Cast interviews Neil Pearson plays Trevor “I used to play table tennis for Suffolk … not many people know that.” Neil Pearson was born in South London. His cope with the monstrous egos of sports stars. His previous television credits include Drop The business partner is Sammy who has absolutely no Dead Donkey, Between The Lines, and playing qualms about the venality of the profession they’re John Diamond in A Lump In My Throat. His in but Trevor’s having doubts. He’s having doubts extensive theatre credits include Henry IV, pt because his marriage is going down the toilet and 1, and the Olivier Award-winning drama he and his wife find it increasingly difficult to Closer. In Trevor’s World Of Sport, Neil plays communicate.When his wife starts throwing Trevor. allegations at him that it’s because of his immersion in his work, he starts to question whether he should be there at all …” Can you tell me about the character you play? How did you prepare for the part? “Trevor tries to be the voice of calm and reason in “I’m not obsessive about research but you have to an insane working environment. He’s dealing with a get things right.When I did Between The Lines,we slightly eccentric workforce and he’s also trying to took great care to make sure that we got the little Trevor’s World Of Sport 4 Cast interviews things right because, if you don’t, no one believes used to play with her a lot – I lost a lot too! I also you on the big things. I went to visit a sports represented my county in table tennis and, erm, agency and it confirmed that I knew the working fencing. Not many people know that actually. I can’t environment rather well from my own experiences claim any great expertise in either table tennis or with agents. I’ve worked as a spectator, if you like, fencing, it’s just that I was good enough to in the world of sport too. I mean it’s no secret that represent Suffolk!” I’m a Tottenham fan and I’ve made a deliberate effort in the past to be strictly a spectator – not And it sounds good doesn’t it? to drag it into the players’ lounge. I much prefer to “I represented my county..!” be on the terraces with the fans rather than anywhere else.” “Oh yeah, it sounds great – put that in!” Tell me about working with Andy Hamilton Have you met any famous sports people? because obviously you and he go way back (on Drop The Dead Donkey). “No anecdotes yet but this series is giving me the chance to get some because there’s a number of “Andy is, quite rightly, extremely secure in his famous sport stars appearing as themselves.” ability as a writer. He also makes a very good writer/director because he’s not precious about his And how do you feel about that? work. If he thinks your idea is a good one, he’ll incorporate it. I had no qualms about coming into “Oh it’s great. If I was to sum up this show, I’d say it this production because a) Andy’s writing is top was Jerry Maguire meets Larry Sanders – which notch and b) Andy’s working processes fit very well can’t be bad, really.” with mine.We communicate in shorthand really. If we’ve done a take, I know from the inflection in his voice whether we’re going again and also quite often whether we’re going again twice! It’s when you get the upward inflection – very good – which tells us we’re one step away from the downward inflection – excellent – which tells us we can now move onto the next shot!” What about sport – any particular heroes? “I have huge respect for the greats from Tottenham but, God knows, that was a long time ago.What really impresses me about great sports people is their obsession, their blinkered approach – there are few effortless geniuses after all. Mostly, the undisputed greats have to work.That’s why I’m so impressed with horse racing in particular, and also boxing – those guys work incredibly and obsessively hard to be the best at what they do.” Do you play any sports? “The sport I tend to do is vanity based – it’s just to keep me in some sort of nick. I go to the gym, I swim and occasionally I do racquet games. Haydn Gwynne (the actress from Drop The Dead Donkey and Merseybeat) is an awesome tennis player so I Trevor’s World Of Sport 5 Cast interviews Paul Reynolds plays Sammy “I was a child actor in Terry And June …” Paul Reynolds was born in Chingford, Essex. The audience will love him or hate him – probably His extensive TV and cinema career ranges both. He also gets the really classy lines which I from parts in Grange Hill, The Bill and have Andy (Hamilton) to thank for.” Absolutely Fabulous to roles in Castaway, Croupier and Let Him Have It. But for Paul, Such as? a mad Arsenal fan, playing one of the lead roles in Trevor’s World Of Sport is a personal “Well Sammy thinks that premature ejaculation is career high – because he gets to meet one of just female propaganda, which sort of sums the his all-time heroes … character up really!” What do you have in common with Sammy, What attracted you to the part of Sammy? if anything? “It was the offer of 200 grand a week – I mean I’m “Brown hair, same size feet … the physical used to being paid big bucks but the fact that the likenesses are just incredible.Actually, not a lot in BBC was offering this kind of money was too good terms of personality. I wouldn’t have the nerve to to turn down. Seriously, Sammy is a great part to say the things that Sammy does – thankfully. He can play – he’s a painful mix of lovable and obnoxious. be incredibly crass at times. But he’s also very Trevor’s World Of Sport 6 Cast interviews focussed and businesslike in terms of getting the You hope..! best deals for his clients.As a sport’s agent, he’s awesome but, as a human being, probably less so. I “Yes! Oh God, I’ve probably put a curse on myself think I’m probably more like Trevor in terms of now and will never work again!” personality – mild, decent, a bit anxious.” Talking of which, what about previous roles Have you worked with any of the cast and what’s next for you after TWOS? members before? “I’ve been acting for years – I was even in Terry And “Not really – I’ve worked with Jim Carter before June for God’s sake. I played a little cub scout and I now and I’m mates with Andrew Lincoln (who was only 14. So I can claim to be a genuine child appears in Episode One, playing Formula One actor, like Macauley Culkin – but not too much like racing driver Mark Boden). But I’m not very him, obviously! I was a cheeky kid – absolutely full showbizzy – I don’t really know anyone!” of it – so I didn’t see it like ‘I want to be an actor, I’ve always wanted to be an actor’, I was just one of How sporty are you? those kids who always wanted to be involved in stuff.As for what’s coming up after this, we’ll just “I go swimming and play football – that’s about it. have to wait and see.What I really want to do is I’m a lifelong Arsenal fan though. One of the great work on Wish You Were Here and be the next Judith things about appearing in TWOS is that it features a Chalmers. In fact, reporting from places like number of famous footballers and I can’t wait to Barbados really appeals to me, funnily enough. Can meet them. I really rate footballers, full stop. I’d you have a word?” have loved to have done what they’ve done – and the money would be nice too.” Tell us which footballers are appearing in Trevor’s World Of Sport then! “I can’t – I’m sworn to secrecy!” Do you have any sporting heroes? “Erm, not really.Actually I do – Ian Wright. How multi-talented is he? He was great for Arsenal and now he has a whole new career in TV – respect is due.” So what do you do outside work, when you’re not watching Arsenal? “I have absolutely no hobbies. I just like doing the normal stuff, going to the pictures, eating, drinking and stuff. I’ve just virtually had a year off which has been fantastic. I spent a couple of months in the Far East where me and my girlfriend went to Thailand, Singapore and Taiwan, and I spent last summer in Brighton, which was brilliant. I should have really appreciated it more than I did though because I may never have a year off again in my lifetime!” Trevor’s World Of Sport 7 Cast interviews Rosalind Ayres plays Theresa “I was always into ballroom dancing which is technically a blood sport…” Rosalind Ayres has had a distinguished writing. He is constantly springing surprises. He’s career in television, theatre, film and radio. the sort of writer who can take a mundane In Titanic, she narrowly escaped a watery situation such as, you know, the front door bell grave and she played opposite Ian McKellan rings ‘Ding dong, hello darling, I’m home, the vicar’s in Gods And Monsters.