MUTT LEAVES DOC SMARTIN’ Clunes gets upstaged by his doggie co-star
MARTIN Clunes says he was outperformed while filming Vanity Fair – by a dog.
The actor worked alongside a pooch called Gorer for the new period drama.
He said: “We have a dog in that all the time and various other dogs come down.
“The worry is that you’ll lose filming time because of them, but the dog was brilliant. We lost more time due to me rather than him!
“The highlights of Vanity Fair for me have been the animals, as much as I appreciate the other cast. But I’m very happy working with the horses or playing with the dog.
“I’ve actually worked with the dog we had before. He came down and did an episode of Doc Martin.”
Telly favourite Martin plays wealthy MP Sir Pitt Crawley in Vanity Fair. The role was a dream for the former Men Behaving Badly star, but the outfits were a nightmare.
He said: “I had to wear really annoying breeches, tights, waistcoats, shirt, cravat and all of that stuff. Uncomfortable and annoying to wear.
“Sir Pratt also pops a wig on for special occasions.”
Martin added: “Sir Pitt has got a bit of attitude and one of the things I was overjoyed about in the script is that he drives his own horses, which I do. So I was immediately drawn to that and I started carriage driving again.” This series is the latest in a long line of Vanity Fair adaptations.
The classic novel by William Makepeace Thackeray has been produced for telly six times and for the big screen three times.
But Martin said: “It is always worthwhile with something as good as Vanity Fair to introduce a new adaptation.
“I’ve stopped saying I’m doing Vanity Fair for ITV because the number of people who have said, ‘Oh
I love that magazine’. Not everyone knows this story so I just say I’m doing a costume drama.”
Vanity Fair also stars Suranne Jones and Frances de la Tour. IF you were among the millions gripped by Line of Duty, you won’t want to miss this. The same writer has penned this thrilling drama about a politician, played by
Keeley Hawes.
She’s given a bodyguard (Richard Madden) for her protection, but things don’t go to plan.
Expect car chases, plenty of tension and lots of twists. It starts at
9pm tonight. RORY Bremner and Debra Stephenson are set to go head to head on TV’s newest panel show.
They’ll battle it out to do the best celeb impressions and each week they’ll be helped by comics including Jon Culshaw and Alistair McGowan. Alexander Armstrong is the host.
The series starts next Sunday. THERE will be new faces in the Tardis this autumn, with Jodie Whittaker as the first female Doctor and Bradley Walsh as her assistant.
There’s also a new writing team including Broadchurch boss Chris Chibnall. The new series should also see plenty of other surprises and a
Christmas special is planned. TELLY’S biggest show is about to waltz back onto our screens. So get your scoreboards at the ready for a new batch of contestants.
Celebs including Katie Piper, Lee Ryan and Faye Tozer are among this year’s hopefuls.
Judges Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell, Bruno Tonioli and Shirley Ballas are all returning to the panel too.
The fun is set to kick off in just a fortnight. THERE’S only two days to wait until telly’s most famous tent opens for a new series.
There are 12 new wannabe bakers including a DJ, a banker and a scientist.
And each week we’ll see them go all out to impress judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith.
Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding are back as the hosts.
The fun starts on Tuesday at 8pm. FLEABAG star Phoebe Waller-Bridge is behind this spy thriller and it’s already getting worldwide acclaim.
Sandra Oh stars as an MI5 officer who hunts down an assassin before becoming obsessed with her. The cast also includes Brit actor David Haig. AFTER 18 years of Matthew Wright fronting The Wright Stuff, there’s a new guy in town.
Jeremy Vine is taking over and will discuss the hottest news stories with celebrity panellists every weekday from September 3.