“I had to wild swim in Coniston Water once or twice.
“And I was in Derwent Water three times…and it was very cold.”
Christopher Eccleston talking to me about his role as former police detective Robert in new ITV drama Safe House, filmed in the Lake District.
“The house is a central character. We do have the sense the ‘safe house’ is ironic. Because it’s not safe.”
“THERE are an awful lot of things that are plausible and just a few things that are probable.”
Rory Kinnear talking to me about new two-part ITV drama Lucan, which tells a story most will not know.
He plays the Lord who created a headline-grabbing mystery after murdering his children’s nanny Sandra Rivett (Leanne Best).
Having mistaken her in a darkened basement kitchen for his wife Lady Lucan (Catherine McCormack).
And then vanishing – never to be seen again.
HE is, without a shadow of a doubt, the scariest man on TV.
The Shadow Line’s James Gatehouse, played by Stephen Rea.
Closely followed in the chilling stakes by Rafe Spall’s portrayal of Jay Wratten.
And next Thursday we meet a third contender – Peter Glickman (Antony Sher).
Full of ticking menace in a Dublin clock shop.
“I”M just a flower man, sergeant.”
Hot on the heels of Exile comes another top class TV thriller.
The Shadow Line begins a seven-part series on BBC2 tonight, with Christopher Eccleston as that flower man Joseph Bede.
BACK from a screening plus Q&A tonight for new BBC1 drama series Accused.
With writer Jimmy McGovern, producer Sita Williams and actor Christopher Eccleston, who plays Willy in the first story next Monday.
I asked Jimmy about his recent comments that TV drama should say more about the world we live in today and not rely on costumes, irony and pastiche.
Taken as a criticism of, among other dramas, Downton Abbey – which he has never seen.
What was his reaction to the flak his comments attracted?
IT’S no secret that Christopher Eccleston is one of my favourite actors.
Maybe yours too?
He’s a class act and as intelligent off screen as on.
I spoke to him recently – on the day after the government’s spending cuts were announced – about his role in episode one of Jimmy McGovern’s new BBC1 series Accused.
Which includes his character Willy calling a banker a name I can’t repeat here.
My interview with Chris is in today’s Manchester Evening News, and also online below with a few extras I couldn’t fit into the main article.
“FOR heaven’s sake, sit down,” pleads John Lennon’s estranged father.
“I’ve not sat down since 1962,” his son replies.
Lennon Naked (BBC4, 9:30pm tonight) is a marvellous film with another top class performance by Christopher Eccleston.
Although the one-off 90-minute drama begins in the middle of black and white Beatlemania, it mainly focuses on the years 1967 to 1971.
Including the break-up of The Beatles and John’s life changing meeting with Yoko Ono, played by Torchwood star Naoko Mori.
Life of Wylie 