Fi Browning – friend or foe?
AS LISA FAULKNER SWAPS BAKING FOR BUSINESS PLANS, WILL FI BROWNING’S ARRIVAL IN ALBERT SQUARE BE A RECIPE FOR DISASTER?
Lisa Faulkner has appeared on our television screens countless times over the years, in shows including
Holby City, Spooks and Murder In Suburbia. More recently, though, she’s been cooking up a storm, having published her fourth cookbook after winning Celebrity
Masterchef back in 2010. So as we head to the Eastenders studios for a chat with Lisa about Walford newcomer Fi Browning, we have our fingers crossed there might be a little slice of cake to accompany our cuppa. But sadly, it’s not to be…
“I’m really sorry – I didn’t bring any in today!” apologises the 45-year-old star, who is mum to Billie, 10. “I did make a great big polenta and honey cake the other day. I had to bring two because I forgot to put any baking
powder in the first one. Nobody seemed to mind, though!”
With Fi set to stir up trouble when she strides into the Square this week, we’re hoping there’ll be plenty more opportunities to sample Lisa’s baking as her alter ego’s story pans out…
Okay, so we forgive you for the lack of cake! Tell us what it was about Eastenders that tempted you away from baking and back to television?
I’ve always said that I’m an actress as well as a cook, and that if a character comes up that interests me, I’d look at it. At the time Eastenders approached me, I had my new book coming out and I was doing other things, but I did want to meet with them. And after they told me about Fi, I’d have been a fool to turn it down.
What can you tell us about Fi?
She’s a no-nonsense businesswoman who knows what she wants, and she’s very good at getting it. She’s great fun to play – she’s confident and good at charming people. And her costumes are nice!
What was it like stepping on to the Eastenders set for the first time?
Being in the Vic was terrifying! I watched the show when I was a teenager, so the Vic is iconic for me. I asked to have a tour round the studio and watch some filming before I started, because it can be really scary doing a scene somewhere like that for the first time. That helped dispel my nerves a bit.
You used to play Dr Victoria Merrick in Holby City, which is filmed at the same studios as Eastenders. Did that help too?
It’s really weird – I still know nearly everybody here! Being back is like putting on your favourite pyjamas, so even though I was a bit daunted, within a few minutes of filming again it was like, ‘Oh it’s okay, I still know how to do this’. It was very exciting.
Had you worked with any of the cast before?
There are quite a few that I’ve acted with, or interviewed. I tasted Scott Maslen’s [Jack] food on Masterchef, and I was quite scared because I couldn’t remember what I’d said about it!
Is there anyone you’ve particularly clicked with?
Lovely Luisa Bradshaw-white [Tina] and I clicked straight away – she’s my new best friend! She went into Holby
[as matron Lisa Fox] just after I’d left, and we’ve got lots in common.
How does your boyfriend – Masterchef presenter John Torode – feel about your new job?
He’s very excited. I’d not realised he’s such a fan! He knew all the character names and which family everyone is in. He’s been helping me learn my lines. Do you know what’s in store for Fi?
No – I wish I did! They tell you a few things, but she’s a slow-burn kind of character. I was having drinks with someone the other day and they said, “I bet you’ll be going out with Jack!” – but I have no idea. You read in the scripts that somebody shares a look with somebody and it gets you thinking, ‘Does that mean anything?’. But I have no idea what’s going to happen.
Former soap queens Angela Griffin, aka Corrie’s Fiona Middleton, and Nicola Stephenson (Brookside’s Margaret Clemence and Emmerdale’s Tess Harris) are two of your best friends. Did they give you advice?
They’re the best friends in the land! When I told them, they said, “That’s brilliant, it’s what you should be doing” – they love me cooking, but they know how much I love acting, too. And they’re right. After my first day at Eastenders, I was buzzing! Allison Jones