Trollied series 4 Starts Monday 3 November on Sky 1

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Introduction Our favourite supermarket, Valco, is back open for business in a fourth series of hit homegrown comedy Trollied, starting on Sky 1 on Monday 3 November. Along with series regulars Gavin, Margaret, Colin, Lisa, Sue, Linda, Ian and, who can forget, Neville, a few fresh faces will be hitting the shop floor hoping to serve you right. Need some medical advice? Then pharmacist Brian (Stephen Tompkinson, Wild at Heart) is your man, bringing a whole new chemistry to the store. Colin and Lisa’s world, meanwhile, is shaken by the arrival of Colin’s nan Rose (Miriam Margolyes, Harry Potter), and Gavin’s got his hands full with Harry (Jack Carroll, Britain’s Got Talent), 16, a first jobber who likes to wind up his colleagues. Last to join the Valco team are Daniel (Samuel Anderson, Doctor Who), the Warrington branch’s new assistant manager, and Charlotte (Aisling Bea, Edinburgh Fringe So You Think You’re Funny), the hopeless daughter of Valco’s owner and, thus, heiress to the entire empire.

Trollied is commissioned by Sky’s Head of Comedy Lucy Lumsden and Sky 1’s Director Adam MacDonald. It is produced by Alex Smith with Nick Goding the series producer and Ash Atalla the executive producer for Roughcut TV. Jon Mountague is the executive producer for Sky.

Introduction 3

Interviews:

Miriam Margolyes 4

Stephen Tompkinson 6

Jason Watkins 8

Aisling Bea 9

Jack Carroll 10

Samuel Anderson 11

Episode Billings 12

Contents

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Miriam Margolyes

“

“They were at the

end of their tether, just tired out, and I

thought, well, if I show them my breasts,

they will laugh themselves silly –

which they did.

Why did Trollied tickle your fancy?It made me laugh. I hooted - who can say why something makes you laugh? It’s character-driven, which I really like and, when I watched the episodes they sent me, I thought, I’d quite like to be a part of that. What can you tell us about your character Rose?She’s naughty and wants life to be lived on her terms. It’s how I live my life. Which leads nicely to the next question. Do you share any traits with Rose?Very much so. There was no acting required. NAR, we call it. You’re not a shy, retiring type - as demonstrated by your appearances on The Graham Norton Show. What’s the most outrageous thing you’ve ever said or done?Probably to show my breasts to Martin Scorsese and his team [on the set of The Age of Innocence] after a long day’s costume fitting. They were at the end of their tether, just tired out, and I thought, well, if I show them my breasts, they will laugh themselves silly - which they did. Have the Trollied cast welcomed you into the fold?They really are the most warm-hearted bunch of people. Just lovely. I’m very lucky. I actually have interaction with all of the cast, too. Gavin, for example, is trying to stop Rose from causing trouble, so moves me from one department to another, which provides plenty of opportunity for hilarity.

Who have you most enjoyed working with over the course of your career, and is there anyone you’d love to work with but haven’t had the opportunity to yet?My favourite actress is Dame Eileen Atkins. She is the greatest actress working in the English language. Have I worked with her? Yes, twice. I worked with her in Cold Comfort Farm, then again in Doc Martin. She’s wonderful. My favourite American actress is Anjelica Huston, who I think is brilliant. If you had to single out your most prized possession, what would it be?All my pictures - I couldn’t pick just one. Every time I get a job, I buy a picture. I collect graphic art of the 19th century. Look up Gillray, Heath and Rowlandson.

Interview

A veteran of stage and screen, Miriam Margolyes has enjoyed success on both sides of the Atlantic. The actress picked up a BAFTA film award for her supporting role in The Age of Innocence (1993), and more recently starred in the blockbusting Harry Potter franchise.

