“There’s this woman, Phoebe, who’s amazing…”

As a film enthusiast who spends most of my time huddled under the duvet with the TV remote as my only companion, I can wholeheartedly recommend adding “Drifters” to your watchlist. This brilliant sitcom, created by the incredibly talented Jessica Knappett, is a must-see for anyone who appreciates witty humor and relatable storytelling.

Add Drifters to your watchlist.

What’s the view from your sofa?

Instead of our living room, our television resides in our bedroom due to our tendency to lead a more relaxed lifestyle. While it might appear somewhat economical, it’s one of those high-end models with an elegant frame, where you can display virtual artwork. We’ve attempted to give it a touch of sophistication, but let’s face it, we primarily use it for watching numerous TV shows while snuggled up in bed!

So what are you watching from under the duvet?

As a dedicated TV enthusiast and a parent of two young ones, I’m thrilled to be taking a well-deserved month off from work. You see, juggling a career and family can often leave little time for leisure activities like binge-watching my favorite shows. However, the irony isn’t lost on me that making TV is actually quite demanding and leaves little room for watching it!

At what point did you decide that you wanted to pursue a career in acting and comedy, and was it around the year 2011, when your big opportunity came with the movie The Inbetweeners?

Once I realized that humor was an effective means to grab my parents’ attention, given their love for comedy. By the age of seven, I could recite Monty Python lines fluently. Having demanding roles in the NHS, they often faced stress, and I learned how potent humor can be in altering people’s emotions.

Did growing up in Bradford and attending college in Manchester make it challenging for you to establish yourself in the comedy scene beyond London?

For a considerable time, I strongly hesitated to relocate to London. I firmly believed that achieving success didn’t necessitate leaving one’s roots. I found solace in the North and, interestingly enough, we were quite blessed during that period as the BBC had a significant comedy department there. I worked both behind the scenes and on camera, even writing scripts. However, auditions were always held in London. The frequent travel was draining my finances, leaving me no choice but to ultimately move to London.

Drifters helped to define a new era where broadcasters were willing to take risks with women

Looking back, what are your thoughts on the television series “Drifters,” a sitcom based on your experiences in your twenties that was broadcasted from 2013 and lasted for four seasons?

The experience was both pleasurable and sad. The show revolved around themes such as failure, embarrassment, promiscuity, and excessive drinking – all classic elements for a great sitcom! However, watching it made me feel vulnerable and embarrassed. Yet, I carry this conflicting feeling of pride because I’m incredibly proud of the project. Although it didn’t initially receive widespread acclaim, those who appreciated it truly cherished it.

In certain aspects, it paved the way for other contemporary comedy-dramas with strong female leads such as “Chewing Gum” and “Fleabag”. Isn’t that right, Phoebe Waller-Bridge contributed to writing for “Drifters”?

Indeed! She wasn’t lucky back then, and it was no different for Emerald Fennell, the director of Saltburn and a former star in Call the Midwife. These talented ladies weren’t getting recognized for their skills. I often found myself saying, “This woman, Phoebe, is fantastic!” The effort required to sway opinions… Prior to Sharon Horgan and Julia Davis, there were no sitcoms penned by and starring women. I believe Drifters played a significant role in setting the stage for a new epoch, where broadcasters became willing to take chances with female creators. We were right on the brink of that change.

In your fresh podcast titled “Perfect Day“, you engage guests such as Romesh Ranganathan and Jessica Gunning in discussions about how they’d ideally spend a day. It’s an enjoyable and intriguing audio experience…

As someone who’s always curious about the lives of others, I’ve found that by asking people to describe their perfect day, they often share insights into their everyday routines as well. What has truly surprised me is the simplicity and ordinary nature of many people’s ideal days. Despite having the freedom to choose anything from traveling to the moon, many individuals express a desire for something as simple as pottering around at home. It seems that, deep down, we all just want to enjoy the small, everyday pleasures in life, no matter how mundane they may appear.

Every Thursday, you can find the latest installments of “Perfect Day with Jessica Knappett” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other popular podcast service.

2024-08-15 16:04

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