ramdom and rather funny interview thing, qu's and answers about the archers

[Guyoline]

ok well i found this on the bbc site some of the questions are so funny

Tamsin Greig (Debbie) answers more of your questions:

What do you see in "slimy Simon"? He's creepy!
Graham Jenking

He's a kind warm loving generous funny supportive dark playful mature tall short observant caring insightful intelligent well-read encouraging brave bouncy wild lively lovely tiger. And one thing Radio 4 can't always share in, he's great in bed, ok?

Debbie - How do you manage to film a series of Black Books in between lambing, sowing, harvesting, keeping tabs on your wayward husband, nursing your sore foot, being the sole marketing guru for Hassett Hills Lamb and filling in subsidy claim forms? Does your dad know? Do you like acting and would you ever consider leaving farming to take up acting full-time?
Lossie Quine

What a fantastic question! Please tell me you have a sound grip on reality, Lossie Quine. Debbie has done her bit for amdram in the past, but suffered technically and visually at the hands of Lynda Snell I think. With sound direction and a good cozzy, I'm sure she could make a tasty cat's dinner of a bit of the bard. Fran in Black Books was played by an actress called Tamsin Greig. She knows nothing about sheep farming or mother-baiting.

If Fran, your character from 'Black Books' wandered into Ambridge how do you think she would get on with Debbie, do you think they are at all alike?
HooperMarts

They are alike in that they both have dark hair and a big gob. Although I may be wrong there, because a listener once told me that Debbie is definitely blonde and has a big arse. Fran would certainly lead Debbie astray. Drinking, smoking, shouting at people in the service industry, wearing chic clothes. Fran would probably have a go at Simon, and I don't mean aggressively. Fran might possibly get a job, as she doesn't appear to have any discernible source of income. But she wouldn't work anywhere near a live animal, products that smell, or offensive machinery.

Is Debbie going to shag David?
Ruan Milborrow [A question inspired perhaps by a comment from Tim Bentinck, who plays David, in his Questionnaire]

WHAT A TERRIBLE QUESTION!!! I can't answer this one on the grounds of techno-indecency, familial perversity, and intellectual incomprehension. (I'm too intelligent to understand the question.) It's almost as bad as IS DEBBIE GOING TO SHAG BRIAN?, which has been aired before now. What IS going on?

Don't you ever worry about what Simon is up to......I mean he is so rarely on air...
Ian Gee

But isn't he lovely when he is on air? Personally I don't worry when my own husband hasn't spoken for a few days, or if he's been in the loo for a couple of months. That's what marriage is all about, isn't it? Taking the air with the vacuums. I do just wish he'd actually use the vacuum once in a while, you should see our flat...

Do you (Debbie) believe Simon is a faithful husband? He never seems to be at home. I expect lots of people will ask this question

Yes Debbie (not me) believes Simon is a faithful husband. If she didn't they wouldn't be able to stay in the same room, I mean scene. And if he's never at home, then they can't have scenes. And I don't mean 'scenes', if you can separate art and reality.

Over the last couple of years, in Black Books, Happiness, etc., you've shown yourself to be a gifted comic actor. Do you feel any disappointment that your role in The Archers is one of the straight parts, with less scope for comedy than other cast members have?
Tony Keen

Not at all. It's a lovely balance, like cheese and grapes. Actually, your question is a little like asking wouldn't I like ice cream on my garlic mushrooms? In some ways playing straight parts is more challenging, cos there's no mucking about. You just have to get on and embrace ordinariness, and make it fine. Which is fine.

I'm worried that you are going to get a nasty surprise about Simon. He seems to have a penchant for young girls (and Jennifer). Do you think his philandering may extend as far as Alice? I went to college with Rose Leaf of Llanelli (another excellent name choice), any relation to your husband? I heard you in a play on R4 last week which was fab!
Jak Radice

Please don't worry Jak Radice. Did you ever get salad jokes forced on you at school? Now I'm starting to worry for you. I can see how this worrying thing can get out of hand... ALICE???? She's a tiny little teenager in Gucci loafers, I can't believe you'd suggest such a thing. My husband doesn't know a Rose Leaf of Llanelli. Perhaps she's an imposter. Thank you for Radio 4 play encouragement. I had a great time recording it, a real treat. Glad you enjoyed it.

Tamsin, what do you get recognised for most often, your face or your voice?
Dot

I get most recognised for being Charlene Spiteri, the lead singer in Texas. I wonder if people think she's Tamsin Greig? And she goes, 'Who?...'

