His latest role in Newark, Newark may be a real departure in terms of his acting, but the characters felt all too familiar, as Gemma Dunn finds out.
Newark, Newark has felt like somewhat of a homecoming for Mathew Horne. As the title suggests, the scripted comedy – brand new to Gold, and created and written by Nathan Foad – takes place in the small working class market town in the East Midlands, not far from where Horne, 43, grew up.
“I was born and raised 10 miles from Newark, and I went to school five miles away from Newark, so I know the area and I know those people,” said the Gavin & Stacey star, evidently thrilled by his casting. The “people” he speaks of, in this instance, include pugnacious chip shop manager and exhausted matriarch Maxine (played by Morgana Robinson), as she tries to ride out her divorce and find someone who actually lights her fire.
However, it is easier said than done with her big-mouthed son Leslie (Jai Hollis) dramatically coming out as gay, and her dullard ex-husband, Terry (Horne), trying ever more desperately to win her back. Plus there is her mother Pauline (Beverley Callard) who can’t help meddling with her love life. With family and love at its core, the show is billed as capturing “the goofy, sticky, oddness of long English summers and the joyous, comforting and somewhat ridiculous things that go on in a small town”. We can’t wait. But what more can Horne tell us about his very own slice of nostalgia?
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HOW FAMILIAR IS TERRY TO YOU?
Without naming names – and I certainly don’t have any names – I’ve been around an atmosphere and a generation of men who’ve been through the same things as Terry. I feel like he’s somebody I know very well, and I recognise the tragedy in him. But I also sympathise with Terry, because I will end up being him – he is part of me because of where I’m from. Terry’s a very appropriate character for me, although a huge departure in terms of my acting and my career. He’s deeply tragic, but I also wanted him to be likeable and for people to understand the damage he’s suffered.
FROM THE PLACES TO THE PEOPLE, IT’S ALL RECOGNISABLE?
Very much so. In fact, when I was sent the scripts and offered the role, I was reading them on the train to Newark, which is the station I use to visit my father. It all felt very serendipitous, and the producers didn’t even know I’m from that area. Nathan has done a superb job. That’s not only in his writing – structurally, narratively, his character creation, and the funny lines – but also in encapsulating the atmosphere of the area and the people. This was an absolute no-brainer for me. The script really spoke to me, and I recognised everything in it. Terry also gave me the opportunity to use my accent, which I lost when I was 16 or 17.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE ABLE TO USE YOUR NATIVE ACCENT?
It means so much on both a professional level and a personal level. On a professional level, I’m so grateful to be given this opportunity because on paper that role is not one you would offer to me. I still don’t quite know why they did. I assumed they knew I was from the area, but they didn’t and were as surprised as anyone to learn I was from there. In television it’s very easy to be pigeonholed as a certain type, so to be offered Terry was amazing to me. On a personal level it’s wonderful to go home and work and make a show which is set five miles from the school where I started acting 25 years ago.
WHAT KIND OF HUSBAND AND DAD IS TERRY?
When he was married and was raising Leslie, I think he thought he was a loyal and doting father and husband. Over the years he became increasingly thoughtless and stopped making an effort. The relationship turned stale, and Maxine wanted a bit more excitement in her life. Terry genuinely can’t understand what he’s done wrong. The best years of his life were when he was 18. I’ve met men like that; they still dress how they did when they were 18 because that was when they were at their peak. However, this means whenever he’s faced with emotional situations, his emotions default to that period because he hasn’t emotionally progressed from that point in his life.
HOW DID YOU ENJOY WORKING ALONGSIDE MORGANA ROBINSON AND BEVERLEY CALLARD?
Beverley was absolutely wonderful. In my career, I’ve been very lucky to work with the most amazing actresses and Beverley was added straight on to the list of actress legends for me. She’s wonderful and her comedic touch is just superb. It was wonderful to watch the character emerge from her as we began filming. Morgana’s a wonderful actor and another reason I was thrilled by this job was the chance to be working with her. I’d never met her, but I loved The Agency and I’ve been such a fan of hers. We instantly hit it off and had a chemistry which I hope translates on screen.
AND THERE’S PLENTY OF YOUNGER CAST MEMBERS TOO – IS IT REFRESHING TO SEE NEW TALENT COMING THROUGH?
Oh, it’s absolutely infuriating. I absolutely hate young talented people. I’m joking but, as I get older and I become more cynical and more jaded, working around young talent with the world at their feet and their whole life ahead of them makes me feel grateful for what I have, what I’m doing in that present moment, and what I’ve achieved so far in my career. As I say, I’m firmly in my middle age and I’m inspired by younger talent, and I want to do everything I can to help them progress. We have some fantastic new talent on Newark, Newark and I hope they have very bright futures that aren’t only on TikTok.
Newark, Newark premieres on Gold on Monday, March 28.
