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This page has been archived and is no longer updated.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
Mark Stobbart plays PC Clark

55 Degrees North series two

Starts Sunday 22 May, ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ ONE



Mark Stobbart plays PC Clark

Ìý

It looks like some of naive young copper PC Clark's scatty tendencies may have been rubbing off on Mark Stobbart.

Ìý

After a runaway car incident during filming, the embarrassed actor admits he has been unceremoniously relieved of his

on-screen driving duties.

Ìý

"I had to do an emergency stop on a hill, get out of the car with Astel and leg it after some crooks on foot. Anyway, so there we were chasing away, when I looked behind me and the car was rolling down the hill after us towards the traffic lights. How embarrassing and shameful is that?" groans Mark.

Ìý

"Clark started the series as the driver, but after that he suddenly always seemed to be in the passenger seat. They won't let me behind the wheel anymore, but I still maintain I did put the handbrake on. I remember doing it. There must be something wrong with the car or, erm, something like that..."

Ìý

This series sees Clark growing up - and when he takes on the running of the community youth group, his new responsibilities give him a renewed confidence in his ability.

Ìý

Impressed by his willingness and efforts, new DI Bing (Mark Lewis Jones) lavishes lots of attention and praise on the young PC. Attention that his partner, Astel (Andrew Dunn), would love from the new boss.

Ìý

Despite this, there remains a close bond between Clark and Astel. "Clark gets roped into running a youth club by Nicky and Claire Maxwell. They trick him into it really, making out he's the most important and impressive PC ever to work for Tyneside police, and flattering him until he agrees to take it on.

Ìý

"But as he gets into the job it's clear he's actually very good at it, and he helps a couple of kids. Okay, he's a bit daft, but he's also a really nice guy and I think the kids in the club can see that," explains Mark, whose acting credits include Auf Wiedershen Pet, All About Me and The Last Detective.

Ìý

"Despite his new found sense of importance, Clark still looks up to Astel in every way. Although Astel will always put Clark down, he needs Clark for support and reassurance, just as much as Clark needs him.

Ìý

"But I don't think he's as much in awe of Astel this series, and as the episodes progress there's a bit more antagonism. They're still a really good double act, but there's a bit more fall-out in there - just like a real married couple," laughs Mark.

Ìý

"In many ways we are the light relief in the show, and this series viewers are going to see a lot more of Clark and Astel as our parts have been really bigged up, which is such a nice feeling.

Ìý

"They are both really quirky - Clark can be away with the fairies sometimes and Astel always thinks he's right. I think viewers just really liked the fact they made them laugh."

Ìý

Mark - who grew up in Stockton-On-Tees - says some of his favourite moments of filming 55 Degrees North have been the chase sequences around the streets of Newcastle.

Ìý

"There was one scene where I had to run down a cobbled street, chasing a little lad, and I thought I'd flown down there like James Bond. You know, jumping over a big bin, bounding out of the way of a moving car and stuff like that.

Ìý

" I couldn't wait to see how it turned out, but when I watched it back the huge bin I thought I'd jumped was in fact tiny and I didn't look like James Bond at all. Well, I have only got little legs..." he adds.

Ìý

But it still sounds a lot more exciting than Mark's very first job out of drama school - playing a tree in a stage adaptation of The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe.

Ìý

"I stood there, being a tree, just doing nothing, for nearly six months. It was excruciating. And it wasn't just a tree, but a tree on stilts. Imagine that? In the end I was given two verbal warnings for trying to make the tree too expressive. I started waving my arms so much it looked like I was Torvill and Dean doing the Bolero."

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