How did you get the role of Casper Rose? Did you audition off your own back or were you approached? I graduated Drama School in March and was fortunate enough to go straight into work on the Basil Brush Show, as soon as I'd finished that my agent sent me up for the role of Cass. I auditioned on the Thursday, got the job offer an hour and a half later and started work on the Monday, so all in all a busy weekend for me!
How did you first get into acting and what other roles have you had? I was expelled from school and then college and by the age of sixteen was drifting with no real ambition in life. I spent a couple of years modeling before discovering acting and auditioning for drama schools around the country. At drama school I performed in so many different kinds of roles, from Shakespeare to musicals (that's right, I'm a singer too!)
Had you seen Dream Team prior to joining and what were your opinions? I spent the last four years of my life as a student do couldn't really afford Sky, I'd heard of Dream team but never watched it. I rolled up on my first day and recognized Ryan (Ricky Whittle) but apart from that it was all new to me. But since I've started I've found that so many of m friends are avid watchers, and they too compare me to Fletch!
Were you intimidated joining a show that had killed off the vast majority of the cast? Intimidated isn't the word! I was terrified anyway, joining a show where legends like Fletch had been killed off left me with some very big boots to fill and I struggled for a long time. In fact I felt so uncomfortable that I didn't really begin to relax until about episode five or so. I think it shows in the episodes that you've seen. Thankfully Ricky was there with the other lads like Sully and Tyson to give me a few words here or there, Ricky was especially good to me, he took me under his wing, something I am extremely grateful for.
Do you get on with the rest of the cast members? I hate them all! I love all the guys and girls, especially the girls! It would be incredibly wrong of me to say anything bad about the people in this cast but to be honest I couldn't anyway. I've been incredibly fortunate to work with such a great group of people; there is a real spirit amongst this cast, a real team ethos. From the practical jokes to the banter, we all have a great time from rolling in at the crack of dawn to going home in the depth of night. I would have all or any of them home for Christmas dinner.
Have the ‘old timers' given you any advice? Ricky told me that I should try learning to play football. I was shocking to begin with, I'm a rugby player more than a footballer, but with all the work that Ricky, Sully, Tyson and all the others, from the staff to the football extras have put in to help me, I'm almost good enough to play FIFA on the XBOX. Everyone has helped me. I'm only twenty one and the ease that the others have put me in has been of immeasurable worth.
Are you worried that your character might meet a grizzly end like most of the other players at Harchester?! Memo to Caspar - stay away from Harchester's team bus, and for good measure I would also stay away from any other form of transport, and be careful of the dressing room pegs! As a character I would hate to see Casper die at all, but as an actor and an action film junkie I would love to go out in some spectacular fashion, like a drive by, or saving the rest of the team from a mad bomber. Casper is a closet hero; I'd love to see him go out in a blaze of glory. Would be fitting I think.
What were your first impressions of Casper's character? I thought what a complete arse. He's just the kind of guy I'd hate, but he truly does have a heart of gold beneath that wide boy exterior, the more I work on him the more I like the way he's heading, but then that's mainly down to the great writers we have on this show.
There are people that like to compare you to Fletch. How do you feel about being regarded so highly in such a short space of time? The comparisons were inevitable, when a legend like Fletch goes out, you need someone to come in and soften the blow. Terry Kiely created a legend in Fletch, and I don't feel right that I should be stepping into his boots, I can't. Fletch is Fletch, Cass is Cass. Fletch will always be legend, I think they should have a statue built in the show, Cass has many sides to him that Fletch doesn't and in time you will see them, hopefully.
Are you anything like Casper in real life? Well, I don't drink or take drugs, but as for the women? Yes, just like Cass, always have my head turned. I like to have fun but I think our views on what is fun are completely different. My idea of a great night is a good film, good food, good company and a good book. I think Cass would hate that! Also, I get on with my Brother in real life.
What are your career aspirations in terms of Dream Team and beyond? Well there's a question! Next year I want to make my own film, I'm a writer too so would love to get some of my work made, I'd love to do some Shakespeare on the stage for it is a passion of mine, I'm quite happy to take each day as it comes but Movies in Hollywood wouldn't be beyond my aspirations!
