The Invisibles
Warren Clarke plays Syd Woolsey
Maurice is Syd's rock and that creates its own stresses for Maurice, of which Syd is well aware. But, by the same token, Syd knows he'd lay down his life for his friend.
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Can you tell us about your character and why Syd and Maurice return to a life of crime?
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Syd's not approaching middle age, he's got there – which is a bit of a worry for him and Maurice. They've been sunning their buns in Spain for a few years on their ill-gotten gains. Through various reasons, they come back to England and are forced to go out on the job again because my son, Joe, played by Darren Tighe, has got himself into a whole lot of trouble with some villains.
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Maurice doesn't want to because Barbara, his wife, has been saying: "That's it, we don't do any more of that, we just settle down, relax and just enjoy retirement". But Syd forces Maurice back into it.
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Syd's a bit like a limpet – he's been attached to Maurice for about 20-30 years. Maurice can't get rid of him. But Syd's a nice guy and that's why Maurice doesn't want to give him the elbow. I've got a mate, who says to me: "You don't call, you don't write, you don't do anything." Syd's a bit like that to Maurice – he means well and he's harmless, unless there's a situation which needs handling.
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Syd was the greatest getaway driver the criminal world has ever known and I've got to portray that.
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How did you cope with all the action which takes place in the series?
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The funny thing with doing the show is there are a lot of things in the script which say: "Syd and Maurice jump off this building"'. And I go: "Yeah, right!" And: "Syd and Maurice run up this street being chased by dogs; Syd and Maurice escape on a boat; Syd jumps from the deck"'.
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So I decided to have a talk with the producer, Richard Burrell, and I said: "Excuse me, we have got really good stunt doubles, haven't we? Because I can't do this any more," [laughs]. I don't care whether Syd does it, but I can't do it any more so that brings another set of idiotic situations.
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I'm not sure the series has given me a new lease of life, but I have worked harder on this than I've worked for a long time – running, jumping, falling over and falling down. I haven't done all my own stunts, it's impossible, and I wouldn't be allowed to anyway.
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Are there any comparisons between you and the character?
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I wouldn't say me and Syd are exactly the same, but there are bits of Syd that rub off on me and bits of me that have rubbed off on Syd.
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What's the chemistry been like between you and Anthony Head?
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It's been great. We'd never really met before. I think we saw each other in a crowded room, or at a party somewhere, and said hi and suddenly we're lumped together – and it works. We have had a really good time doing it and the chemistry's good.
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What do you think the audience reaction will be to the series?
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We felt good about the series from the start. We've had a lot of fun doing it. It's been exciting, dramatic and we've had a lot of laughs. We hope that transmits to the screen to the audience.
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