MR BENNETT’S ARSE
During a recent studio office clear out, I found a script for a project I was over the moon to be part of whilst training at the Manchester School of Acting with Mark Hudson and David Shaw back in 2008. David’s main job was as a casting director for television, film and theatre working under Beverley Keogh at her agency. One May weekday evening on arrival to a workshop at their HQ just off Ardwick Green Park, I was greeted by a beaming David who immediately threw a script in my direction and said ‘I’ve got a part for you’. Glancing down at the thick wad of pages, I picked out the bold printed words ‘Shameless - Company Pictures’. ‘Series 6 Episode 8’.
“You’ve got three lines and no costume” he smirked gleefully. “Let me know if you want it”.
Needless to say I accepted immediately without even asking about the costume. After the buzz of adrenaline had subsided, I eventually processed everything he’d said.
“What do you mean by ‘no costume’?” I asked.
“You’re shagging… well… as good as”… he continued… “so, you’ll probably just be wearing a sock".
“Right, ok.” I replied.
“You’ll be filming in a couple of months. Someone will be in touch with your schedule once I’ve got your details sent over”.
Fast forward to the day before the shoot and I’m walking through Manchester City Centre on a muggy, wet August afternoon looking for my hotel. I was surprised my small role as a supporting artiste qualified me for paid-for accommodation, but I wasn’t complaining. The Beijing Olympics were in full swing and I spent the evening in my hotel room watching the highlights with a few beers whilst triple checking all of three of my lines in the script. I’d never been on a full set before so I didn’t know what to expect, and I certainly didn’t want to mess it up. When the day of the shoot arrived, I was picked up from the hotel by a driver who took me to the Police Station, which doubled as a wardrobe department. I was fitted out with a suit and handed a ‘sock’ and we journeyed onward to the Manchester Metropole Hotel where my scenes were being filmed. On arrival I was taken to the call area, where I met Sally Carman (Kelly) and Nicky Evans (Shane Maguire). I sat with them, drinking a coffee, whilst they gave me the lowdown about the life of working actors. They were both lovely people. Immersing myself in their world, I suddenly became acutely aware that in an hour or two I would be in a situation that I’d never been in before. On the set of a well-loved British comedy series, filming scenes with dialogue wearing nothing but a sock. What an intro to the world of award-winning television! ‘Go hard (well… don’t) or go home‘ I thought.
The rest of that afternoon was the most incredible working experience I’d ever had. Shooting first in the hotel bar, where my character, a suited ‘Mr Bennett’ was ‘picked up’ by Kelly as part of the ‘scamming’ plot featured in the episode. Then up to one of the suites where I performed completely naked, save for a sock, in front of a dozen or so crew, filming me being caught in a compromising situation and robbed of my credit cards. My first ever experience of filming for TV, and I was in the buff, on Shameless.
After shooting I managed to blag some food on the double decker catering bus (a la ‘Extras’) and then headed home on the train. I was buzzing from the experience and wanted more. As my train back to Sheffield rolled through the vale of Edale, all I could think about were the words Sally had said during our chat over coffee. “Make the most of it, ‘cause you never know when it’ll end”.
It ended with my arse, well Mr Bennett’s arse, credited on IMDB. I was chuffed to bits that I had a story to tell.
You can see my bum on telly via Netflix - https://www.netflix.com/title/70175669
