I’m yappy ever after with our dog Happy
Canine crazy Kay Mellor has set her new series of The Syndicate in kennels
When it came to dreaming up a new setting for the next run of The Syndicate, writer Kay Mellor didn’t have to look far.
Her dog Happy inspired her to set it at a dog kennels and she even gave him a starring role in the show.
Happy, a Shih Tzu, plays himself as one of the residents of Woodvale Kennels, which is about to be sold when staff members discover their lottery ticket has netted £27million. The problem is, someone has stolen the winnings, prompting the kennel workers to spend every last penny on tracking down the culprit.
Kay, 69, who is married to Anthony Mellor and is mum to actor Gaynor Faye and producer Yvonne Francas, has given us some of TV’s best-loved dramas.
Here, she reveals how she would spend a lottery win and why she’s hopelessly devoted to her pooch…
How long have you had Happy?
I fell madly in love with Happy and became a dog owner five years ago, after being a cat person all my life. My husband and I knew it would change our lives. We don’t go for exotic holidays to China any more – we drive to Spain or France with Happy in the back. We’re obsessed with him. We talk about him more than we did our kids. There’s a couple in the show called the Levines who are obsessed with their dog and that is us. Before I had a dog, I used to think dog people were a bit strange. My Auntie Joan would say, “I can’t stay long, I’ve left the dog.” And I would go, “What?” But that’s me now. In fact, I am more likely to say to friends and family: “Come over and bring the dog.”
They say you should never work with kids or animals...
It was lovely having Happy on set. All the dogs were great and we had expert handlers there the whole time. The actors were great too.
How did Covid affect filming?
It was delayed by six months. I was devastated. We were just days away from shooting.
What was it like filming in Monaco?
It was so quiet. The casinos were empty and everyone was wearing masks. I sat in a park eating a sandwich and a policeman told me to put my mask back on as soon as I’d finished.
Did you have a flutter in the casinos?
There wasn’t much time as I was co-directing and the days were long. Anyway, I’m not much of a gambler. The first time I went to a casino, I lost 50 quid in seconds and thought, “This is not for me.” When I was doing research for this series, I spent some time in casinos in Leeds and I could see how addictive gambling can be. I met a woman in her early 30s who threw three £20 notes onto the table. She was wearing Primark clothes and told me she was £680 down. I based a character on her called Keeley.
Having a 20-something with a gambling addiction in the show feels very timely…
Yes, because it’s everywhere. There are adverts on the TV encouraging you to gamble on your phone. They are trying to encourage young people to play poker. A lot of these young people can’t throw in 60 quid and then walk away. The young woman I met said she went to a casino as she had more control there than playing on her phone.
Did seeing super yachts in Monaco make you want to live the millionaire lifestyle?
No, that just isn’t me. All I want to do is tell stories, entertain and absorb people and I’m passionate about helping new writers get their voices heard. I drive a Mini and live in a detached house in Leeds. My main luxury in life is my imagination.
Did you plan to do four series of The Syndicate?
I thought I might do three. I was the one who suggested it should be a new syndicate each time. What excited me was having new characters each time. It’s so nice to keep coming back and reinventing it. Money is such an interesting topic – the idea of what you would do with it, what it does to you...
What would you do if you won £27million?
I’d give it away. I’d pay off my family and friends’ mortgages, give money to the NSPCC, animal welfare and care for the elderly. I’d make sure my family was all right. I’d want my grandchildren to be set up for life. I do worry about them. I’m so fearful when my granddaughter Lily goes on social media. I’m forever saying things like: “Don’t put anything like that on Twitter.”
Do you think it’s harder for today’s youth?
We didn’t have all that to contend with when I was young, although I had my LEAD ROLE... Kay with her dog Happy first child at 16 and that was hard as Anthony and I had nothing. We didn’t have enough to buy a pushchair but we were lucky because we came from working class families that were there for us. I worry for young people out there who don’t have a family to support them. There are more mental health issues today. In my day, if somebody wanted to be cruel to you, they’d do it to your face and you’d call them a bully but nowadays trolls can do it under a cloak of anonymity and that’s so harmful.
Was it hard not seeing your family during lockdown?
Yes but I haven’t had time to be bored. We’ve had to get this series out fast. My daughter Gaynor plays Frank’s wife in the show so she was out in Monaco with me and my other daughter Yvonne came out for a bit too, which was lovely. We text every day but we’re all working in our own little bubbles.
What’s next for you?
At the moment I’m consumed with getting this show out but there is a new commission on the horizon.
Are there any goals left?
One thing I’ve thought about is some sort of big community show and I like the idea of setting up a writing/acting academy for young people. What will you do after restrictions lift? I’m going to have a break. I’d like to go back to France... with my little dog, of course. l The Syndicate is on Tuesday, 9pm, BBC1.