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Daily Record
Entertainment
Paul T Smith

Two Doors Down's Elaine C Smith reveals character Christine is attracting fans across the globe

After decades as one of Scotland's most well-kent faces, Elaine C Smith is no stranger to being recognised by fans.

But it's her role as brutally honest neighbour Christine in Two Doors Down that's bringing the much-loved Glasgow -born actress to the attention of an army of new fans across the globe.

Elaine will be back on our screens for series six of the hit BBC comedy show next Wednesday, November 9.

During an exclusive chat with the Daily Record ahead of its return, she told us the beauty of the show is it's "relatable" all over the world, and people often stop her in the street to say Christine is like a "member of their family".

Christine (ELAINE C SMITH), Alan (GRAEME STEVELY aka GRADO) (BBC Studios / Robert Pereira Hind)

Elaine said: "When I was in London, it was wonderful, I had lots of West Indian and African/Caribbean people come up to me and say 'OMG you play that woman' and I think that just shows the universality of Two Doors Down.

"Christine, for me, is like a worker for the DLA. She knows every benefit that she is due and she is taking early retirement because she has a dodgy knee."

There's also a few famous fans of the BBC programme, with Elaine revealing that Tom Jones told an audience of fans during his gig in Edinburgh earlier this year that "Everybody knows a Christine".

Ian (JAMIE QUINN), Gordon (KIERAN HODGSON), Eric (ALEX NORTON), Alan (GRAEME STEVELY aka GRADO), Michelle (JOY McAVOY), Anne Marie (SIOBHAN REDMOND), Beth (ARABELLA WEIR), Colin (JONATHAN WATSON), Christine (ELAINE C SMITH) (BBC Studios / Mark Mainz)

Episode one of the new series of Two Doors Down will see Jonathan Watson's character Colin in a vulnerable state after being unceremoniously dumped by his wife Cathy, played by Smack the Pony legend Doon MacKichan. She announced earlier this year she was leaving to focus on other projects and, though fans will be gutted at the loss, she's paved the way for some fresh storylines and faces, including Siobhan Redmond, who will come in as Colin's new love interest.

Elaine admitted it had been tough to see the comedy actress go, but she was looking forward to new beginnings.

She said: "I was gutted to see her go, we're great pals and I have admired he as an actor for many, many years.

Cathy (DOON MACKICHAN) (BBC Studios / Alan Peebles)

"But she left on good terms, and you need to understand that sometimes, you need to put other things first. "We miss her, but it was Doon's decision to go.

"Christine quite likes the fact that Cathy is no longer there and as you can imagine, her reaction to Colin as to why Cathy has gone goes like this 'has she s****** somebody else, or just had enough?'.

"You know, straight to the point when someone is grieving. Christine sits in judgement with everyone.

"But I've always admired Siobhan, and always thought she was a fantastic actress - she is absolutely brilliant - she's always on her game, she's great to have onboard."

Christine (ELAINE C SMITH), Beth (ARABELLA WEIR) (BBC Studios / Mark Mainz)

Elaine says she's looking forward to series six, especially the Christmas Special because viewers will shed a tear, and she reflected on how difficult the last series was to film due to coronavirus.

Elaine added: "It is really back with a bang I think.

"Series five was really difficult to film, because we had to shutdown twice for Covid, the gorgeous Joy [who plays Michelle] went into labour, and then we had to come back and film.

"So it was trickier and difficult conditions to film in for everyone, and for the writers to write in."

It's understood talks have already started about the commissioning of a series seven.

Two Doors Down returns to BBC Two on Wednesday November 9 at 10pm.

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