Interview Via Email with Mark Billingham Aka ‘Gary’. 24/07/03

<< >Name- Mark Billingham

>Age- 42

>Height- 6-2"

>DOB- 2/7/61

>Eye Colour- Brown

>Place of Birth- Birmingham

>Marital Status- Married

>Character played in MMMM- Gary

>Favorite Colour- Various

>Favorite Band/Singer- Elvis Costello

>Favorite TV Programme- The Sopranos

>Favorite Film- Manhattan

>Favorite Book- Changes daily

>Favorite Food- curry, sushi, but not both together

>Did you always want to be an actor? Yes. When I was at school it was a good way of avoiding certain types opf work and of meeting the girls from the adjacent girl's school.

> >How did you get into acting? I did a drama degree and then set up a community theatre company in Birmingham. I later moved to london and started doing stuff on TV.

> >Who were your inspirations whilst growing up? I was an enormous fan of the playwright Trevor Griffiths.

> >What has been your favorite project to work on? As an actor, definitely MMMM!!

> >And your least favorite? Going to the dole office...

> >What was it like working on MMMM? Fantastic fun. Four summers that were more like holidays than anything. With a few lines to learn and some running about in a forest.

> >If you could have played any other character besides yours, who would it be? Marian

> >Did you form any close relationships with any other cast members? Yes. I'm still great friends with Tony Robinsion and David Lloyd.

> >Were there any off set romances?! ;) No comment.

> >Did you have any input in the writing of your character? Not initially, but later I developed the storylines for series three and four and wrote one episode "Tunnel Vision' as well as co-writing the stage musical and an as yet unproduced screenplay.

> >Are you anything like your character? I'm a brummie, like Gary and I did get to keep Herman!

> >Talk us through how you got the part in MMMM. I auditioned initially then later I got paired up with Dave Lloyd. I got the part through sheer unadulterated talent and they gave Dave his part out of pity...

> >What was the set like to work on? Muddy.

> >What was your favorite moment when working on MMMM? A scene where Tony, david and i kept falling over and laughing which has been endlessly re-run on out-take programmes. I also enjoyed running about dressed as a monk.

> >What was your favorite episode of MMMM? I love all of them.

> >Do you have a favorite MMMM song? Pixie Paul

> >Would you do another series if asked? Yes of course. Who knows...

> >(These are questions sent in by other MMMM Fans on the web.)

>Are you working on any projects at the moment? Right now i'm concentrating on writing novels. So far I have published three crime novels - SLEEPYHEAD, SCAREDY CAT and LAZYBONES.

> >If the series had kept going up until now, how would you picture your

character now? (eg. married...) Old and tired. Much like myself.

> >Which character in MMMM are you most like and why? Gary. Because I look like him.

> >Do you keep in contact with any of the MMMM cast members? Tony and David.

> >Do you get recognised much when you're out shopping etc...? I do stand-up comedy and get recognised surprisingly often. this is a bone of contentiuon between myself and Dave Lloyd who claims never to get recognised. I think it's because people MUCH preferred Gary to Graeme

> >What was your favorite kids show when you were younger? Thunderbirds

> >Do you like ketchup or Brown sauce? Ketchup on chips. Brown sauce on cheese on toast.>>