‘I want a Two Pints reunion!’
Actor Will Mellor on why he wants to return to his sitcom roots
Whether you know him as Hollyoaks’s Jambo, Gaz from Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps or shows including Line Of Duty and Broadchurch, actor Will Mellor has been a staple on our screens for the past 20 years.
But this week, Will, 43, is throwing himself completely out of his comfort zone and teaming up with his former
Hollyoaks co-star and best pal Nick Pickard, aka Tony Hutchinson, for BBC2’s Celebrity Antiques Road Trip.
The episode will see the pair hunt for antiques, before taking them to auction in Greenwich to see if they can make a profit for charity. But how will they get on?
Away from our screens, Will lives in Buckinghamshire with his wife Michelle and their two children, Jayden, 15, and Renee, 11.
We catch up with him to reminisce about his soap days and discover he’s got big plans for the future…
Hi Will.Why did you want to do Celebrity Antiques Road Trip?
I don’t seem like a typical antiques person, but I do actually watch these programmes. As a kid I used to go to the market and car boot sales with my dad. I loved the idea that you could rummage around and find some little trinkets.Then, as I got older, I liked the thought of buying something and selling it for more money. So when the opportunity came up, I thought, “Why not?”It’s a good way to raise money for charity, while having fun with my mate.
What were you on the lookout for during the show?
I’m a watch man. It’s in my blood – my grandad always used to have a magnifying glass for checking out watches and clocks, and my dad’s the same. I can’t walk past a jewellery shop now without looking at the watches. I have seven or eight. They’re not particularly expensive, I’m more interested in the mechanics or ones with a history and story.
Was it nice to get to hang out with Nick?
We first started out in Hollyoaks together and we’ve been friends ever since. It was so nice to spend some time with him and have some fun, friendly banter and competition between the two of us. We also went back to the Hollyoaks set as he’s still there. It was amazing – like a trip down memory lane.
Has it changed much since you left?
Massively! But, having said that, walking in there took me right back to the original castings when I first got the job. It was an amazing moment, as that day changed my life forever. I’ve got a lot to thank Hollyoaks for.
Would you ever return to the soap to play Jambo?
Personally, I’d like to do something just to say thank you. But it’s so difficult with schedules. Because it’s a soap, they have to book you up for a long time and that could mean missing out on another job that could be better for me to do, as Hollyoaks would only be going back for a little cameo. But I do owe the show a lot.
What have your other favourite roles been?
I’ve been very lucky and have done some great series like Broadchurch, Line Of Duty and No Offence. But I get challenged by every character that I play. When I’ve done comedy, I want to do drama, and when I do drama, I want to do comedy. I just want to carry on working!
What do you like watching?
The Boys on Amazon Prime Video is fantastic. It’s a bit like Deadpool with that dark humour, and totally gripping and fast-paced. I also loved Game Of Thrones, but the ending ruined the whole thing for me.
What else do you like to do on a day off?
I generally just do things with my kids and have fun with them. I did the school run this morning and my wife teaches Zumba on a Monday night, so I’ll cook dinner for everyone. Then me and the missus will sit down and watch a box set. It’s nice and simple. I try to keep my life very normal when I’m not working, as filming takes me away from home so much.
Do you ever go and join in her Zumba class?
I used to, but then I realised I was the only bloke and thought I looked a bit weird! She said there are a few more men now, but I think she’s lying so that I go back and she can laugh at me.
Have your kids shown any signs of wanting to follow in your acting footsteps?
We have a performing arts school called Mellor Performing Arts in Buckinghamshire. My wife runs it as she’s from that background, too. We actually met on stage. She choreographs and teaches and both of my children go to that. So they do perform. Whether they’re going to do it for a living, we’ll see. It’s a tough game, but we encourage them to express themselves. It’s good for confidence and believing in yourself.
What’s next for you?
I’ve got a series coming up next called Sanctuary. It’s based on a book called The Devil’s Sanctuary
and will be on Amazon Prime Video. And maybe a Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps
spin-off at some point. It’s all up in the air and hard to get all the cast together to do a special, but maybe me and Ralf Little will do something about Gaz and Jonny being back together. I’d also like to do a theatre tour of the show to say thank you to everyone for supporting it for so long.