Does Tamsin know whether Lynda has lent Debbie any of her interesting home videos? And how is the lovely Simon?
Denise Tomlinson

Tamsin knows nothing. It's more than her job's worth. Debbie wouldn't be interested anyway - when she's at home, watching videos comes after sleeping, kipping and snoozing, it being harvest and all. The lovely Simon is a figment of your aural imagination. He lives in your head, and sometimes in your hair, but more often up your nose.

This isn't a question, so I don't know whether you will see it, but I just wanted to say what a great fan I am of yours. I think you're great as Debbie, and we all (ie me and my children) loved you in 'Black Books'. I don't know whether you remember me, but I taught you for a while at Camden (I was Miss Ward then!), and so follow your career with interest!
Maggie Ward Goodbody

Yes of course I remember you, you were a fantastic English teacher, and it was your and other English teachers' input that inspired me to take the path I have done, so bless your heart! You taught me 'To Kill a Mockingbird' (not literally) which is still one of my favourite books. Isn't it wonderful how early enthusiasm can encourage such delight? As the ad goes, You don't forget a good teacher! And now you're a Goodbody! Good job you didn't have that when you were at Camden. Think what we would have done with it!... Imagine what they did with Tamsin? Let alone Greig! But it's great to hear from you, and thank you for your lovely words.

Do you think that you would like to be playing Debbie when you (and she) are both old and grey?
T Young

I am doing. I am both old and grey. Not as old and grey as your question hints at, but indeed I have old and grey qualities about me. I have the perfect body for radio. I would love to be playing Debbie when she is a little old lady. Preferably way after I should have retired.

When is Debbie going to realise she is married to a lecherous lecturer and find herself a nice man to bounce off of ? Would you like to develop some juicy story lines for Debbie, a la Brian, when that love triangle story line has finally run its course? Black Books was an excellent programme, but I hope you will still find time for a bit of Archers action.
Matt Gooner

Lecherous lecturer? Debbie is the only one he leches after, ok? She's the perfect woman for him - the only woman who comes home, and Simon knows exactly where her hands have been... Thank you for Black Books encouragement. I love doing that show too, but The Archers will always be there, hopefully, unless the juicy story line
Involves lockjaw brought on by rusty nails in feet, or murder. Hers, not his.

Many contributors to the Archers' message board are convinced that Simon is going to turn out to be a love-rat, like his father-in-law. What do you think?
Madeleine Brierley

I don't think! I'm not paid to think, I'm paid to turn up and say the words the scriptwriters in their infinite wisdom have put down on paper. My only concern regarding the paper is how I can turn it without making any rustling noises. I'm delighted to be playing the part, and the storylines that come are the ones that come. I'm very happy about that. Does that help? All I can say about Mister Gerrard is that he entered the programme he was already a love-rat...

[Guyoline]

ok page 2 of these random questions...

When are you going to dump the poisonous Simon?
Julia Hunt

I'm not going to dump him. Garrick Hagon is a fine actor, and anyway that's up to Vanessa Whitburn. I just turn up and say the lines. I have a lovely life.

I loved your family scene with Brian trying to serve wine to everyone while Kate speculated on the source of Siobhan's baby. Was it as much fun acting the scene as it was listening to it?
Matt Gooner

That scene with the wine was a laugh to do, and I am indebted to Charles Collingwood (who plays Brian) for helping me to the correct timing and inflection for the end of episode line. I am nothing without him. Bless you Charles.

Why did an attractive young woman like Debbie decide to get married to the slimy, sickening Gerrard and don't you think Debbie's amazingly stupid at the moment to not even suspect that Simon is cheating on her with his students?
Jan, Surrey

She married him because he asked her, and he was her childhood sweetheart, and he was a mature good looking North American (ie a catch) and she had previously been smacked into Worcestershire by the landed gentry. Who wouldn't? Debbie is amazingly tired at the moment, harvest on her own, and no familial back-up. Who has their eyes open in those times? And what do you mean by cheating anyway?


Tell me, how can Debbie be so thick that she can't see that her oilslick of a husband much prefers schtupping (to use a Yiddish word) his nubile students than her? And won't their joint income suffer a major dip when he is booted out of his university for gross moral turpitude?
Tim Saville

Will you stop kvetching? And do you have proof of the schtupps? Don't forget, Debbie was a nubile student for Simon too. Why would Simon be booted out of the university? I thought personal one-on-one mentoring was the bedrock of university life?...