Who, if any out of the female cast do you feel most attracted to and why? Well, they are all great friends of mine and that's all I'm saying!
What would be your perfect day from start to finish? Well, wake up with the one you love still holding you, make breakfast, lots of bacon and eggs, then go out training for a few hours, running and martial arts to get the blood flowing. Then for a perfect day I'd have to go to work, I love my job, that's why I do it, do something creatively satisfying. If I had the time I'd love to get some time down the beach surfing or some such, growing up in Brighton gives you an affinity for water sports, then home for cooking a big dinner with some friends, a great movie and then bed. With the one you love! I'm such a soppy sad son of a bitch at heart! Can you believe I'm single!
What football team do you support and how good a player are you? Brighton and Hove Albion I'm proud to say, gotta support your home town and they've had a rollercoaster few seasons, almost as dramatic as Harchester. I train everyday so I'm getting better each day too, but I'm not a Ronaldo just yet.
Are you single and what is your type? Yes I'm single, have been for a long time, infact ‘ve never had a serious relationship. I honestly don't have a type, the kind of girls I've been involved with before have been anything from blonde and short to tall and dark. I love good hair (my dad's a hairdresser) and I love beautiful eyes.
What is your favourite film? Favourite comedy is Zoolander, favourite Rom Com is Serendipity, but my favourite favourite film is a toss up between Rain Man and Forrest Gump.
What was the first and last album you bought and do you have any embarrassing ones in your collection? The last album I brought was A soul and Motown compilation album, the first album? I can't remember, but the first song was Bryan Adams Everything I Do. Yes, I was one of those responsible for making him number one for five months. Embarrassing collections? Musicals, I've got a big collection, but the pride of my embarrassment has to be my Elvis cd's.
Which legend was you most intimidated in working with Lynda Block or Basil Brush? Basil was very scary with it being my first job, and he doesn't give a lot in terms of support, ain't easy talking to someone who's only up to your ankle. But Lynda was so lovely to me from day one. She isn't intimidating at all.
What do you think is the biggest factor of Dream Teams success? I think the fact that it isn't overly showy, that it deals with just looking in on the life of a football club, and whilst it does have some obscure and crazy storylines it's much more real than certain other programmes.
Who have been the biggest influences in your life and career? Al Pacino, Tom Hanks and John Travolta were the actors I tried to steal from, them and Brando. They were the ones that inspired me to do what I do. My family are the ones that have supported this dream from the start though, and to them goes the glory. I've had some incredible teachers in my life that have made a difference, Marcia King, my first Drama teacher, Ben King my business Studies teacher, so many that I can't begin to mention.
Do you enjoy doing carrying out interviews and photo shoots? Would you ever do a playboy esque shoot? I love it, it's all part of the job, you guys make my job possible, these actors that get all uppity about interviews need to remember who they do it for. And yes, I have no problem with nudity but the public would have a problem with my naked pale body I think.
Have you ever used your celebrity status as a chat up line? "Do you know who I am?!" Absolutely not! I'm nobody. Why should doing one job make you better than anyone else?
What is your favourite chat up line? Is that a mirror in your knickers cos I can see myself in them. I don't use chat up lines!
Have you ever been arrested? Have I ever been in handcuffs? Or have I ever been arrested? I'm a law abiding citizen, or atleast I've never been caught!
What's the drunkest you've ever been? I don't drink anymore but when I did, it was when I was fifteen, mixed all kind of drinks, threw up for hours, all over my house, my mum, the street, Terrible. Learn the lesson never to mix spirits with wine!
Where is the strangest place you have ever woken up? I woke up in a garden once completely naked, and it wasn't the garden of the house the party had been at. Was completely lost wandering the streets of Brighton naked at 6.am. One of the reasons I don't drink.
What was the last text you received and who was it from? My last text is from an old frind from drama school by the name of Frankie who is asking me if I can mention her in an interview, believe it or not, well there you are Frankie. While I'm at it I should mention Megan, the first fan I spoke to on this site.
Have you ever kissed anyone of the same sex? Yes. When I was doing the Merchant of Venice I was playing the romantic lead and had to kiss a beautiful woman and a bearded man, I too had a beard and you can imagine the static, Not something I would like to make a habit of!
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