Two-timing
New Sky One series Bliss centres on a man in a moral crisis – he’s found himself living a double life. But, as Georgia Humphreys finds out from the cast members, audiences might relate to the situation more than they’d think
Difficult dilemma
FIFTEEN years of lies. Two sets of wives and kids. One very complicated life.
To say travel writer Andrew Ballard, the protagonist of new Sky One show Bliss, has got himself in a bit of a pickle would be a massive understatement.
But, says Stephen Mangan, his character’s situation is quite common.
“I met one cabbie who told me his dad had three women on the go,” elaborates the 49-year-old. “He had built up lives that the other people didn’t know about.
“We can all relate to that in a way. We all have hobbies or read books our partners don’t know about. This is that in extremis.”
Here, Mangan, and co-stars Jo Hartley and Heather Graham, tell us more about their characters.
Importantly, the show doesn’t glorify Andrew’s bigamy. “It’s not a, ‘Weyhey, I’ve got a harem’ thing,” quips Londonborn Mangan.
“Andrew absolutely loves both women – he’s not lying about that at all. When he leaves each woman, he’s heartbroken. He goes around the corner and cries because it’s so stressful.”
While most people will probably feel more sorry for wives Kim and Denise, who each have no idea the other exists, you may find yourself empathising with Andrew too.
“When I read the scripts, I really liked Andrew’s character a lot and that’s what I thought was very clever, because you don’t want to like this person, do you?” remarks Hartley, who plays Denise.
And it was this approach from writer and director David Cross that won Graham over.
“When I first heard the premise, I thought it might be gross and be about this guy boasting about getting all the girls,” the 48-year-old admits. “But then I read it and I instantly loved it.”
Kim’s life with Andrew
Graham plays American Kim, who seems “proper and conservative on the surface” but is becoming frustrated with Andrew and decides to pursue her dreams. However, Andrew desperately tries to dissuade her.
“He tries to keep her off social media and make sure she doesn’t have a lot of friends,” explains Wisconsin-born Graham. The less she is out there, the less chance there is of him being found out.”
Andrew also tries to keep his children – Christina and Kris, both 15 – off social media. “His worst nightmare is that he thinks his son by one woman might have fallen in love with his daughter by the other,” suggests Mangan.
“He’s trying to be a good dad,” says Graham, “but he’s not doing a great job.
“His decisions have turned him into a basket case on the verge of a nervous breakdown.” Denise’s life with Andrew
Hartley immediately identified with her character, Denise.
“All women are strong, but she is a particularly focused, positive woman,” says the actress, who was born in Oldham.
“Her wealthy parents disowned her because of her partying, and now she doesn’t drink,” she continues. “She’s trying to change. She’s frustrated, and wants to do something with her life.”
“Feisty” Denise doesn’t regret having her son, Hartley explains, but she “gets to that point where she’s like, ‘What’s going on? He [Andrew] is never here! Where’s my life?”’
You’re probably wondering how neither wife suspects Andrew of having an affair – and it’s often a comically close shave, as in episode one when Andrew fears the two will meet in a restaurant.
But while lonely Denise struggles with how much her husband is away writing his travel books (he actually just uses Google), she doesn’t believe he would cheat.
“I think Denise is quite maladjusted in a lot of ways and she probably is not facing some things herself... she’s never really fulfilled her full potential. Which isn’t Andrew’s fault. It’s her own fault.
“We sort of project outwardly when really it’s ourselves that’s the biggest obstacle to our own happiness.”
More drama to come
Mangan blames Andrew’s predicament on making a lot of small decisions “motivated by a desire not to upset people” – and it’s this the cast thinks will resonate with audiences.
“I can relate to being a people pleaser,” says Graham. “It can make you crazy and yet you keep convincing yourself that it’s a good thing. Andrew has good intentions, but they only make things much worse.”
What do the stars hope would happen to the characters in future?
“I hope she keeps pursuing her dream,” says Graham of Kim.
“I also hope Andrew gets discovered. He deserves his comeuppance. He’s not having a great time because he’s always so anxious, but I hope he does suffer!”
“David has lots of ideas about where it could go next,” discloses Mangan when asked whether there will be a second series.
“He [Andrew] is inevitably heading towards disaster, but if you could make that car crash nice and slow and tormenting, then so much the better.”
Bliss starts on Sky One on Wednesday, February 14.