2004 Entries
November/December 2004
On the work front I've just got back from LA where I was starting pre-production financing for this film I'm co-producing. Things are ticking along nicely, although it is a lot of hard work and very time-consuming, but I have to say it's great fun and (touchwood) if it all comes off will have been so rewarding to have been involved from the very first day.
I've also confirmed I will be appearing in Nick Moran's new play "Telstar" which starts rehearsals in London on the 10th January for 3 weeks and then goes on tour. (see tour dates on Telstar page).
I'm really excited about the project as it will be great to be back on stage, especially as this is a much more contemporary piece compared to the more costume stuff I have done.
On top of all that I'm in discussions for a new TV series starting next spring, which sadly I can't let on about just yet but about which I'm very excited and hopefully tell you more very soon. Also some new for you "Judge John Deed" starts on TV in January (the 6th I think) and the episode I am in is the concluding part to the series (I think it's the 12th one).
Most importantly as well I've been rushing around getting ready for Christmas (writing this on the 23rd of Dec). Regular loggers-on willl know how excited I get at this time of year and I am loving the chance to spend some time with the family as it looks like I'll be working away from them for the next 12 months!! Of course I'll be spending the day with my folks, eating too much and opening lots of pressies and I am so very excited!!
I hope you all are having a lovely festive season, and find happiness everyday. A huge thank you for all your support this year, your kindness really touches me deeply.
September/October 2004
Well I've finished filming Judge John Deed and although really hard work, it was great fun and hopefully you will enjoy it. I am not 100% sure of transmission dates as yet, but I know it is the last in the series and should be transmitted some time towards the end of the year.
So what's next? I am currently in the last stages of negotiation for a new play called "Telstar", written by Nick Moran, which is due to start next January, as well as the film "Sunstroke" which I have told you about before. But what am I doing between now and then I hear you ask. Well I have found this truelly amazing feature film, which has some really big names attached to both act and direct, and have been offered one of the leads in it. I can't tell you anymore just yet, but suffice to say it is absolutely amazing and really inspires me.
The film itself is due to start filming in the spring of next year and the rest of this year I'm devoting to co-producing the feature through my production company "Narcissus Films". I know this isn't terribly exciting or in the public eye, but I believe in this project so much that I am determined to make sure it reaches production and doesn't fall on its arse like 99% of most British movies. As time draws nearer I will reveal all and hopefully you will be able to agree when you see the finished product, that it was worth the work now.
Thats not to say that I won't be around for the rest of this year, as I have been sounded out to do some other TV drama, in the meantime, but to be honest at this moment in time its just a question of whether I can fit them in around producing this film as I really want to give that 100% of my attention right now. If they become feasible then I shall be sure to let you know straight away.
August 2004
Well first off a bit of TV to let you know about. I've agreed to do an episode of "Judge John Deed" for the BBC, which I will be filming throughout September. It's a guest lead in one episode but what attracted me to the part is the fact that it centres arund the reality TV phenomenon and the dangers that are beginning to emerge from its appeal. Without giving any of the plot away it investigates the fact that boundaries are being pushed further and further back, with potential disastrious consequences on the moral frontier.
I've also agreed to do 3 films now, the first will now begin in Novemebr, although because of Gordon Brown messing around with the tax structure for film production, this is now all a bit up in the air (I will keep you informed). The other two are going next year, so I can't tell you too much just yet, but I will say that one is a lower budget typical Brit flick focused around the psycological thriller mould, and the other a truely beautiful piece which has really captured my imagination.
I've also signed up for a brand new play which begins in January for 12 weeks, which hopefully will all be contractually sorted in the next week or two so that when that is all done and dusted I will be able to tell you the exciting details in the next diary.
On top of all that I've also been fixated by the Olympic Games and I have to say a huge congratulations to all the British Competitors who really seem to have surpassed all expectations (especially Kelly Sotherton who I thought was particularly fantastic!)
July 2004
Would you believe I'm actually sat on the side of stage as I write this! Here I am at the Windsor Theatre Royal taking a brief moment from rehearsals to write the diary. Well what a last month it has been.
I left Corrie, which in ways was rather sad as it meant leaving those people I'd been working so closwely with over the last 10 months, but was also very exciting as it meant I was able to move over to pastures new.
The 1st of which is the play "Final Judgement" with Simon Ward, which has proven to be a bit of a golden egg. When I first read the script I did think it was good and the high quality cast attached and the prospect of 2 months in Windsor were a large part of the appeal. However now that we have really dived into rehearsals everyone has been very pleasantly surprised at how good the play actually is becoming.
It seems to be creating a real buzz within the theatre world as word spreads as to how good the play is actually going to be.
The chance to be a part of something so new and so good is really exciting as an actor and a fantastic project with which to return to the stage. I thoroughly recommend it if you get the chance to come and see it.
On top of that I am as ever having meetings for the future projects, of which I have now firmly committed to 3, which hopefully I will be able to reveal to you in the next diary slot although I can indicate that 2 are films and 1 another stage production (how secretive!)