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Why did you sign on to Trollied?I’d seen the show and liked it a lot. I’ve been doing DCI Banks for a while now and, this year, was looking to do some comedy. Banks rarely cracks a smile so this is a nice antithesis. Plus, the fact that I’d never done anything for Sky. I had a meeting with my agent about what my wish list for 2014 would be and I said, ideally, I’d like to do a comedy for Sky, and, honestly, the very next day was when Nick Goding [the producer], who I worked with on Wild at Heart, rang up and asked whether I’d consider joining Trollied. It was a twist of fate I couldn’t ignore. How would you describe your character Brian?He’s absolutely delusional. They’ve introduced a pharmacy into the set and that’s Brian’s world - he sees the rest of the supermarket as an inconvenience. A GP might save three or four people a day and then go and play a round of golf, but Brian’s at the frontline of medicine. Every pill he dispenses is a potential life-saver, so that’s hundreds of people. He diagnoses everyone and sees himself as the House of the pharmaceutical world. Delusions of grandeur, certainly. It’s lovely and to be partnered with Rita [May, who plays Margaret] has been a joy. So Brian and Margaret are partners in crime?They sort of need each other. She calls him Doctor Brian, which he doesn’t object to because he failed medical school. All his family are doctors, his mum, dad, wife, brother, his other brother, their kids - he’s got a bit of a chip on his shoulder about that. Margaret, meanwhile, calls herself Nurse Margaret, so, yes, they’re well suited. It’s a great springboard to develop a fully-fledged double act, which I’m thrilled about. What has the atmosphere on set been like?They welcomed me with open arms. Having Nick producing and Paul Harrison directing - who I’ve worked with more than any other director - plus I’ve worked with Rita before, and Jason [Watkins, who plays Gavin] on a three-part BBC thing called In Denial of Murder. I’ve known Jason since I was at drama school anyway. We used to meet on the football field 20, no, 30 years ago. Good lord! He’s a wonderful, detailed, classy actor. Then there’s Miriam [Margolyes] of course. She’s a unique force of nature, just terrific.

Have you got any ambitions you’d still like to fulfil?My career has been better than I could have possibly imagined, so I’d like to keep that going. There is unchartered territory wherever you look in the acting world and I’m more than happy to have a go. I’ve never wanted to be pigeonholed and am always curious about things I’ve never done before.

““

One of my lovely jobs was to deliver all the scraps we didn’t need as pigs’ swill. It was a very glamorous start to my career.

Stephen Tompkinson

How about playing an out-and-out villain?As soon as you get slightly established you want to spread your wings in another direction and I’ve never really done an out-and-out villain on screen. I have on stage, though, which I thoroughly enjoyed. That’s something that would be on the wish list for next year. Can you remember a particularly good piece of advice that someone has given you?Once Ballykissangel had been a big hit, my dad told me, what you have to remember is that you’ve been in all these people’s living rooms, so always be nice and polite. He’s right. You get welcomed in as a guest and there’s a familiarity factor. People automatically feel like they know you, and you have to be grateful and appreciative of that. What was your first job, out of curiosity?I used to work in a fruit and veg place. Ah, so you’ve got some retail experience?Oh, yeah. We also did poultry and fish. One of my lovely jobs was to deliver all the scraps we didn’t need as pigs’ swill. It was a very glamorous start to my career.

Interview

Stephen Tompkinson is one of the country’s most beloved actors, from starring in Ballykissangel back in 1996 to the string of TV hits he boasts today, including Drop the Dead Donkey, Wild at Heart and DCI Banks.

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How does this series compare to previous ones given the influx of new faces?Here we are, four series in, and it’s brilliant. The scripts are just as strong and what’s good about this series is that it’s pre-watershed, which I think helps define the show. It keeps a ring around the style of the piece. What you get with Trollied is different

You’ve crossed paths with Stephen before, right?I was at RADA and he was only at Central [laughs]. We played football together. He never wore a kit, I can only remember him wearing some DMs and giving it all that. I’ve never respected him since. Then we did In Denial of Murder together about 10 years ago and had a great time on that.

