Were you a fan of Dream Team before you joined? If I'm honest with you I watched the programme a little when it first started around nine years ago or so but never really saw it between then and now. I've tried to catch up with some of the older series since I started here and am now a big fan.
If yes, what has been your favourite series/episodes/characters from the past? My favourite character probably has to be Linda Block. Just because of where she came from (I think she had a photo shoot in a leapord skin jumpsuit as one of her first scenes) to where she is now. She's also beautiful and makes me laugh. It's hard to pick a favourite episode or series without being biased I'm afraid!
How did it feel to get the part for Liam Mackay? Did you originally audition for him or someone else? I originally auditioned for the parts of Alex Dempsey and Liam Mackay. I got recalled for Liam Mackay though and the rest, as they say, is history.
Is there any part of your own personality or characteristics in Liam? I'd like to think I'm a bit more of a laugh than Liam, I'm a better footballer too but to be fair to the man he's more handsome than I will ever be! Seriously though, I'd like to think we share the same ambition, drive and will to win. I also have great belief in myself, something that maybe comes from the same place as Liam. When nobody believes in you, that just makes you more determined to prove them wrong.
If you were in Liam's position in real life and your wife had got you a job, as Chloe did for Liam in episode 1, how would you react? I guess I'd be pretty upset. Not because of what she did, but because she didn't tell me what she did. I don't think I could ever trust that person again. And if it's someone you're married to then I don't think it can work. Trust is a really big deal to me and if you my wife was to go behind my back like that it's a mark that would be pretty hard to rub out. If Chloe had told Liam I think he'd have been angry and embarrassed but he would have respected her honesty.
How many times did you REALLY run around the pitch in “Marathon Man” … and was it as tiring as it looked? I think we calculated that I ran round the pitch nearly thirty times. Which equates to around eight miles or so. Having said that it was spaced over maybe three days. But it was pretty exhausting, especially as I had a mild case of the flu and it was raining on one of the days we were filming which, bare chested, can't have been good for me.
When someone messes up, while your filming do you all have a laugh or is it very serious? We all have a laugh ninety percent of the time. The cast and crew are great fun and it feels like a big family. I can honestly say I look forward to coming to work every day because it is so enjoyable to be around like minded people with big hearts.
Who do you get on best with out of all the cast? Now you're going to make me pick favourites, which I hate doing, but I probably spend most of my time with Jamie Lomas, Jonny Howard and Danny Husbands. I also get on really well with Ali King who has been really generous in sharing her experience with me, and she's been like that with everyone from day one and made all the ‘newbies' feel right at home.
What was it like joining the cast after last seasons unforgettable finale? Pretty nerve wracking I guess. I suppose it helped though really as there was a lot of people coming in who were new, so being in that majority I think it was probably easier than joining an established cast. However, you guys seemed to love last season so we have a lot to live up to which is something we strive to achieve every day.
What has been your favourite and least favourite part with Liam this season? My least favourite part has been not playing I suppose and my favourite stuff is still to come so keep watching. I have also thoroughly enjoyed working with Jamie Lomas as all our scenes seem to be high intensity and we are both very keen to put over our respective characters as well as we possibly can.
What do you think about the thoughts of many that Liam MacKay is under-used? We're only seventeen episodes into a thirty one episode series. Keep watching and you'll see a lot more from Liam. I am just happy that the fans enjoy what I've been doing so far, it's a big deal to me that you want to see more from Liam, but have faith in what's going on this end, there's plenty to come!
What type of storyline would you like to see Liam involved in, in the future? Playing for Scotland in the World Cup. Give me four years and the Scotland squad will come good, I'm telling you!
Can you give us a break down of a typical working day, from the time you wake up to the time you go to bed? Depending on the filming hours a typical day can be:-
6am - Wake up and wash
7.30 - Get to work. Go to make-up.
7.45 - Costume.
7.55 - Grab a roll for breakfast
8am - 2pm - Filming
2-3 - Lunch
3 - 7pm - Filming
7.15 - Large glass of wine
8.30 - Get home and read through tomorrow's lines
9.30 - Bed
Not as exciting as you might expect, but I love every minute of it.
If you were good enough and able to choose, would you prefer to play football for a premiership team or would you still prefer to be an actor? That's a tough question. I love football but acting is my passion and having played a bit of football when I was younger to a pretty high standard I have to say that getting a scene just right gives me more gratification than scoring a winning goal in a cup final. But it's a close run thing.
Seeing as your a Scotsman the question has to be asked, Rangers or Celtic? And why? Celtic, because I was a big fan of Brian McClair when I was at school. I also really got into football in the 1987/88 season when Celtic did the double.
Are you any good at football? I signed youth team forms with Swindon Town and played briefly for Wycombe Wanderers one pre-season, having met Martin O'Neill on a football quiz show called Goal! He gave me another chance but I suppose I just wasn't good enough.
What made you want to become an actor? Also can you give any helpful advice to the younger readers who have acting ambitions based on your own experiences? I had always loved movies and guess I always knew I wanted to be an actor I just never knew it, if that makes sense. Then one day I quit my job and decided to go for it and luckily for me, my determination paid off. If I was to give someone advice based on my experiences they would be to listen to those wiser than you, never have to be told more than once, never give up and believe in yourself because you're going to have to get used to people telling you what they think without being able to challenge that. Even when you know they're wrong.
If you hadn't got into acting, what do you think you would be doing now? Brain surgeon.
What other jobs have you done in the past besides acting? Yoghurt Packing, Plastics factory, Barman, Kitchen Hand, Forklift Truck Operator, DJ, Editor, Cameraman, Pan cleaner, Meat factory, Journalist, Script Editor for financial news programmes, website designer to name but a few.
What do you like to do in your spare time? Watch TV and sleep.
Do you socialise with the Dream Team cast members outside of work? If so are there any wild or interesting story's you can tell us? I see a few of the guys outside work, but I'm also pretty good at making arrangements to go out with the boys but never actually making it out. In fact it's become something of an in team joke. AS per the wild storied I'll let you know if I ever make it out.
If you could choose to do a photo shoot for a magazine, which magazine and photo shoot type would you like to do? Country Life magazine, with a whisky and roaring fire and maybe a snake. Do country life do snakes? I'm not sure. A snake and a rocking chair, with a whisky and full country outfit I think.
Would you ever consider a naked photo shoot for play girl or cosmopolitan magazine? Yes, where should I sign up for that?
What's the most romantic thing you have ever done for a lady/date? Come home for dinner.
What's the drunkest you've ever been? I was on a boat in Edinburgh once for someone's twenty first. The boat left Leith Harbour and I disappeared. I woke up in the morning in my bed, bone dry, even though I was on the boat when it left port. My friends even called the coastguard. I don't remember growing wings or a UFO so I guess that's the drunkest I've ever been.
What was the last text you received and who was it from? It's from one of my best buddies Steve Parfitt and it says, ‘Ok, let us know'. He's coming to London this weekend with his girlfriend and wanted to meet up.
Are you single and what is your type? I'm not single right now, I'm very much in love, with a girl with black hair, green eyes and a sparkling smile. I guess that's my type.
What's your favourite film? The Shawshank Redemption.
What type of music are you into and what was the last album you brought? I like all music. I bought the Arctic Monkeys album yesterday. Bloody brilliant. Can I say bloody? I hope so cos they are.
What are your ambitions for the future? After Dream Team what would you like to do? I'm pretty superstitious so I don't like to talk about stuff like that. I have dreams like everybody and right now I'm living that dream and taking each day as it comes.
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