Unmissable show?
Inside No 9. I’ve just filmed some of the new series last week. Being in something that you actually watch! Brilliant! I have Corrie on my planner all the time, and catch up on it in big chunks whenever I can. I’ve watched it all my life and don’t intend to stop now. Sherlock is something I’ve just recently been able to share with my daughter. We’re proud to be Cumberbitches! And I’m ashamed to say that we’re completely hooked on Celebrity Big Brother. I have weaned myself off over the years but I’ve found myself drawn back in this time around. It makes me feel a bit ill!
Bring back…
In The Flesh. I couldn’t believe it when I read that BBC3 had cancelled it. One of the greatest shows to be made in recent times.
TV turn-off?
I’m not a big daytime TV watcher, which is maybe influenced by my TV viewing growing up. Watching TV in the daytime is something I associate with being poorly and off school. So I don’t tend to turn it on. I’m a bit of a radio head until after tea.
Pitch us a TV show…
In the vein of In The Flesh, I’d have a post-apocalyptic drama. I would be the adopted mother of Fisayo [Akinade], who plays Dean in Cucumber. We would be trying to create a new society in the remnants of the apocalypse, as a crime-fighting peace force, vigilante, adoptive mother-and-son duo. Rather than getting your Cumberbatches in, me and Fis will do it cheaply, as we’ll need money left over for the high-concept stuff.
Mastermind specialist subject?
I’ve been asked to do Mastermind. And I’ve done a couple of TV quiz shows but Mastermind is one that I’ve said no to. There is literally nothing that I have a specialised knowledge of. Apart from possibly Hayley 1997-2014. I don’t think they’d allow it me anyway. People say to me, ‘Oh, what about The Smiths?’, because I’m a big Smiths fan, but really there are still massive gaps in my knowledge. I really disappoint myself as a fangirl. I don’t retain information in that sort-of very male way. So I’ve given that a swerve.
Bottom of the DVR?
I’ve not watched Boardwalk Empire yet, which I’ve really, really wanted to watch, and I’ve not watched Dexter. Crucially, and this is unbelievable for a woman in television, I’ve not watched Orange Is The New Black. I’ve got them all sitting waiting to watch. I’m going to have a good time in the coming weeks of unemployment, before my apocalypse TV show gets made.
Cucumber continues Thursday, 9pm, Channel 4
