Eric Scull of MuggleNet had the chance to chat with Matt on Monday about the new series of Bluestone 42 which premiered last night (watch now on BBC iPlayer.) I quickly transcribed most of the interview, which you can listen to in full here, leaving out a few things we’ve already heard. If someone would like to transcribe the questions I skipped, please send them in.
Eric: What is new this year versus previous years in Bluestone?
Matt: For those that watched the ending to series 2, we pretty much pick up right where we left off. […describes end of series 2…] We find out how the team have come out of that, whether they’ve come out completely unscathed or there’s been some trouble. I guess what’s new is, it’s hard to describe without giving anything away. We have got some new stuff. I don’t want to give much away but it’s a real roller coaster and there will be some really jaw-dropping moments that people are not going to be expecting. I don’t just mean this episode, I’m talking about the whole series.
ES: I was reading an article from The Guardian from last Spring, a bomb disposal expert said that the dark humor was really spot on. I guess that’s general consensus that the show has received from war vets and people that have been in those situations.
ML: Yea, thankfully. When you’re making a show like this, when you’re making a drama you want to make it as accurate as possible. But when you’re making a comedy, we have a real responsibility there that we research it meticulously and make sure it’s as accurate as it could possibly be. There’s a fine line between laughing at what these people do and laughing with them and we want to make sure we’re laughing with them and all of the jokes and all the humor is theirs. And we want to make sure that any squaddies that are at home watching it can totally relate and it will remind them of the fun times and camaraderie that they had. So yea, we want to make the show for the soldiers, the men and women in the arms forces, as much as the people sat at home watching, and really luckily. Well, I say lucky, but it’s down to Richard and James, our writers, who work tirelessly to make sure it’s accurate and it’s been really well received. We’ve been fortunate enough to be invited along to a lot of armed forces events whether it’s help the heroes charities, injured soldiers and what not. And the reception has been really great, and for us it’s been absolutely fantastic. I’m really glad that the hero of the armed forces are enjoying it.
[Additionally he was asked how he would describe the show to someone who’s watching for the first time. Matt also described how his character got the nickname Towerblock.]
ES: I imagine there was extensive military training for the role. Did you go through any sort of boot camp?
ML: Well, not so much of a boot camp, but we definitely had a lot of lectures. We had a lot of advisors on set. We’ve got former captain Liam Fitzgerald Finch and a current captain, who actually take that lonely walk to diffuse bombs. When I first got the job last year, Liam took me through everything which was fascinating. You can just sit down and ask them any question, they’re there to make sure we get it right. We want to get the show right, we don’t want people saying ‘no that’s not right’ so we ask these guys as many questions as possible. We really couldn’t make the show without Liam and Ally.
ES: Now the show films in South Africa, what’s that like?
ML: It’s amazing, we’re in Stellenbosch, which is a lovely wine region about 40 minutes out of Cape Town. And it’s just rolling hills and mountains and all you do when you’re not working is eat red meat and drink red wine. And so it is, you know it’s tough, but someone’s got to do it. So I’ll take one for the team and keep going down there and do that. I didn’t want to come home, I was there for 2 months and I did not want to come home. I mean apart from the fact that you’re working with an incredible bunch of people, cast and crew, the environment couldn’t be any better either.
ES: There’s lots of antics and jokes on camera, how about off camera? Are there pranks on set or are there jokes you play on each other?
ML: You know bits and bobs happen. We’ve got a pretty tight schedule and with the fights and explosions and stuff we’ve got to get through there’s not really a whole lot of time for dawdling around and messing around but obviously being a comedy the directors and producers are quite keen to let us have a little bit of leeway and a little bit of fun and there’s a few things we get up to. But really, with Africa, where we are, there’s more to do with all the amazing things around us. Every weekend we were doing something whether we were climbing a mountain or swimming with Great White Sharks, there’s always amazing experiences to be had and with a bunch of people where everyone is keen to do something together. With a lot of wine thrown into the mix.
ES: You’ve recently moved to London, how’s that going? How are you liking living in London now?
ML: It’s been great, and again it’s part and parcel of the people that I’ve met on the show. My life has always been in Leeds and I’ve been very happy with that, but being out in Africa wit this particular gang has just been so much fun. I’ve found so many kindred spirits. We’ve got Scott Hoatson who plays Rocket, and there’s Laura Aikman who joined this series this year, she comes in episode 2. We really clicked and hit it off and we’ve got a tight close-knit gang and so it was getting a bit tedious coming down on the train all the time to hang around with these guys. I thought, ‘you know what? sod it, I’m just going to move.’ and so I moved into the same area, I live just down the road from Scott and Jamie who play Mac and Rocket, the two Scotties. So it’s pretty fun, it’s nice we get to see each other quite a bit.
[Then Matt quickly discusses how much of an old man he is when it comes to music. He’s more into Rock and Roll and Sixties than Pop. (Same here, Matt!) He also mentions he loves Oasis and Noel Gallagher.]
ES: There’s this project you’ve been attached to for some time, The Brontes, do you have any knowledge as to how that’s going or if it will begin production soon?
ML: I really don’t. It was a thing that I read the script and was intrigued by it and was keen. But I’m not really sure, I’m kind of busy this year. I’ve got a couple things coming up, which I’m really excited about. I’ve got another film coming up this year, so I don’t really know if I’m going to have any time at the minute to be honest, but it’s sort of gone away at the minute. I’m not too sure about it. You probably know as much as me.
But there’s some other really good stuff coming up, I can guarantee that! Unfortunately. I’ve just spoke to Megan about it and there’s nothing that can be said at the moment. But some stuff coming!