‘Samson is very different from other actors that I’ve worked with’
Jane Horrocks talks to Danielle de Wolfe about the new season of Sky comedy Bloods
Sky paramedic comedy Bloods is returning, with Jane Horrocks once more reprising the role of over-friendly divorcee Wendy, who works alongside streetwise lone Maleek, played by the show’s creator Samson Kayo.
Packed full of laughs, bodily fluids and the occasional impromptu sing-along, Bafta-nominated Horrocks, 58, sits down to tell us more ahead of the forthcoming series.
What can we expect from Wendy and Maleek in series two?
Wendy and Maleek have a massive challenge. It will be interesting to know where the audience learns and whether Wendy has done the right thing. Whether she’s let her partner down, or whether she’s actually done what is ethically right. But then their friendship is still as solid as ever. It goes through highs and lows and so it has become more like a comedy drama actually.
Do we get to see their friendship develop?
Yeah, they are very much bedded in by the second series. They are just like the other half of each other really – a complete partnership, even though they kind of drive each other mad. I know that Maleek is still very irritated by Wendy and her old lady ways. But in the end, he feels very comfortable with her.
What’s it like working with Samson Kayo?
It was quite interesting actually, because us as actors, Samson and Jane, when we were acting with other people, it’s like we pined for each other. And we couldn’t wait to get back to doing scenes together. It really works as a relationship on and off screen and it’s developed in a really beautiful way, actually. I love working with Samson. He’s just so easy and fun. He’s very different from other actors that I’ve worked with…
In what way?
He’s not precious about anything, he just allows it to happen, I think, because of the way he got into acting. He just joined a queue, a casting queue, and tried his luck and actually got the part. So I think that’s the way Samson operates and he’s just really zen and laid back to work with. It’s brilliant.
Have you learnt a lot from his approach to acting?
I think I’ve learned a lot about just being relaxed. There was one point, probably quite a long time ago, where I was very precious about things and very precious about takes and redoing things. Now, working with him, it’s taken all that pressure off for me.
It’s more about having fun – and the fun comes across on screen.
We see you duetting to The Killers’ Mr Brightside, was that fun to film?
Yeah, I knew the song, but I didn’t know the lyrics. We were just given that song the night before – it’s not really Samson’s sort of music. We were struggling our way through it, trying to remember the lyrics and the tune. But, I mean, I do have such a laugh with Samson and we do have great difficulty not laughing together.
● Bloods season 2 starts 16 March on Sky Comedy and streaming service NOW