SETTLE IN FOR JAMESTOWN FINALE
IT CAN be hard, as actors, to leave a role behind. But as Jamestown, the Sky One drama about the first British settlers in America, returns for its third and final series, some of the cast feel certain it’s the right time to say goodbye.
“I’d have been gutted if we had done two (series), I think there was more story to tell, and of course, you could go further with it,” reasons Stuart Martin, 33 (the Scot portrays labourer Silas Sharrow).
“But I feel like with three series you can get in amongst 10/15 characters and really tell those stories. If it starts to go over (three series), you think, ‘What are we going to do?”’
Luke Roskell, 22, who plays Pepper, Silas’ younger brother, agrees; and is happy with how things work out for his character. Historical drama Jamestown returns for a third and final series on Sky One. Stars Stuart Martin and Luke Roskell reveal what’s in store to
“This season I’ve got (Max Beesley) at the time. some really nice stuff, Alice and Silas ended up especially with Mercy getting together, and (played by Patsy Ferran); having a baby. But when, in that story rounds off the last episode of series lovely,” notes the two, Silas’ fellow settlers Merseyside-born star, best accused him of being a known for playing Sean traitor, he fled to the Spencer in Emmerdale. Pamunkey Indian Tribe.
Jamestown, created by In the new episodes, we Bill Gallagher, is based on will see the fallout of that, real-life events. In 1620, as he now lives with the 90 young English Pamunkey permanently. women were Preparation for the shipped across the storyline included losing 15 Atlantic to be kilos, “because I knew I had brides for to get into a loincloth,” pioneers who had quips Stuart. been living in “The former Silas, as the Virginia for over a big farmer, the big oaf, the decade. But there man of the land, he does a were a lot more men than total shift, and becomes a there were women. hunter gatherer,” continues
We saw Silas fall in love the actor, whose other TV with Alice, played by Peaky roles include Netflix series Blinders star Sophie Medici: Masters Of Rundle, who was married to Florence, and Channel 4 his older brother Henry comedy drama Babylon.
“I just felt like it was a totally different character.”
Another new element of the role was learning to speak the tribe’s language, something he embraced.
“I remember laying all the scenes out and it would cover half this floor of just Native American, which is such a buzz.”
Luke is full of praise for his co-star’s hard work – even if he can’t help but tease him a little too (it’s clear the pair have become close playing the brothers).
“You did big it up, with the whole floor thing,” he says with a smile. “But there was paragraphs and paragraphs of a different language...” he goes on to acknowledge. “I did a line (of Native American), and I couldn’t remember it!
“They were going, ‘Rolling’ and I was going, ‘Stu, what’s the line?!”’
Over the three series, we’ve seen Pepper change a lot – Luke was just 19 when he got the role.
“This year he’s got some facial hair; a little bit of something,” he jokes.
“He’s a lot older and trying to step up to the mark now. Over the three years he has been doing that already, trying to emulate his brothers. But this year, he’s trying to find himself really.”
Stuart and Luke admit it was difficult to switch off after filming finished for good and there was added sadness due to the fact the show was filmed in Budapest, a city they both have grown really fond of.
“It was just such a lovely experience to film because you’re not in a studio, you’re outside the whole time,” says Stuart.
“Between takes you go and sit in the pub or sit in the sun, it’s great. It’s a lovely, lovely gig.”
“I can second that,” Luke chimes in with a grin. “Being outside and with your pals; dream job!”
Jamestown airs on Sky One and NOW TV on Friday, April 26, at 9pm.