Andrew Scarborough
“Graham has a snarling animal within him…”
With the exception of a few Kung Fu moves, Graham is usually cool and collected. However, this week the monster within is finally unleashed, as painful memories return to haunt him – with some village favourites caught in the crossfire…
“I think Graham is the way he is because he’s trying to contain this snarling animal that exists in him,” explains actor Andrew Scarborough, who plays Joe’s butler-cum-bodyguard. “He doesn’t give much away or express his emotions facially, as he’s working hard to stay in control – but underneath there is a beast that wants to come out!”
Emmerdale viewers already know that Graham is a recovering alcoholic, who was responsible for the death of his pregnant wife after getting behind the wheel drunk, and crashing their car.
Dales bosses have had a great response to ‘flashback’ style episodes, rewinding time for the likes of Cain and Charity. So the temptation to revisit Graham’s past was too thrilling to resist – in an episode that sees the drunk and troubled fella plagued by his late missus.
“Graham could be hallucinating, she could be in his mind – or is this woman a ghost?” debates Andrew. “Basically she is a manifestation of his guilt, and as the anniversary of her death comes around, we get the impression Graham suffers with this every year. His armour comes away, and you’ll soon understand why he doesn’t smile very much.
“We worked with green screens to film it, so it was quite technical,” adds the star. “The flashbacks required me to look younger, so they darkened my sideburns – and I had to be lighter on my feet, as if it were 10 years ago.”
The ramifications of Graham’s journey through time are set to be huge for the village, as he completely loses control. After taking on love rival Frank, the ex-special forces man turns on Cain in the Woolpack and, in the melee, shoves pregnant Chas to the f loor – before finally letting loose all his pent-up fury on defenceless Joe.
“Graham does some bad things that aren’t particularly pleasant,” frowns Andrew. “He’ll be a bit of a pariah in the village afterwards, and we’ll have to see if and how he can make up for it.”
While his alter ego stands to gain more enemies than friends, Andrew is chuffed – and genuinely surprised – that Graham has proven a hit with viewers.
“I’m gobsmacked and really don’t know what it is about him that people like,” confesses the actor, who played Tim Drewe in Downton Abbey. “He is pretty odd and dresses like an undertaker, and actually I’ve had one or two people who have been a bit scared if they’ve recognised me – mainly children. But it’s mostly positive and the character seems to have worked, so I’m thrilled!”
The idea that Graham possesses the skills to neutralise his opponent with just three fingers sees Andrew light up, as we reminisce about him triumphing over three blokes and a bulldozer during the demolition of the Dingles’ home.
“That was a boy’s dream – I nearly cried with joy when I read it in the script!” he chuckles. “We had a stunt guy from Mission: Impossible to coordinate the fight scene. I’m almost 50 but I didn’t care – I got to beat up three guys! Who wouldn’t love the opportunity to play that?”
Andrew also benefits from Graham’s extremely slick dress sense, but that could be set to suffer as he battles his demons.
“You will see him out of the suit – it would be smelly and perhaps stained in blood if he didn’t take it off every now and then,” grimaces the star. “I love that Graham is very smart, though, and my mother loves it as well. She said, ‘It’s even been tailored for you,’ and I said, ‘Yes, I’m a very important person, you know!’”