These difficult times have created some positivity...
It’s amazing. All of us in the company stopped a year ago last March, but were kept under contract and we did manage to do some outside work from it last summer which was great.
I had moved to Stratford-uponAvon for the production and we did one day of rehearsals and then everything ground to a halt.
I stayed a few days as we waited to see what would happen, but we quite quickly realised we would not be able to carry on and I went home. Now we are back and a week away from technical rehearsals in the theatre, which is a bit scary.
We’ve picked up were we left off. It’s going to be a very, very special show. The production is to be broadcast by the BBC and hopefully it won’t be long before theatres start to re-open as well.
I was lucky. I was in Manchester from October to January working on a new BBC series called Lagging. It was filmed under Covid restrictions, so nobody could go near anyone else and we all had to do our own hair and make-up and manage costume fittings – it was a whole new way of working.
I’ve also had time to work on my own film projects and, of course, there has been home schooling.
My young daughter is in year one and my son is in year five. It’s been challenging having to teach, but you manage. Year five maths was definitely a challenge. It’s been some time since I’ve had to think about fractions and equations.
The line between being a parent and a teacher can be a bit murky sometimes. But it’s also been lovely to go on family bike rides and talk about other things in the world.
I think it’s created a different type of bond and out of these difficult times it has created some positivity. (Laughs) They still do. My son, who was a baby at the time, even appeared on Call The Midwife. He was in the scene when Peter and Chummy (Miranda Hart) get married and they come out of the church to be greeted by all the mums and babies Chummy has delivered. He was one of the babies.
I can’t believe it, but it’s actually coming up to the 10th anniversary of Call The Midwife. There’s been some chat about having a bit of reunion with some of the cast as and when we can. I don’t think anyone had any idea when they put out the first series, how huge it would become.
It tackled quite complex subjects, but was also very warm. I think it came along at the right time and the whole family could watch it. There was the brilliant writing from Heidi Thomas and a great cast, and everything sort of fell into place.
I remember seeing A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park and being mesmerised by it all.
I also did Shakespeare for my English and drama A level and then I performed a speech by Edmund from King Lear, for a scholarship to drama school.
I used to go on school trips to Stratford-upon-Avon and remember seeing Kenneth Branagh’s epic four-hour Hamlet. (Laughs) Twenty five years later and here I am.
Ben as PC Peter Noakes marrying Camilla (Miranda Hart) in BBC’s Call The Midwife production
My father produced some theatre and from quite an early age I was going to plays. I remember being so excited to see David Suchet on stage and years later we worked together on a TV programme about the life of Robert Maxwell.
One of the big turning points in my career was the HBO series Band Of Brothers from Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks.
I think, at that time, it was the most expensive TV series ever made and it was a fantastic experience. Meeting Steven Spielberg was a huge honour having been such a fan of his growing up.
■ The world premiere of The Winter’s Tale is being shown to coincide with Shakespeare’s birthday on BBC Four and iPlayer later this month. It is part of the BBC Lights Up theatre festival season of plays newly adapted for TV and radio. Go to rsc.org.uk for more details.
Magic Mike The Arena Tour, right, will be touring the country next year, following two successful hit films starring Channing Tatum and a hit London show.
Co-director
Alison Faulk says: “After a year of isolation and frustration, we want to give women something that makes them feel alive again… a sort of celebratory revival that makes them want to stand on their chairs, dance with their friends and feel connected to each other. We want our guys to give our fans the best night of their lives with a party they’ll never forget.”
■ Tour information available from MagicMikeArenaTour.com says meeting fundraiser Captain Sir Tom Moore inspired him to write and produce his new album We Are More Than One.
Michael and his partner Cathy McGowan both suffered Covid early on in the pandemic and he says: “Sir Tom galvanised me into believing I needn’t just sit around desperately looking for the next box set on Netflix, but I could try to use this time creatively and do what I’d always promised myself I would do one day and write and produce my own album.”
■ The album is released on Decca Records on May 7.
Stephen Fry, pictured, is to be the guest narrator for the global premiere of BBC World Service’s U.Me: The Musical.
The production features a young international cast, led by actors Anoushka Lucas and Martin Sarreal, and will be broadcast on BBC World Service on May 12.