Does it feel weird doing Trollied without Jane Horrocks?I went to drama school with Jane and I’m going to miss that working relationship. Having an influx of new faces, though, means Gavin’s agenda has changed. He has different challenges, like Miriam’s character Rose and Aisling - he’s under this terrible pressure to make sure Charlie can function in the supermarket otherwise he’s going to be in trouble with the big boss and lose his job. Going back to the beginning of your career, how did you get into acting?I went to see Bill Nighy in a play called A Map of the World at the National Theatre when I was 17 or 18. Bill came on stage and belted out this incredible monologue and I remember thinking, god, I want to be that person. My drama teacher was exceptional, in fact, there were two of them and they really inspired me. There were obviously some great teachers at RADA too. How tough was RADA?I’m not an academic and I’ve had some reading difficulties, so I had to work really hard - I’ve got techniques I use. RADA was a joy, though, very stimulating. Who were your peers?We had a particularly starry term; Jane, of course, Iain Glen, Peter Gunn - who was in Coronation Street recently - Wayne Foskett, Ralph Fiennes, Imogen Stubbs... You’ve enjoyed a really varied career, but is there a particular part you’re hungry to play?Shakespeare parts come around and around and at some point I’d love to do Richard III. My friend Martin [Freeman] is doing that at the moment.

Jason Watkins

Interview

actors bringing their own comic sensibilities, so this time around you’ve got Miriam [Margolyes] and the way she works, Stephen [Tompkinson], Aisling [Bea] and so on. It’s great they’ve been added to the mix. You mentioned the show now being pre-watershed, but it’s still mischievous.Everything is alluded to now. If you’re a parent watching Trollied with your kids, it’s still there for you, just hinted at. We’ve got great characters and we’re getting to see more of their foibles, too, other layers to them. What I love about the show is its warmth and love of characters and that sits better pre-watershed. What do you enjoy most about playing Gavin?Gavin has a few gags but, really, he keeps the episodes moving forward. He’s often the motor in a sequence or a little bit of glue and, obviously, he gets stressed very quickly [laughs]. I suppose I’m the ‘straight man’. I’d love to play Gavin for a long time yet. How have you been getting on with the newest cast members?

Aisling Bea

part. I get a nice run at acting, a summer of routine and it’s also a good way of making sure I don’t get pigeonholed. How would you describe Charlie?A clumsy klutz. Charlie is very wealthy but not posh. There’s warmth to her, in fact, she’s like an unfashionable Cher from Clueless. She’s led a sheltered life and wouldn’t be the sharpest tool in the shed, but there’s almost a Secret Millionaire vibe going on. Charlie and her dad aren’t idiots, they just happen to be rich. Is there a hint of a romance between Charlie and assistant manager Daniel, too?Just a hint. A little seasoning. It’s a pre-watershed family show, so there are a few second glances and awkward pauses. It’s very Darcy and Elizabeth - if Elizabeth Bennett was a dope and Darcy was a manager of a regional supermarket.

What attracted you to Trollied?It’s a lovely ensemble show and Charlie [my character] is a chunky

You’ve won a couple of big awards for your stand-up. Where do you keep them?In my heart - it’s the safest place to keep things - and, of course, in my memories. Every time I achieve something, I immediately burn all my clothes and awards and start again like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Seriously, though, it must have been a privilege to pick up the Foster’s So You Think You’re Funny? Award?It’s for newcomers into stand-up. I won it two years ago and it was the first time in 20 years that a woman had won it. I couldn’t care less whether I was a woman or not, however, it’s a good thing and shows how the comedy circuit has moved forward. Is there anyone you particularly look up to in the industry?A lot of my peers, people who have been doing stand-up for a few years longer than me. Celia Pacquola and Sara Pascoe are two of my very good friends and I just love watching them. Then there’s Nish Kumar and Romesh Ranganathan, who was also nominated for the Perrier last year. I have to say I’ve done two QIs now and Stephen Fry is a joy of a man. Lovely, brilliant, intelligent and warm, he’s everything you want him to be. Have you had any disastrous stand-up shows?Absolutely not, they’ve all been excellent - ha! Loads. Oh my god. How do you conquer your nerves?I’ve never been as nervous as when I did the Comedy Gala at the O2. That was so nerve-wracking because I was clearly the lowest person down on the bill and just the sheer amount of people. I would rather have done 20 minutes than five because it meant everything had to be good. Do you have a pre-performance routine? Any obsessive compulsive rituals like, say, Rafael Nadal?I have to have enough time to go through everything I need to say, jot down notes, have a cola. So, yes, very much like Nadal. I also play tennis up against a wall.

