Feelgood series about wannabe parents adopts a positive tone
Apple TV+’S first UK commission is the comedy Trying. Its stars, Rafe Spall and Esther Smith talk to Gemma Dunn
Now more than ever we need to see kindness on TV, insists Rafe
Spall.
The actor is talking ahead of the release of Trying, a brandnew comedy drama that’s centred around growing up, settling down and finding love.
Written by former standup Andy Wolton, the eightpart series – the first UK commission to debut on Apple TV+ – puts Spall and Cuckoo star Esther Smith in the roles of Jason and Nikki, a thirty-something couple desperate for a baby.
“It’s just what the doctor ordered,” quips Spall, 37, of its heartwarming nature. “Because we, as a society, have had this enforced time of reflection and the result has been acts of kindness, altruism and community.
“This is a show about that,” he says. “It’s about people being good to each other, and a lot of shows that are on at the moment – while enjoyable – are about people being mean to each other.
“Me personally, I don’t want to watch that. I don’t need it. I feel like there’s enough horror going on in the world, that I like to see examples of goodness, and that’s why this is a good time for [Trying] to come out.”
Packing witty one liners, yet also set to pull on the heartstrings, the sure-fire hit follows the pair who, having struggled to conceive, make the life-changing decision to embark on the lengthy adoption process.
Cue a whole new world of bewildering challenges.
But with their dysfunctional friends, screwball family, and chaotic lives, will the panel agree that they’re ready to be parents?
“I remember reading the first episode for my audition in this coffee shop and I was very dramatically sat at the table crying because it was so moving, but so funny as well,” recalls Smith, 33, who’s joined her co-star for today’s chat.
“I just knew I had to be a part of this; it was a brilliant piece of writing.”
“Likewise. I’ve been reading scripts for 20 years, that’s my job, really, so I read a tonne of them and you get quite good at figuring out if anything’s any good pretty early on,” adds The War of The Worlds actor, Spall.
“It was clear from the first few pages that this was real and funny, and Andy Wolton, who’s written it, is a really original voice. I knew it was the sort of thing I’d want to watch.”
The duo put the affinity they felt with the script down to the relatable subject matter.
“It’s sensitive and something you want to get right, so it’s well researched,” maintains Londoner Spall, having revealed that some of the talent involved in the making of the show have had a rich experience with adoption.
“But it’s funny in the way that life’s funny – not in a knockabout comedy, naff way,” he continues. “It’s observational, and as the show evolves it starts to go further into the relationship, so I think anyone in a longterm relationship will be able to identify with lots of things in it.”
As for the all-too-often ‘taboo’ topic of fertility, the premise certainly gets you thinking, the twosome agree.
“I wonder why it’s not explored so much?” says Smith.
“People are getting better at exploring it, but I think something like this will open that up a little bit more – or maybe I am just more aware of it because I am in my thirties and that’s obviously something that plays on my mind?”
“It’s given me perspective and I can definitely identify with the characters, so much as I know what it’s like to get to a point in your life where you feel like something is missing,” empathises Spall, who shares three children (aged eight, seven and four) with his wife, actor Elize du Toit.
“In my case I wanted to have children, and that’s the same with these characters, but for different people that can mean different things.
“The name of the show is Trying,” he elaborates. “We’re all trying to figure it out, and that might be getting to your early thirties and realising your career isn’t where you want it to be or your relationships or education...
“I was lucky enough to be able to naturally conceive, so I know what it’s like to want children. But I don’t know what it’s like to want them and then to not be able to naturally conceive, so that was an interesting thing to investigate.”
It’s just a relief to land something that doesn’t portray those in their thirties as having their ducks in a row, Smith jokes.
“I find it a massive relief, reading it, because I definitely don’t feel like I’ve got my s*** together and I’m 33.
“I feel like we’re all just big kids wearing adults clothing, just pretending what it is to be a grown up,” Smith concludes. “Maybe that’s what everyone is doing?”
“It was clear from the first pages that this was real and funny”
● Trying is available to stream now on Apple TV+