You seem to have quite a gift for comedy! any plans to do any more?
Alison Bettany

Did you hear the one about the radio actress who thought she was funny?... No, really, I'm very glad to do the comedy on screen. It's a wonderful blessing. Any more? I'm filming at the moment a re-make of the 1976 TV film 'Ready When You Are, Mr McGill' with Tom Courtenay and Sally Phillips (Smack The Pony) (sally, not tom). I don't know if I'm funny, but everyone else is hilarious, obviously.

I've been listening to The Archers for about 8 or 9 years now and I'm begging you please please please let me take you away from all this. All the men you go for treat you badly. Either beating you up or cheating on you... (I have you sussed Simon). You deserve so much better with that sexy chocolate voice of yours!!
John Gargrave

Dear John, how can I say this? Is this the first Dear John letter you've ever received? Are you sure you really want me to run away with you? My husband and two children would come too obviously, are you cool with that? But you are right to comment on Debbie's bad track record with the guys. But with a father like Roger T-M, how can she hope to have a solid male role model to draw on? And remember, things are still sweet with Simon. Very. Ok?

Well - what d'you think? Will Debbie & Simon have a baby? I've always imagined that we'll have to wait until Debbie finds out Simon's been having an affair with a 19 year-old student or something before she can discover she's pregnant unexpectedly... By the way, Debbie is one of my favourite characters and at the moment she never gets good storylines, so I'm really hoping she gets something meaty soon!
Ellie Kane

I think meat (as in story lines, not kids) is always on the horizon, so have hope Ellie. As for babies, what with Simon's legitimate extra curricular tutoring, and harvest, I don't think there'll be much hands-on opportunity for Gerrard fruition...

Debbie seems to have such a dreary life. If you could write the scripts for the next year, what would you have happen to her?
Martine Stead

Dreary? Dreary??? Have you ever been present at the birth of a lamb?! Ever driven a combine the size of a bungalow? Ever tranquilised a deer? Ever eaten Jenny's raspberry coulis? Ever had curry thrown over you by Eddie Grundy? I couldn't write those scripts. I might put her in prison, and see how radio copes with sound proof glass, though...

Was I going mad when I watched the first episode of Six Feet Under? Or did I see you in one of the invented advertisements?
Matthew Cooper

You were going mad. How do you feel now? Six feet under?

Do you ever get sick of Debbie being treated like a doormat by everyone? Brian doesn't help on the farm. David & Phil blamed her for not spraying the crops when she had wanted to and they ignored her advice. Simon is given free reign to play with his students. Why doesn't she put her foot down?
Bookworm

I think it's great that there is tension, emotional constraint, professional misconduct (them not hers naturally), mental anguish, marital torpor. How else would there be drama? But thank you for caring. Anyway, put her foot down too hard, and the nail would come out the other side, not a pretty radio sight.

Do you feel you are more like Debbie or Fran, the character you play in
Black Books [Channel 4 comedy series]?
Louise Jameson

I am like neither of them, I am Tamsin, I am not a number!!! I think they are both a little like me, and nothing like me. They are both pretty odd cookies when all's told, and obviously I am utterly ordinary, bland some would say. I am a blank canvass. Script writers come scrawl on me.


hi i think u r a brill actress. who do like to work with the most in the archers?
Cal Saxton

I love working with them all, they are all beautiful, talented, good looking and incredibly wealthy. No really, they're a great bunch of people. I do enjoy working with Charles Collingwood, described in the press once as "relentlessly anecdotal". We have a laugh and that's pretty good when you do a lot of work together.


Oooo!! I can't believe I'm asking you a question!! Tamsin, I am your greatest fan and have two questions for you... How do you say (in the diet coke advert) "And he's with another woman!" with such amazing tones? (yes I'm very strange!!)... and two... what do you do in the long gaps there seem to be when Debbie is not on The Archers?
Nick Taylor (16)

Bless your heart Nick. I don't know how I said that line in the ad. It was the middle of the night in a supermarket and it was the 17 millionth take. Perhaps catatonia? Or is that a country? And in The Archers gaps, I do other work, voice-overs, radio, tv, and go to the park with my children. It's not all roses and sheep poo you know.

Some of the most effective and harrowing acting I can remember in The Archers were the scenes immediately following your beating at the hands of Simon Pemberton. How did you set about preparing yourself for these? (I'm assuming you're not a disciple of the Method school of acting!)
HP Brio BAx P3/450

Thank you HP Brio. I loved doing that storyline - really gritty and stretching. I prepared by doing the scene with snot in my nose and 2 fingers in my mouth. It sounded like tears and a very fat lip. I think. The Method is all hogwash, to quote an eminent writer/director (not Stanislavski).

[darcie]

Thanks for posting those.
She is a very funny lady. Brilliant.