had met his end, something happened and he was back flying again. The worst being when he was admitted into rehab after the muder of Steve the tout. He should have gone down for that even though he didnt mean to kill him. But even 2 years is a lifetime on dreamteam and would have ended his and my time on the show. But jane, jesse, ben and rachel were able to save the character by giving him what seemed like a punishment. After rehab, he was able to come out of his spiral and he would have served some time too so it was morally more acceptable. Bad people need to be punished on tv, it sets bad examples if they arnt. So I owe it to the guys upstairs for saving ryan on many occasions.
Why did you decide not to stick around for the final series? Was your mind made up before the end was announced? And if so – would that have made a difference to your decision, or was Hollyoaks to good an opportunity to turn down? Hollyoaks is too good an opportunity to turn down. Its on terrestrial tv, the profile is alot higher and it was a fresh start after 4 years of the same character. However, if dreamteam was moved to mainline channels, i may have stayed. I knew it was ending before I got hollyoaks, so knew for the first time that it wasnt going to last forever, I had to look for alternative work sooner or later. I was just lucky that hollyoaks came in for me when they did. They have just brought in new producers and myself and jaime are some of the first charcaters tobe brought in under the new regime. Im part of the first family to be brought in and they expect alot and are giving us great storylines. Its being revamped,stories,cast everything is changing for the better. Im glad I have moved now, ive just got back from sardinia shooting a calender,went to the soap awards where we won 2 awards,and things look good for next year where we are expected to win more with our new look.I want you all voting bigtime if I get nominated for anything, keep those fingers on redial people hee hee
Are you able to play football again after your injury? I recently played my first competitive game since the injury at the last game to be played at highbury before they tore it down. I played at the back in the rio sweeper role as I wanted to take it easy and it went well. I didnt think about it and put in some crunching tackles. I was really proud of myself,it helped having my baby sassy there to cheer me on,she took my mind of it, I just wanted to impress her so thought about the game more than what could have happened if I were to break it again. Thanks princess xxx Now im on hollyoaks,they play loads of games so ive already been drafted in along with jaime into the squad. I'll be pushing myself back up front for that though as I get my match fitness back.
Would you ever like to be a real life premiership footballer? yeah I guess so, thats what I aimed to be when I was younger and was nearly there untill I got injured. Arsenal pulled out of taking me on when I went down with a few injuries all at once. I love playing football but its all about the money baby, what would you do with £50,000 a week!!!
If you were to meet Ryan Naysmith – would you like him? Yeah, deep down hes a good guy. He always means well,thing just dont always go to plan for him and people take advantage. If he had a decent friend who could keep him in line,he would be a right laugh. He basically went through life with everyone he cared about being taken away from him. I dont know about you but if by the age of 22,you had lost your family, the love of your life, almost his career and all your friends to horrific deaths, i wouldnt be able to get out of bed in the morning, but he did day after day and carried on. Plus he likes his toys and it would be good fun messing about in all his cars and things.
Do you think Ryan deserves to live happily ever after or pay for his past mistakes? After my last answer I think ive already told you what I think. The lad needs a little, sorry alot of happiness!! He lost everything, and it kept getting worse. I would like to have thought that he went to the world cup, had a stormer, moved to spain with barca or real madrid and found a beautiful, loving spanish girl to settle down with and have kids. He and becks would get on well I think as they both love the bling and both play for england, arrrrrrrrrrrr a happy ending for ryan!
Did series 9 feel any different to work on set, did it feel like a new programme for you? Yeah it did, it definitely wasn't the same as the previous years. It was a whole new cast, people weren't sure how things went, which made filming longer. Also, a lot of us came in together or worked together for a few years, so there was a great family there between the crew and cast. With a whole new cast, we felt like the outsiders and there wasn't the equilibrium that was there before. In previous years, if someone got too big for their boots or began to lack respect they were pulled down and told to pipe down, but with a new cast everyone was kind of just doing their own thing. Dont get me wrong, everyone was lovely, i got on with them all, duncs, ali, johnny, rob, junior, nomes, everyone was great but when youve worked with people for a while its just different, its hard to explain. All I can think of is when you have best friends and you move and make new friends, they will be great friends but wont be the same as your old school buddies(im digging a grave here, im just gonna shut up.
So your joining Hollyoaks, can you tell us anything about the character you're going to be playing? This will crack you up but hes a rookie cop. He is 22 and arrives with his mother, younger brother sonny(17)and even younger sister sasha(15). He is a good guy for now who is trying to keep the family together, i cant say much at this stage but I can say that it will be an explosive first week with loads of drama, def worth a watch.
What new challenges are you looking forward to the most? Im not sure, i mean, i havnt been told to use an accent which is what id love to do, and he isnt a zany character like a jaws, comedic so I guess im just looking forward to trying new things, a new life, new friends and just try get my standard of acting up, learn a lot more and try and go for something at the soaps next year. It was always my ambition to win something for acting, ok yeah I wanted an oscar but everyone has to start somewhere so fingers crossed.
Are you nervous about being the new boy all over again? No, im far too outgoing and crazy to be nervous about things like that. Im off my rocker as anyone whose met or knows me can verify, im loopy. Its kind of nice being the new boy again. The attentions on you as is the pressure which is what I love. Pressure makes me work harder. At dream team I was getting into a comfort zone, there wasnt much pressure to perform, the character had become natural for me, i knew my surroundings and how things work. Now im starting again, i have to learn quick how thing go up here, the pressure is on as im now going out to a larger audience with cast who have been here a while and I have to try and win them round to like my character.
How do the women of Hollyoaks compare to the ladies of Dream Team? Everyone is lovely, the ladies on dream team were mad, great beautiful girls who were mad and loving. There were no egos and we all had so much fun. The girls up here are the same. They are possibly even madder, they love a night out and are a bit like the dream team girls of old that used to go out with the lads drinking. Its a great family up here and im glad that I will get the opportunity to try and be part of it. Ive been filming for 2weeks and they have all made me feel really welcome. The cast is so much larger as well so there are people I haven't even seen never mind met yet. I met pretty much everyone at the soap awards though, all great girls.
Finally, we would like to thank you for everything you have done for the website and communicating with fans. Thanks to everyone for all your support in my bad times and good, you guys rock and will always be close to my heart......sniff sniff. Seriously though, thanks again and ill keep in touch.....best wishes love and kisses (high fives for da lads, manly grunt grunt).
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