ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½

Explore the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½
This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving.

29 October 2014
Press Office
Search the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ and Web
Search ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Press Office

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½page

Contact Us

Press
Packs

55 Degrees North
Andrew Dunn plays Sergeant Astel

55 Degrees North series two

Starts Sunday 22 May, ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ ONE



Andrew Dunn plays Sergeant Rick Astel

Ìý

While much of the humour in 55 Degrees North comes from odd couple partners Clark and Astel - Newcastle's very own Laurel & Hardy - this series it's Astel, played by Andrew Dunn, who gets the belly laughs all by himself.

Ìý

Comedy comes calling when Astel enters a Cop Idol singing competition with his own unique rendition of Bonnie Tyler's Total Eclipse Of The Heart.

Ìý

And for Andrew, it was an experience he will never forget - mainly because the rest of the cast won't let him.

Ìý

"When I read the script I couldn't stop laughing. I still to this day do not know why they chose that particular song and me singing it is absolutely horrific. Everyone's been taking the mickey and I'm never going to live this one down," says Andrew, shaking his head.

Ìý

"I'd never sung in front of people before, so filming it was quite an ordeal for me - but thankfully I got a round of applause at the end. I think the first time we shot it everyone was really enjoying themselves, but by the time we got to the 38th take they were well and truly sick of the sound of my voice!

Ìý

"As if the humiliation of singing Total Eclipse Of The Heart on national television wasn't enough, they also made me do a dance routine - with lots of turn around twirls and pleading hand actions - whilst wearing a shirt which flowed in the wind like Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic.

Ìý

But unfortunately Astel is taking it so seriously that he looks more like David Brent than Leonardo. I just look like a big fat thing in flowery shirt.

Ìý

"My son, Elliot, will probably be sobbing on the floor when it's on telly, worrying how he's going to face his friends at school the next day..."

Ìý

Determined to win the competition, Astel enrols himself for some singing lessons, which unexpectedly brings him welcome female attention in the form of his teacher Irene (series newcomer Elaine C Smith).

Ìý

However, he's soon put in an awkward position when his new girlfriend makes it clear she doesn't like his police partner, Clark (Mark Stobbart).

Ìý

"Astel can't believe he's met such a wonderful woman, but there's also a real conflict there as she doesn't like Clark, who really gets on her nerves.

Ìý

"So he's caught between the two of them. Of course he can't abandon his workmate - he's very loyal to Clark - but at the same time he feels he's being forced to chose between the two."

Ìý

While Astel may have become a hit with the ladies, he doesn't make much of an impact on his gruff new boss, DI Bing (Mark Lewis Jones).

Ìý

"Rick Astel is a solid, reliable, old-style policeman, but Bing takes an instant dislike to him so his chances of ever getting promotion have quite obviously gone down the pan.

Ìý

"He takes a liking to Clark and says he will go far, but also insists that Astel won't. He calls him The Fat Sergeant," chuckles Andrew.

Ìý

Filming in Newcastle meant a trip down memory lane for the hardworking actor, who grew up in the North East city.

Ìý

"It has been very strange because I was raised in Newcastle and we've been filming on the streets I grew up on. I've bumped into quite a few people from my past, which has really made me think about the passage of time.

Ìý

"I left Newcastle when I was 18, and it's almost as if I've blinked and suddenly I'm 30 years older yet all the old ghosts are still there - despite the fact I and the world have changed," ponders Andrew, who is best known as Tony in Victoria Wood's Dinnerladies, and for regular appearances on The Rory Bremner Show as former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell.

Ìý

His wife Andrina Carroll is also an actress and pops up in the first episode of the new series as Mrs Priestly, the administrator of a controversial research laboratory.

Ìý

And, as Andrew reveals, it now looks like their nine-year-old son Elliot is showing signs of following his parents into the family business.

Ìý

"In between filming 55 Degrees North, we all appeared in a theatrical version of the film Brassed Off in York. The show was a sell-out, and it was a wonderful experience - us all being on the stage together. We were like the Von Trapp family - but without the lederhosen."

Ìý


Ìý

SEE ALSO:

< previous section next section >
Printable version top^


The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



About the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy
Ìý