This marks the fourth series of Trollied for Jason Watkins, who plays supermarket manager Gavin. Enjoying a varied career in TV, film and theatre, he’s also starred in Being Human, Psychoville and Playhouse Presents: The Cruise.

Irish actress, comic and writer Aisling Bea has juggled turns in TV series like Damned and Dead Boss with an award-winning stand-up career. In 2012, she was the first woman in 20 years to win the prestigious So You Think You’re Funny competition.

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Why did you want to be a part of Trollied?As an actor you always want to set yourself new challenges and try different things. I’ve never done anything like this before. It really homes in on the jokes and is non-stop, back-to-back gags. Did it feel weird being the new boy on the shop floor?It was a seamless transition and felt like I’d always been here. I don’t want to say that they cast similar personalities, but everyone’s on the same page and gets along, which doesn’t always happen in the acting world. It’s a real tight ship, both the people in front of the camera and those behind it. What can you tell us about your character, Daniel?The poor guy is the ‘normal’ one and he’s come into this mad world with high hopes and aspirations, only to find no one takes their job seriously. He’s very ambitious and has worked his way up from being the boy in the warehouse who sweeps the floor at the weekend. Daniel is more of a reactor than a joke teller. Who do you share most of your scenes with?Jason [Watkins] and Aisling [Bea], who are brilliant actors and so easy to

work with. It makes my job easier, too, because it pushes me to raise my level. I like watching them and seeing how they dissect jokes, how they add little bits to them or pull things out that you wouldn’t expect. Aisling is a self-proclaimed tart for a laugh, too. I don’t know where she finds the energy.

And Daniel and Charlotte take a liking to one another?They’re getting along. At first he’s taken aback by Charlie and the amount of attention he gets from her. She’s not a bad looker [laughs] but they’re from two completely different worlds. Has anyone given you a particularly good piece of career advice?Stick with your hits, which is something the late Richard Griffiths told me while we were on tour with The History Boys. He was the only one out of the grown-ups if you like who did the whole tour, the rest

Samuel Anderson

of them just came for Broadway. I asked him, Rizzo, why are you doing the whole tour, and he said, Samuel, stick with your hits if you’re lucky enough to get one. He probably missed two weeks to film some Harry Potter. What would it surprise people to know about you?That I can cook. My pièce de résistance is my boeuf bourguignon, which is to die for. Nothing touches it but red wine. What else? I don’t break dance anymore but I’m still a B-boy at heart, and I can rap. What’s the funniest thing that’s ever happened to you at work?At drama school someone pulled my trousers down in front of everyone. That was funny. And when I was 18, my mum came down to the pub I was working in to take me home - I don’t care what your boss has to say! I can’t tell you what it was for, though.

Interview

Why did you want to be a part of Trollied?I met [executive producer] Ash Atalla and he said, do you want to be in it? I said, that would be wicked but didn’t think anything would come of it. Then, a few months later, the scripts came through.

So you didn’t have to audition?They saw me act after they’d sent me the scripts, which was scary. Cheers to them for having faith in me. You’re best known for doing stand-up on Britain’s Got Talent. Is acting something you want to pursue further and do you think

you’ve got a knack for it?I would like to do more acting, but always in conjunction with the stand-up. That’s the foundation everything else is built on. It’s good fun and you don’t have the pressure of the audience. Plus, the funny lines have been written by someone else, so all you have to do is read a bit of paper. The other nice thing about acting is that you find your groove throughout the day. You don’t have to be ‘on’ straight away. How would you sum up your character Harry?He’s a mouthy teenager, which isn’t much of a stretch for me, even though I’ve just been going on about my acting prowess. I’m not like that in real life at all, I’m not even disabled and I had to put the weight on for the role [laughs]. Did you get any acting tips from the rest of the cast?It’s been great to have scenes with Victor [McGuire], who plays security guard Ian, and Jason [Watkins]. Everyone’s been proper helpful. And how about Faye McKeever, better known to fans as Linda, who Harry has a crush on?Well, we’ll see. Those scenes have been really fun to film. Have you hung out with Miriam much?Yes! Wow, wow, wow! She’s brilliant. It’s strange because you see her on chat shows and think, ah, well, she’ll obviously be more low-key when she’s got a job to do, but she’s just as brilliant. It’s great to have big characters on set, especially on days when you don’t want to come in early and stuff like that. What three essential items are on your shopping list?Gin, cheap cider and a packet of cooking apples. Your house is on fire and you can only retrieve one item. What would it be?My collection of human organs. I’ve got them in a little mini fridge.

