Most things for kids genuinely work for grown-ups too
DANIELLE DE WOLFE talks to David Walliams and Sheridan Smith about their spin on Jack & the Beanstalk
PICK OF THE WEEK
JACK & THE BEANSTALK: AFTER EVER AFTER
Sky One/NOW TV, Wednesday, 8pm
AFAIRY tale dating back more than three centuries, Jack and the Beanstalk continues to capture the imagination of children and adults alike.
Whether it’s the whimsical plotline, notions of overbearing giants or simply the enchanting concept of a gravity-defying beanstalk, the classic tale of good prevailing over evil is one that has stood the test of time.
However, it’s not often we spare a thought for what happens to these larger-than-life characters after the book has been closed – but that’s the premise writer and comedian David Walliams explores in the latest Sky original, Jack & the Beanstalk: After Ever After.
Centred around the realisation that the giant was simply knocked unconscious following his dramatic fall from the sky, the 60-minute special sees him trapped on Earth with Jack, facing the wrath of the angry villagers.
“It felt of the time because it’s basically about the idea of humans and giants getting on, so it felt timely, as a metaphor,” says David, 49, of the tale. “I’ve always loved this story, it’s a British fairy tale, so it appealed to me because it’s one I grew up with.”
In addition to co-writing the project, David also takes on the role of the concussed giant, alongside Cilla actress Sheridan Smith, 39, who plays The Woman With No Name, and Inbetweeners star Blake Harrison, 35, as Dodgy Dave.
“I think most things for kids genuinely work for grown-ups too,” notes David. “You’ve got to
remember grown-ups choose most of the time what their children watch or read, so normally they like to choose things that they’re going to enjoy too. We’re all kids.
“There are no rude jokes but there are jokes which are probably going to be more appreciated by the grownups.”
There were, however, a few alterations to the initial script in order to keep things family friendly.
“At the end, instead of a beanstalk we were going to have a sausage grow,” remarks David innocently, “but that was considered too rude, so we had to change it to a sausage roll.
“I don’t know why a sausage would be rude, but we had to change it. And that meant we could do a joke about a vegan sausage roll – and the bakers is called Gregg’s in the story, which is a very 2020 thing.”
Despite most productions facing
greater restrictions as a result of the global pandemic, on this occasion, it was a factor that eventually played into David’s hands.
“We were actually meant to go to Bulgaria at the end of the summer, but I don’t know if you’ve heard of Covid-19?” he says of the filming schedule
“It meant all our plans had to change, but suddenly we could film in the UK and luckily every actor in Britain had been out of work since March and so we could put together this brilliant cast.
Newcomer Eddie Karanja plays a young Jack in the unconventional tale.
In his first major on-screen role, Eddie was “a delight”, with David commenting “he really wanted to learn as well, he wanted to know how to get it right”.
“The problem is that you see a child give a brilliant performance in something – I’ve just watched The Witches and there’s a couple of brilliant kids in that, and then you find out they’re now 38.
“So you generally have to find people who are not necessarily hugely experienced.”
When it comes to Sheridan, David wastes no time in declaring her “the most popular” and “talented” actress in the country.
However, the pleasantries didn’t last long, as Sheridan explains.
“When I messaged David saying, ‘Thank you so much for thinking of me’, he texted me back saying, ‘Su Pollard wasn’t available’.”
Having starred in a number of David’s recent projects, alongside the pair’s joint on-stage appearance in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Sheridan and David are clearly at ease in each
other’s company.
“David’s always been like my big brother,” declares Sheridan fondly. “Through everything I’ve been through, he’s amazing, and we’ve had such a laugh on everything from Mr Stink to Ratburger.
“I think he’s a genius. He’s the modern Roald Dahl.”
Featuring a host of unconventional figures absent in the original tale, the cast of Jack & the Beanstalk: After Ever After were encouraged to use artistic licence when it came to shaping their characters.
Taking on the role of The Woman With No Name, complete with glass eye and pirate-esque eye patch for good measure, Sheridan looks every inch the mysterious baddie.
“David’s stories are so brilliant and funny on the page, so you don’t have to do much work with it really,” she explains.
“I love getting to dress up and be daft and David’s stories are always brilliant and have got a lot of heart.
“I don’t know why – I kinda regretted it afterwards – but I said to David, ‘Can I do a West Country accent?’ And David said, ‘Trust your instincts’, so he let me do what I wanted basically.”
It’s a role that saw Sheridan embrace method acting and at one point the crew began shouting: “Stop eating the mud, we’ve made chocolate.”
“I was just getting all into it,” she chuckles. “I thought, ‘Well, I’ve gotta commit now’ and it was basically just straw and mud, so I just ate it.”
“She’s method, she’s like Daniel Day-Lewis,” concludes David.
“Her autobiography is going to be called Eating Mud.”