| Dick Whittington at the Wycombe Swan | 9 December 2005 - 15 January 2006 Starring Basil Brush, Todd Carty, Amy Pemberton and Mark Jones |
He was THE face of Grange Hill who, as Tucker Jenkins, stole the hearts of all 11-year-old girls between 1978 and 1982. The popularity of this character led to spin off series "Tucker's Luck" before Todd Carty won the role of Mark Fowler in EastEnders, sensitively portraying the challenges that faced an HIV positive man for 12 years. And if he didn't already have enough to deal with - his mum was Pauline Fowler! The character eventually succumbed to the illness, but just four weeks later Todd re-appeared on our TV screens in a role that couldn't have been more different to the nice fruit and veg man. As PC Gabriel Kent in The Bill he lied, murdered and raped his way through the series for over two years before jumping off a block of flats! Todd's come a long way from his first role in a Woolworth's advert and with three massive and memorable roles under his belt, he is now a big favourite of viewers from all generations. This Christmas he returns to live theatre in Dick Whittington at the Swan Theatre. He told us why he's looking forward to being back on stage, what people shout out in the street and all about some rather dark tendencies! Who are you playing in Dick Whittington? Todd: I'm playing King Rat and I'm really, really looking forward to it. It's nice to get back into the theatre, have a bit of fun and get my kids and all their mates to come along and either boo me or cheer me. King Rat's a bit of a baddie isn't he? In panto they have a lot of topical references so will there be references to your character in The Bill?  | | Dick Whittington at the Wycombe Swan |
Todd: It wouldn't surprise me because there's always going to be the topical references! Obviously I was given King Rat because of Gabriel and the bad boy that I am now but I've done quite a few and I've always enjoyed them! And now I'm free to do them again because I wasn't really allowed to before. In these long running soaps they don't really like you to go and do them anymore because the characters would always say things like "Oh where's Rita" to which the reply would be "she's at the wholesalers" and if everyone's at the wholesalers it means they're doing panto! So now that I've left The Bill I can actually do it and don't have to worry about anything else. It's nice to get back to live theatre though is it? Todd: Oh God yeah - absolutely! I've been lucky to be in TV. I did Grange Hill for five years, Tucker's Luck for three years, EastEnders for twelve, had a four week break and then did the Bill for two years so it's a real change! And it's commutable, it's really close to my home so I can go home every night and be with my family as well. It's perfect. You've had quite an extraordinary career really. A lot of actors have had one part that everybody remembers but you've played three really big characters that everybody knows haven't you? Todd: I think I got lucky! I'd been acting since I was four but Tucker [Jenkins in Grange Hill] really turned everything round for me. Everyone of a certain age always says "Hello Tucker", it's a generational thing. Then there was this nice good guy Mark [Fowler in EastEnders] and then this extraordinary character came along PC Gabriel Kent [The Bill]. When I met the producer for it he said "Gabriel's going to be a little bit dark"! I thought "a little bit dark" is the understatement of the year - they've made him into an absolute monster!  | | Todd, as Mark Fowler, leaves the Square |
But it's fun playing the bad guys. They say the devil plays the best tunes and I've been playing that violin for two and a half years and it's been great. I've loved it. It was quite nice to get up in the morning and know that you're gong to murder someone - there is something that sits inside of me that quite enjoys that! But enough is enough! I'm going to repent now and become a monk! But I've been very lucky, three completely different parts and I've still got my own hair and teeth - so there's life in the old dog yet. You were VERY nice as Mark - it must have been quite a change to play Gabriel? Todd: Yes - but it was nice when it came along in my life and a job that changed people's perceptions of me. Mark was a a very nice guy and now the offers I've been getting in are for guys who are a little bit left of centre, they're not quite the full shilling, they're quite nasty guys and that's good. Do people shout things out at you in the street, and if they do, which character do they refer to?! Todd: Yes - and it varies! Over 35s will say "Hello Tucker, while others say "Mark, how's your melons?" But now? I was in M & S where I live and this woman came up to me and said "We don't like your type in this area." I said "Madam, I've been living here for 20 years" and she said "I don't care, pack your bags and get out now." She was quite an elderly lady and she was genuinely scared of Gabriel Kent. Have you had a lot of people actually think you are your character?  | | Todd as Tucker Jenkins in Tucker's Luck |
Todd: Not all the time - I think this woman must have had a bad day! I didn't have the heart to tell her it was only a part because inwardly I was quite enjoying it! When she went out of one door, I was round by the toilet rolls creased up with laughter! You've tackled quite a lot of big storylines in your career from school bullying in Grange Hill, through Mark's HIV and now a whole host of other nasty stuff. What have you found most demanding to deal with? Todd: Oh goodness, it's just what you deal with at the time and I think all the subjects have been dealt with well. When we did Grange Hill we always thought it was going to be nine episodes and all the adults were saying "it'll never work" but it did work because as the series went on we didn't hit people over the head with it - there was bullying and it was dealt with and the bullies were always seen to be told off at the end of the day. Tucker was naughty but he was always told off and chastised. It was the same with HIV. We had great researchers and the Terence Higgins Trust. There's not much difference between panto and soap though is there really, it's all about goodies and baddies and the baddies have to get their come-uppance? Todd: Absolutely. And I think Gabriel was a really entertaining character. He was bad but we have to entertain at the end of the day, however you do it. And with someone like Gabriel he couldn't be there forever because someone would be saying this guy's killed and raped and he's still a copper. So it was the perfect time to move on. Are your kids looking forward to the panto? Todd: Yes - the thing about this is that the kids have never seen me on stage! I've got a nine-year-old and a five-year-old and they're fans of Basil Brush, just like I was when I was their age. My kids are now avidly watching it on Saturday mornings - you hear "Ha Ha Ha BOOM BOOOM" which is still going strong from 40 years ago!  | | Basil Brush - iconic |
So I've got half the school coming now but I don't know whether they're going to boo me and cheer him or vice versa but I think the baddie should always get booed. So are you looking forward to working with "The Brush"?! Todd: Absolutely! He's an iconic figure and everyone reacts so warmly to him. I cannot wait to get on there and have a bit of fun but I wouldn't mind strangling him as well! If he does that laugh too many times he's had it I'm telling you! You have got some dark tendencies haven't you?! Todd: Yes, I have!! | 
