George in the dock

As a seasoned fan of The Archers, I must say that Angus Stobie has truly brought George to life in a captivating and relatable way. Playing a troubled teenager with an uneasy conscience, followed by intense confrontations, is no easy feat, but Stobie’s dedication to understanding the character’s thoughts and feelings has paid off.

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When he tried out for a prominent role on Radio 4’s program “The Archers,” which he had just graduated from Manchester drama school, it was during a year that took place over Zoom due to the pandemic. He would practice his animal impressions in his living room alone. The editor of “The Archers” sought to incorporate two characters seldom heard within Ambridge’s landscape. Scobie recalls receiving recognition from the Carleton Hobbs radio bursary, which he believes helped him secure an audition. “I guess that’s how I got the opportunity,” Scobie says. “There were many boys my age at the audition, and it was for the character Brad Horrobin initially. I only read a small section of George towards the end, but Taylor [Uttley] ended up with Brad, and I received George! I was taken aback, yet thrilled.

Instead of being a longtime listener, he was informed: “Editor Jeremy Howe explained to me all the various storylines that George was part of and how they could have influenced him. It’s crucial to portray it accurately in a show with such a profound past because it has been cherished by many for years. To remain authentic and truthful is essential.

After spending his childhood in a peaceful urban environment – often described as a “city boy” – how did he go about depicting rustic rural life in a detailed manner? Instead of saying “I’m curious,” he asked questions like “What’s the weight of this sheep? How quickly does it move?” Did he ever learn to train ferrets for the traditional Grundy pastime? No, he had never even held one before, but they are just figments of his imagination. However, he dreams wistfully about having ferrets in his studio someday.

You have a duty to get it right in a show with such a history

He worked carefully on the accent, far from his elegant Scottish tones. “I suppose it’s a sort of West Country/Midlands blend, not super-specific. But I listened a lot to Trevor [Harrison], who plays Eddie, he’s brilliant. And George is a teenager, so you have to modernise it slightly: he’s into social media, TikTok, American slang.”

“The unique radio talent he developed was creating a voice different from other village boys, and he honed this with Uttley’s Brad. They naturally found their spots – he has this delightful, slightly whiny tone. I admire their relationship. It began with George bullying him and getting them into trouble, but now he would acknowledge a sense of respect for Brad, as he embarks on his new journey to university… In fact, before George’s trial, there was a remarkably heartwarming conversation between the two that would resonate with anyone who has teenage sons.

For such intricate and emotionally charged performances, Stobie was brought on board. Jeremy Howe recognized his knack for delivering subtle, emotive lines, which is why he has been assigned some of the most significant Ambridge scenes over the years. Interestingly, Stobie is also one of the youngest and non-Archers in the cast.

Given that George’s actions have caused turmoil, anxiety, and disagreements among most residents in this fictional village, it might be helpful to clarify his family background for those who may not be fully aware. Essentially, he is the natural son of Will Grundy, but was raised by his uncle Ed following Emma Carter’s departure, who chose another brother over him. He has numerous relatives on his father’s side, including cousins, grandparents, and half-siblings. The only notable exception in the influential Archer family is his aunt-by-marriage, Alice, daughter of Jennifer, as she defied social norms by marrying the local farrier, George’s uncle Chris.

It was Alice, a woman who had gone through divorce and struggled with alcohol addiction on occasion, who started a series of unfortunate events. George found her intoxicated behind the wheel and decided to give it a try with his fancy car. During the ride, Alice, still drunk, attempted to get out of the vehicle to vomit, causing him to swerve and crash into a taxi carrying villagers, sending them into the river. He managed to save three of them, making splashing noises with wet bathmats. In a moment of panic, he put Alice in the driver’s seat. “What a day – when I read the script, I was taken aback!” George exclaimed. “Shocked and disgusted?” he continued. “No, as an actor, you always question the motives. I mean, he drove her home first, then risked his life heroically. But then… well, given his history of being blamed and criticized, it’s understandable that George would instinctively shift blame for the accident away from himself.

Following several tense weeks of being unwillingly called a hero, George finally admitted the truth to his mom, causing quite a commotion, and was subsequently taken into custody. During this time of deception, the rescued Fallon tragically lost her baby, and Alice turned to alcohol due to supposed remorse, resulting in losing guardianship of her three-year-old daughter Martha. As a result, everyone was enraged with him, leading to more dramatic confrontations: with his mother, father, uncle, grandparents, the unforgiving Archers, Brad’s mom Tracy, Fallon’s vindictive police partner Harrison, and even Alice herself.

Playing such a brooding 19-year-old with a heavy conscience, leading up to significant conflicts, wasn’t easy. I simply aimed to grasp the thoughts of a young man grappling with these issues. He’s just a youth, and his predicament is monumental, he carries burdens and complexities, aware that his actions were wrong yet living in the present.

Instead of questioning whether he criticized George for causing the crash, one could say: “No, family holds significant importance to him, particularly his aunt. He possesses a strong sense of right and wrong, which is beautifully portrayed in the scenes with her.” She powerfully confronted him with a victim impact statement that was both compelling and heartbreaking, as she detailed the effect on her, Chris, and most poignantly, the baby Martha. In this moment, he recognizes the devastation he’s caused, being a brother himself to younger siblings. This insight offers a deeper understanding of his character. It’s insightful how even rough-around-the-edges teenage boys often exhibit a special sensitivity towards young children.

In contrast to Freddie Pargeter, who was sent to a youth detention center for drug dealing, George is serving time in an adult prison and recently ended a call with his family. His sentence won’t allow him out until haymaking season of 2025. What does Stobie believe George will experience during his incarceration? Will the writers be able to craft compelling scenes set within this environment?

I’ve never been informed! Partially relieved, yet sad that it’s temporarily concluded, I’ve truly enjoyed it. The stint in prison might have an intriguing impact on George; he could either emerge reformed or fall prey to negative influences, exacerbating his problems and causing resentment. It could prove fascinating. Change is always exhilarating to portray. As for whether George would prefer to be a reformed character or a villain, much like his infamous Uncle Clive, he might not have a clear preference. Instead, he enjoys playing characters that are uncomfortable. In the distant future, could George find love? Stobie smirks, hinting at a girl named Tilly Button who often pops up in conversations but remains absent from the airwaves. “Will Tilly Button ever tune into our radio broadcast?” Stobie teases, implying we’ll have to wait and see.

Bring it on, scriptwriters! Somewhere there’s a gifted female drama graduate needing work and able to do a Borsetshire twang. Let her visit George in prison then crowdfund in the Bull for an appeal against his sentence. Just to upset the whole village again. Well, we all have our private Archers fantasies, don’t we?

2024-10-17 19:39

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