10 Questions for Jed Mercurio
Jed wrote his first TV series, Cardiac Arrest, while training as a doctor. He then gave up medicine and scripted shows such as Bodies, The Grimleys and many others, as well as writing novels. His police drama, Line Of Duty, has been the biggest TV hit in years and was recently voted one of the best shows of all time. The latest series is out on DVD.
GETTING BIG-HEADED WITH PRAISE FOR LINE OF DUTY?
No. Friends and family say I should drink it in more, but I tend to get on with life. Also, I’m not deluded that everyone loves it. I’m not blind.
DOES IT MAKE UP FOR OTHER DISAPPOINTMENTS?
I’ve certainly written things before that have failed to find an audience or just haven’t worked, so I feel privileged with the reaction to Line Of Duty.
DO ALL YOUR IDEAS GET SNAPPED UP NOW?
No, in fact while Line Of Duty has been on I’ve had shows turned down. You need others to see things as you do but everyone has different ideas on what works, don’t they?
CAN YOU WATCH TV WITHOUT ANALYSING EVERYTHING?
Mostly. If I don’t like a drama I do ask myself why, so I suppose part of me is viewer and part analyser. But I tend to watch lots of sport and comedy too.
YOU ONCE SAID YOU WROTE OUT OF ANGER. WHY?
That was my hospital series, Cardiac Arrest, which I wrote when I was an overworked junior doctor. Things still annoy me, like police corruption, but I don’t write in anger now. I get the drama right first.
WHICH CHARACTERS RESONATED WITH
YOU AS A KID?
I loved Captain Kirk and Mr Spock from the original Star Trek TV series. I didn’t know why at the time but now I realise it was because they were well-written characters.
HOW INVOLVED DO YOU GET IN LINE OF DUTY?
Very, constantly watching and planning, tweaking ideas between series. I go to the auditions because new cast members can bring fresh ideas that take me in a different direction.
HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH TURNING ACTORS DOWN?
The more pertinent question is how do they deal with rejection? Auditions are part of an actor’s life I guess, aren’t they?
IS THERE ANY ACTOR YOU WOULD LOVE TO WRITE FOR?
Some actors are beyond my reach, like global movie stars, but there are many actors here I admire. It wouldn’t be fair to say who, though.
YOU HAVE 24 HOURS LEFT TO LIVE. HOW
DO YOU SPEND IT?
When the Apollo 11 astronauts were asked how they’d fill their final hours if the return craft didn’t take off from the moon, they said they’d use the time to try to get it working. I’d spend the time trying to work out how to get better.