TYNE TEAM
AIRING on Gold, Death On The Tyne is an unusual, but welcome, mix of comedy and a thrilling whodunnit.
At the centre of it you have Terry and Gemma, who Johnny – real name Michael Pennington – calls the “straight ones” amongst a selection of mad characters, played by the likes of Georgie Glen, Sue Johnston and James Fleet.
“The idea is that everyone’s being hilarious, and we feel as if we’re being really flat,” elaborates the St Helens-born star, famous for his work in stand-up, as well as roles in Benidorm, Still Open All Hours and Bleak House.
“We’re just doing facial expressions!” quips Sian, best known for her collaborations with Peter Kay, including starring in and co-writing the comedy series Peter Kay’s Car Share.
“It gives you that confidence to go, ‘No, the straighter we play it, the funnier it makes everyone else’,” Johnny elaborates.
“You’re not tempted to take it into comedy overdrive. That wouldn’t work for the characters.”
The duo, who are animatedly debating whether Quality Street or Heroes are the better box of chocolates when I enter the room (Johnny is adamant it’s Heroes) have become great friends thanks to this show. Does that make their performances easier?
“I think so, purely because you’re not embarrassed to try things out and play about with it; you’re not intimidated,” suggests Sian, who was born in Mold, Wales.
“We’re very like-minded, in the comedy that we like anyway,” notes Johnny.
“We’re not embarrassed to go, ‘Does this feel right?’ You’re not hijacking the script but you’re going, ‘Would we do this as a couple?”’ IN MURDER On The Blackpool Express, there was a “Will they, won’t they?” situation with Gemma and Terry.
This time, the focus on the couple is what it’s like to date somebody you work with, with a sideline story of Terry wanting to propose (and it never quite going to plan...).
“What I enjoyed about the second time is that we felt like we’d established the characters so we kind of knew what we were doing,” notes Sian.
“So it was easier for us than for all the new cast because they were still getting to grips with it, whereas we were doing what we did before, but the relationship has moved on a stage. It felt even more comfortable.”
“They are very relatable in that they’re constantly on these trips surrounded by larger-than-life characters,” adds Johnny.
“The two of them are a good anchor for each other.” WHEN speaking to him for Murder on the Blackpool Express, Johnny expressed the self-doubt he feels about being a comedian who has moved into doing dramas.