The writer of The Syndicate on her love of dogs, drama and why her job is a dream come true
Writer Kay Mellor reveals how her dog Happy provided the inspiration for the fourth series of BBC One’s The Syndicate, and why helping others would bring her more joy than the jackpot
When it came to dreaming up a new setting for the fourth series of BBC One’s The Syndicate, writer Kay Mellor didn’t have to look far. Her beloved dog Happy inspired her to set it at a dog kennels and she even gave him a starring role in the show.
Happy, a Shih Tzu, plays himself as one of the residents of Woodvale Kennels, which is about to be sold when staff members discover their lottery ticket has netted £27 million. The problem is, someone has stolen the winnings, prompting the kennel workers to spend every last penny on tracking down the culprit.
Kay, 69, who is married to Anthony Mellor and mum to actor Gaynor Faye and producer Yvonne Francas, has given us some of TV’S best-loved dramas. Here, she reveals how she would spend a lottery win and why she’s hopelessly devoted to her pooch…
Hi Kay, how long have you had Happy?
I fell madly in love with Happy and became a dog owner five years ago, after being a cat person all my life. My husband and I thought long and hard about getting a dog because we knew it would change our lives. We don’t go for exotic holidays to China any more – we drive to Spain or France with Happy in the back. We’re obsessed with him. I think we talk about him more than we did our kids. There’s a couple in the show called the Levines who are obsessed with their dog and that is Anthony and I. Before I had a dog, I used to think dog people were a bit strange. My Auntie Joan would come to a family gathering and say, “I can’t stay long, I’ve left the dog.” And I would go, “What?” But now that’s me now. In fact, I am more likely to say to friends and family, “Come over and bring the dog!”
They say you should never work with children or animals...
It was lovely having Happy on set. All the dogs were great and we had expert handlers there the whole time. The actors were great too!
How did the pandemic affect filming?
It meant that filming was delayed by six months. I was devastated. All the scripts were written and we were just days away from shooting.
What was it like filming in Monaco?
Monaco would normally be terribly busy, but it
was so quiet. The casinos were empty and everyone was wearing masks inside and out. I sat in a park eating a sandwich and a policeman came up to me and told me to put my mask back on as soon as I’d finished. They were doing hand sanitizing and taking temperatures long before we were.
Did you have a flutter in the casinos?
There wasn’t much time for me to enjoy it as I was co-directing and the days were long. Anyway, I’m not much of a gambler to be honest. The first time I went to a casino, I lost fifty quid in a few seconds and thought “This is not for me.” When I was doing research for this series, I spent some time in casinos dotted around Leeds and I could see how addictive gambling can be for some. I met a young woman in her early 30s who threw three £20 notes onto the table. She was wearing Primark clothes and told me she was already £680 down. I based a character on her called Keeley.
Having a 20-something with a gambling addiction in the show feels very timely…
Yes, because it’s everywhere. There are adverts on the TV encouraging you to gamble on your phone... they are actually trying to encourage young people to play poker. A lot of these young people can’t throw in sixty quid and then walk away. The young woman I met said she went to a casino because she had more control there than she does playing on her phone.
‘I’m passionate about helping new writers get their voices heard’
Did seeing all those super yachts in Monaco make you want to live the millionaire lifestyle?
No, that just isn’t me. All I want to do is tell stories, entertain and absorb people and I’m passionate about helping new writers get their voices heard. I drive a Mini and live in a detached house in Leeds. My main luxury in life is my imagination.
Did you plan to do four series of The Syndicate?
I certainly thought I might do three. I was the one who suggested it should be a completely new syndicate each time. What excited me was the prospect of having new characters each time. It’s so nice to keep coming back and reinventing it. And money is such an interesting topic – the idea of what you would do with it, what it does to you as a person, greed, how a lack of it feels, etcetera.
What would you do if you won £27 million?
I’d give it away. I’d pay off my family and friends’ mortgages, give money to the NSPCC, animal welfare and care for the elderly. I’d make sure my family was all right. I’d want my grandchildren to be set up for life. I do worry about them. I’m so fearful when my granddaughter Lily goes on social media. I’m forever saying things like, “Don’t put anything like that on Twitter.” I’m also forever telling them how lovely they are to try and counteract some of the negative things on social media.
Do you think it’s harder for today’s youth?
We didn’t have all that to contend with when I was young, although I had my first child at 16 and that was hard because Anthony and
I had nothing at all. We didn’t even have enough money to buy a pushchair, but we were lucky because we both came from working class families that were there for us. I worry for young people out there who don’t have a family to support them. There are more mental health issues today. In my day and age, if somebody wanted to be cruel to you, they’d do it to your face and you’d call them a bully, but nowadays, these trolls can do it under a cloak of anonymity and I think that’s so harmful for young people.
Was it hard not seeing your family during lockdown?
Yes, but I haven’t had time to be bored. This table I’m sat at now is my editing suite. We’ve had to get this series out fast, so I’ve been sat here editing and making sure the sound and the picture are absolutely crystal clear. My daughter Gaynor plays Frank’s wife in the show, so she was out in Monaco with me, and my other daughter Yvonne came out for a bit too, which was lovely. We text every day, but we’re all working in our own little bubbles.
What’s next for you work-wise?
At the moment, I’m totally consumed with getting this show out, but I have got ideas floating around in my brain and there is a new commission on the horizon.
Are there any work goals you have left to complete?
One thing I’ve thought about, but haven’t done, is some sort of big community show and I like the idea of setting up a writing/ acting academy for young people. Every time I drive past the right kind of property I think “That would be a great place for it to happen.”
What will you do as soon as the lockdown restrictions lift?
I’m going to have a break. I’d like to go back to France for some sunshine... with my little dog of course.
The Syndicate is on Tuesday, 9pm, BBC One