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Duncan
also feels that a
country existence will
help Merton get a better
perspective on life.
We see a far more
rounded human emerging
as Series twelve
progresses. “His
life has been on
hold”, he says.
“His work has been
paramount and although
we have had evidence
that he’s had
relationships in the
past they’ve been
pretty disastrous.
At the start of the new
series two things happen
to him. He has a
health scare and starts
dating Jenny Latimer.
The first thing may lead
to him realising there
can be more in life and
hopefully Jenny will be
that ‘more’.” Like
Merton Duncan has also
found himself settling
into his new job. “I
didn’t know
Yorkshire
that well and I love the
chance we get to travel
around the most
delightful places”, he
says. “It is a
bit of a return to my
roots I suppose because
my grandmother was from
Scarborough
so I recall childhood
holidays in
Whitby
and
Robin
Hoods
Bay
.”
One
of the highlights of the
new series for
Duncan
has been acting with
fellow Scot Lulu, who
arrives in Aidensfield
as Merton’s famous
cousin Deborah Vine. “Lulu
was fantastic”
Duncan
says. “It was great to
know that poe-faced old
Merton actually has show
business in the
family!”
Tricia
Penrose plays Gina
Ward.
This
year Tricia Penrose
celebrates ten years
behind the bar of the
Aidensfield Arms playing
one of
Britain
’s favourite barmaids
Gina Ward. “Gina
was just a little girl
when she first landed in
Aidensfield and now
she’s a grown mature
woman”, says Tricia.
“ She’s responsible
– a landlady and the
licensee of the pub. I
never thought that would
happen when I first
started playing her.”
When
we first saw Gina she
was on probation for
receiving stolen
goods. “She’s
come a long way since
she was the waif who
turned up to work with
her uncle to save her
from a life of crime”
Tricia laughs. “
When I landed the part I
thought she could go one
of two ways.
She’d either become a
bit of a rogue and, like
Greengrass, be a thorn
in the side of the
police or she’d mend
her ways and buckle down
to work in the pub.
I’m pleased she’s
taken the right road –
she’s sweet and
innocent and in the
midst of all the goings
on in the village I
think the viewers are
pleased she’s there.
When you’re in the pub
you know there’ll be a
bit of light relief from
that episodes criminal
activity.”
Not
that the Aidensfield
Arms hasn’t had it’s
fair share of dealings
with the criminal
fraternity. “In
all long running series
the pub is often the hub
of activity”, says
Tricia. “The
Aidensfield Arms has
probably seen more
villains through the
doors than Wormwood
Scrubs! There’s
often two ways of
working out who the
villain is in an episode
– whether they’re
staying in the pub and
whether Gina fancies
them or not!”
Gina’s
ability to fall for the
wrong men has been her
biggest weakness and, in
the last series nearly
landed her in serious
trouble after she was
framed for a hit and run
accident. “Bless
her, she always falls
for them!”
Tricia says. “I
wish she’d settle down
with a nice bloke but
there’s something that
attracts her to danger
like a moth to the
flame. Her brush
with the law last series
really woke her up
though. It was terrible
for her and I think
she’ll be more
cautious in the
future.”
Tricia
would like to see Gina
not only get on with her
career as well as
finding a more permanent
love. “I
think it’s great that
Oscar is her boss”,
she says. “They
have a love hate
relationship but are
really like a father and
daughter. Despite this I
would like to see her
take over the pub
completely in the near
future. I’d also
like to see her with a
man! I can’t
believe she let Phil
Bellamy slip through her
fingers!”
As
well as seeing Gina grow
up over the last ten
years Tricia feels
she’s grown up
alongside her. “Heartbeat
has been a great
learning curve for me I
couldn’t have wished
for a more fantastic
job” she says.
“I know, like Gina,
that I’ve grown up
too. I couldn’t
believe it when I got
the role – and
thinking back I don’t
know how I did it.
Little me amongst all
those huge name actors
ten years ago. It
was so daunting I think
I just shut my eyes on
the first read through
day and got on with
it!”
As
well as getting the
chance to work with the
regular cast of the
series Tricia has
particularly enjoyed
meeting the guest
artists who have become
such a major part of the
history of the show. “I
get unbelievably excited
when they tell us
who’s coming in!”
she confesses. “It’s
been fantastic working
with Lulu this year as
I’d just done her
‘Audience With’ a
few days before she
filmed her episode.
I loved David Essex –
and he brought his mum
up to watch the filming
because she’s such a
big fan. My
favourite though had to
be Gary Barlow. I was
just the biggest Take
That fan. When I
heard he was coming on I
was just overwhelmed –
like a kid at one of
their concerts!”.
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