GREAT SCOTS
As Outlander brings sexy back for a sixth season, Siobhan Duck asks star Richard Rankin about the secrets to the show’s success
DI DON’T FEEL LIKE THEY’VE HAD TO STEP BACK ON ANY OF THE STORYTELLING ASPECTS THAT INVOLVE INTIMACY OR ROMANCE. IF IT SERVES THE STORY… IT WILL BE THERE IN SPITE OF COVID
evotees of historical drama Outlander have waited so long for their next fi x of the critically acclaimed romance series that they’ve been suffering acutely through a period known as “Droughtlander”, aka the yearning for kilts and kisses that happens between each season. This time, however, the hiatus has stretched on for 22 months, leaving an agonising TV void for those who want a bit of sex with their swashbuckling.
Based on the bestselling novel series by American writer Diana Gabaldon, Outlander follows former World War II nurse Claire Randall (Caitríona Balfe), her 18th-century Highlander beau Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan), their modern, headstrong daughter Brianna (Sophie Skelton) and her devoted husband Roger MacKenzie (Richard Rankin).
The family’s ability to criss-cross continents, conflicts and centuries while also keeping their love alive makes the time-travelling adventure series both dreamy and steamy.
Although Covid-19 delayed production, forcing cast and crew to undergo stringent safety protocols on set while also cutting this season to just eight episodes, Rankin reassures viewers that the precautions taken haven’t stymied the famous racy sex scenes that make the show a mature standout compared with other fantasy fare.
“Outlander has been exceptional with the regulations involving guidelines and putting in place procedures to keep us safe,” Rankin says.
“And we have our own testing lab where we regularly – on an almost daily basis – have the cast do PCR tests.”
Anyone near production is masked “unless they’re in front of camera”, Rankin adds.
“I mean, we really have taken it very, very seriously. But, at the same time, the cast members who are in close or intimate relationships, such as the MacKenzies and, you know, Jamie and Claire, I don’t feel like they’ve had to step back on any of the storytelling aspects that involve intimacy or romance.
If it serves the story, if it serves the characters, it will be there in spite of Covid.”
The chemistry between Outlander’s two core couples has not only been integral to the show’s success, it has also helped the actors thrive in their individual careers. Heughan has parlayed his association with Scotland into successful travel series Men in Kilts [streaming,
Binge and Foxtel On Demand], co-hosted by Graham McTavish, who played Jamie’s uncle Dougal MacKenzie.
At the cinema, meanwhile, Balfe landed a breakthrough lead role in Kenneth Branagh’s Academy Award-nominated film Belfast. She may have missed out on an Oscar nod this time, but Balfe got a party thrown in her honour where she was feted by the entire Outlander cast and crew.
“We all support each other,” Rankin says.
“Most of the cast came to see me in the play I did recently, Macbeth, so we’re incredibly proud of the attention that Caitríona has had on Belfast... We’re always behind each other.”
The unabashed closeness between the cast has sparked rumours Rankin and Skelton’s on-screen romance may have spilled over into real life.
“If we’re dating, I’m not going to tell you,” Rankin says with a laugh.
“I think it’s more just wishful thinking from fans who are so passionate about the show that they want these things to be real in life. Sophie and I are very close, and that’s all I will say.”
While there’s no shortage of period dramas on the small screen, Outlander’s timetravelling twist has set it apart from other bodice-rippers, and Rankin says being able to jump seamlessly between different eras and locations has kept storylines fresh.
“It’s just constantly changing and constantly evolving, and there’s so much in it,” he explains.
“With the storyline constantly in motion, Outlander is never static. It never gets old. It never gets stale because we’re always introducing new characters, new dangers and new conflicts to the show. We’ve moved [the story] from Scotland to France, to the Caribbean and to America. So there’s always something exciting on the horizon.”
OUTLANDER
SEASON 6 PREMIERES 5.30PM, MONDAY, FOXTEL ON DEMAND; 7.30PM, MONDAY, FOX ONE