Jack CarrollJack Carroll grabbed the nation’s attention when, aged 14, he appeared on Britain’s Got Talent. Now 15, Jack has entered the world of acting, joining Trollied after a guest role in an episode of Big School.

British actor Samuel Anderson is best known for his roles in The History Boys - both the play and acclaimed 2006 film adaptation - and Emmerdale. He’s currently starring opposite Peter Capaldi in series eight of Doctor Who.

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Episode 1 A raft of newbies join Valco and Colin is horrified when he recognises one of the fresh faces strolling down the aisle - it’s his nan, Rose! The seemingly sweet pensioner only wants the best for her grandson, but ends up making his (and Gavin’s) life a misery after meddling in management matters. Pharmacist Brian, meanwhile, takes on an unlikely sidekick in Margaret, sorry, Nurse Margaret.

Episode 2 While salvation arrives for Gavin in the form of new assistant manager Daniel, sparks fly when VIP till girl Charlie also hits Valco. Charlie isn’t the brightest spark in the cereal box, but she’ll probably keep her job because her dad happens to own the supermarket empire. Somebody should mention that to Daniel before he makes a drastic decision he’ll regret...

Episode 3 Some fake banknotes are doing the rounds and eager-to-please Rose shops a customer for the crime. His notes turn out to be fine, but the OAP won’t let a teeny tiny detail like innocence stop her from administering her own unique form of justice. Could it cost Rose her job, though? Brian, on the other hand, has a bee in his bonnet about a parking space.

Episode 4 First aid training gets under way but Brian is skeptical about such matters; pharmacists rule medicine, you see, not Jonny-come-latelies. Security guard Ian, meanwhile, is at his wits’ end because of an unwelcome visitor: a fox. He’d appreciate it, then, if Harry (and his collection of fake fur coats) would stop winding him up.

Episode guide

Episode 5 Rose and Margaret realise they know each other from a former life, and that in a battle for Alan’s affections Margaret won. Needless to say, Rose isn’t happy. Neither is Brian, who is dumbfounded when Colin abuses his special homemade hangover cure. As for Gavin, he’s distracted by a special guest in store.

Episode 6 Staff are unhappy because canteen prices have been hiked up. Charlie puts a smile back on their faces, though, when she takes them all to Pizza Express for lunch - which management mistake for an impromptu strike. The simmering feud between Rose and Lisa boils over, too, descending into a bout of fisticuffs.

Episode 7 Charlie’s dad Brendan stops by the store and Gavin is determined to make her look good, something that’s easier said than done. Elsewhere, Linda’s dirty secret is revealed, and, finally taking charge, Colin forces Rose and girlfriend Lisa to battle out their differences once and for all - in the back of a locked delivery van.

Episode 8 It’s charity day at Valco and everyone’s doing their little bit to help. Gavin has offered to shave his legs, Brian is dressing up as a giant paracetamol tablet, and Sue and Linda are hitting the saddle for a sponsored bike ride. There’s a big prize draw to win a car, too, but fair play is called into question when Rose sets her sights on it.

ContactsSusan CollinsPR Manager, Sky 1 E: susan.collins@bskyb.comT: 020 7032 4243 M: 07736 026074

Charlotte Jordan Publicist, Sky 1E: charlotte.jordan@bskyb.comT: 020 7032 1496 M : 07715 799 962

Tom StichburyEditor, Sky 1E : tom.stichbury@bskyb.comT : 020 7032 1486

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