Art is really important in extreme times, toreminduswe are not alone

Guilt star on why culture matters more than ever as he picks his top TV, films and music

Mark Bonnar should have been filming a war movie. Instead, he’s at home trying to be a teacher. The coronavirus lockdown means the 51-year-old star of smash-hit comedy dramas Catastrophe and Guilt and his actor wife Lucy Gaskell are concentrating all their efforts on home-schooling their two kids.

But culture provides an escape at times of crisis, and that’s why, as well as selecting his favourite box sets, films, books and music for P.S. readers to enjoy today, the Line Of Duty star has signed up to moves to bring theatre into homes around the country.

Along with the likes of Brian Cox, Alan Cumming, Lorraine Mcintosh and Denise Mina, he is part of Scenes for Survival, the National Theatre of Scotland’s online response to the crisis.

Mark said: “Art is really important in extreme times like these, not least because it reminds us we’re not alone.”

The Edinburgh-born actor admits to a newfound respect for teachers, given all he is juggling at home.“i always knew it was a hard job, I have no idea how they do it with a class of 30.

“It’s only week two but it’s fine so far. The kids are enjoying it, but how much of that is a novelty remains to be seen.”

Critical of the handling of the crisis by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Donald Trump, Mark nonetheless sees a few positives emerging amid the stresses of life in lockdown.

He said: “It’s the weirdest time any of us have ever known. Technology is enabling a community spirit, people are really talking to each other, that

forced isolation has bred the opposite on social media.

It’s just unfortunate that the two biggest buffoons are in charge of Britain and America in times of such great need.”

When the crisis abates, Mark’s fans can look forward to Operation Mincemeat, in which he stars alongside Kelly Macdonald and Colin Firth. Based on Ben Macintyre’s book of the same name, it tells of an audacious Second World War deception plot. Mark said: “It’s a fantastic story and it will be a really great film.”

But fans of BBC Scotland’s darkly-comic Guilt, in which he starred with Jamie Sives, will have to wait to see what happens next to brothers Jake and Max.

Mark said: “Fingers crossed. Everything is on hold now.” Mark Bonnar is part of the National Theatre of Scotland’s Scenes for Survival project in response to Covid-19. Visit nationaltheatrescotland.com for more info