heat meets... DEE KOPPANG O’LEARY
CHANNEL 4, THURSDAY 7 APRIL, 9PM
What was it like stepping up from second unit to lead director on a big drama series?
Massive. To use the analogy of doing up a house, when you’re the second unit director, it’s like being in charge of a hallway. Then when you’re lead director, you’re suddenly doing up the whole house and the one next door. But I was lucky enough to come on board quite early in the process, and spend loads of time with [writer] Abi Morgan, and get a real feel for where the series was going, so it was all good.
This is also a pretty complicated show with lots of storylines and a big ensemble cast – was it a lot for you to juggle?
Oh yes, it’s an awful lot to juggle, plus throw in the fact that I’d just had a baby [with husband Dermot O’leary] and moved house at the same time. But it was amazing, and I did love it. I do love a project anyway, and I enjoy spinning lots of plates at the same time, but I definitely felt the pressure of jumping into a show in its final series. It’s like being in a relay race and taking the baton for the last leg. I kept thinking, “Don’t drop it!”
Do you have to resist the temptation to go all Steven Spielberg and show off a bit?
Completely. It was an interesting learning curve. You have to be respectful of what’s gone before, and it’s all about the writing and the actors. Especially with this cast – sometimes you’re stripping away all the other stu to focus on them. We’ve got some great cameos, too. Dermot’s in it!
Who does he play?
Himself! It’s a tiny cameo and he did it on a day when I wasn’t there, and Abi was directing. He plays himself interviewing one of the cast members on a TV show. I’ve seen the scene, and he’s great. ■
‘Dermot has a cameo in it’
★★★★
Directed by documentary maker Jane Preston, this one-o film is a fitting tribute to Big Brother star Nikki Grahame, who sadly passed away in April 2021 at the age of 38. Featuring archive footage and exclusive interviews with Nikki’s mum, best friends, BB housemates and therapist, it is an extraordinarily intimate insight into the young woman who became one of the icons of the golden age of reality television.
BUT, WHO IS SHE?
From the moment she burst into the Big Brother house in a bunny outfit in 2006, we knew that Nikki had star potential. A ball of energy, she had two sides. On the one hand, she was fun-loving and playful, and on the other, she was dramatic and prone to incredible outbursts triggered by anything from being too cold to getting nominated. Both sides were TV gold and earned her a place in the nation’s hearts. Nikki was the ultimate housemate.
WHAT HAPPENED?
While her mum poignantly notes that Big Brother helped save Nikki’s life – making her feel safe and loved – her demons remained. From the age of eight, Nikki su ered from anorexia, an illness that plagued her for her entire life and led to her tragic death. This one-hour show, as well as celebrating Nikki’s short but eventful life, shines a light on the complexities of the cruel illness that had Nikki in its grip, and caused her – and her loved ones – so much heartache. Emotional and compelling, it’s a welcome reminder of what a special person Nikki Grahame really was.
‘She was an icon of the reality TV age’