June 2004
Well I have finally left The Street. I shot my last scenes about a week ago from when I am writing this and I have to say it was rather sad at the end of it all. Although I fully enjoyed my time over the last 10 months, and did know 100% that leaving was the right thing to do, it was still quite sad having to say goodbye to everyone (again!).
Especially Helen Worth (Gail Platt) who I really have come over the years to see as my surrogate mother. They were all very generous and gave me a lovely leaving present and stuff, and hopefully the storyline we have created will have the nation shed a tear or two.
Well moving on I am now in preparation for my play "Final Judgement" at the Windsor Theatre Royal. At the moment I am spending every working hour learning lines in preparation for rehearsals which start in about 2 weeks from now.
I am also doing prep work for my next project after the play, a film called "To Love and Conquer", which subject to negotiations and availability, I shall begin shooting at the end of the summer.
It's a fantastic script and cast (John Rhys Meyers - Velvet Goldmine/Bend it like Beckham, Erika Christensen - Traffic/Swim Fan , John Hannah - Four Weddings/The Mummy and Johnny Rotten - The Sex Pistols). which tells the tale of a love story set in Wales in the age of the Roman Empire. My character is called Antonius, who is an officer and friend of John Rhys Meyers who endeveavours on this voyage of self discovery in a foreign land.
I'm really excited at the prospect and touchwood that it is viable due to other commitments (which I can't tell you about yet - sorry!) should be a very exciting and testing production.
Well that's about all for now. As ever thanks for all your messages of support, keep well and enjoy the sunshine.
May 2004
Well time is ticking down now to my exit from the Street, as I am now just 4 weeks away from finishing. It's a lot of hard work but hopefully will be worth it as I think the triangle of emotions between Nick/Maria and Leanne is very complex and hopefully quite gripping.
I guess it's about time I let you in on some of my new projects. The first thing I shall be doing is a brand new play called "Final Judgement". It's a fantastic piece, kind of a cross between Macbeth and an Agatha Christie novel, which tells the story of a taboo love affair between the son of landed gentry, in the 1800's and a serving girl in his parents home, which has tragic and fatal results.
It's a great play, which will begin rehearsals at the end of June, and then open for a short run at the Theatre Royal Windsor in July, before hopefully transferring into the West End proper. The reason I chose this as my first project post Corrie, is that not only is the character very interesting and the play itself is very strong, but the attraction of doing some more stage work after nearly a year of TV was too strong to pass up. Also the fact that it is a brand new play makes it all the more exciting as you really venture into unchartered territory and are able to stamp your own sense on a piece without worrying about how it has been portrayed before.
I'm really excited at the prospect and hope you will all get a chance to come and see it for yourselves.
When that's up and running I'll be sure to let you know about the other projects as soon as I'm allowed.
April 2004
Hope you're all well. The clock is definitely ticking now to my last performance on the street. As you may have read I have had to bring forward my finishing date with the show from August to the end of May (on screen till mid July).
This is because my next project a film called Sunstroke has two windows for potential filming. One is in the summer months and the other is spring next year. Since it will not be known which slot will be viable until closer to the date, it was impossible to commit to Corrie until August as it could potentially have clashed.
Although in a way it's a shame it does mean that everything is now rather kectic here as we rush to bring storylines forward so that they can be filmed before the end of May. Of course I won't give too much away (sorry!) except to say that it resolves around the return of Leanne, who still carries bitterness towards Nick, and resolves to cause as much upset between him and Maria as possible.
Apart from all that I'm also rushing around having meetings for some other projects which I'll inform you about as soon as I can..
I'm actually writing this just before the Easter weekend, so I hope you all had a good one. I'll just be spending it at home with my family, enjoying the calm before the storm!
March 2004
It's been rather an eventful month what with announcing to the press my departure and trying to start planning all the projects for after I'm gone.
If you've logged on recently you'll know that despite rumours this was always a planned move by both myself and the Street, and there was never any question of Nick staying beyond the summer. Although I can't give too many details away I can say that the storyline will involve the return of Leanne and the triangle this creates between her, Nick and Maria.
On leaving we're trying to juggle dates at this moment to try and sort out the feasibility of fitting it all in. At the moment they contain film and theatre projects, with a further possible TV show, all of which I will supply details on as soon as I'm allowed.
Apart from all that my life has been totally dictated too lately by the Six Nations Rugby. I think the entertainment factor of the tournament has been fantastic and wish all the teams all the best (BUT ESPECIALLY ENGLAND)! On top I've also got the Grand Prix season kicking off this weekend, so I guess no-one will be seeing me on the weekend for quite a while!!!
Well that's all for now, so as ever thanks for all your messages of support and until next time keep well.
February 2004
Just a quick message to keep you all updated as to what's going on. I wanted to make sure you were the first to know, specially as you've all been so brilliant in your support.
As I said last summer, my stay on Coronation Street was only going to be for a limited run. Originally I had intended that to be for six months until Xmas 2003, but I was then asked to extend for another 6 months. Although I was willing to do this because of the fantastic storylines now in the pipeline, I really didn't feel it was right or possible to stay beyond that.
I have just asked for a meeting with the new Producer and explained how with commitments to future projects I would not be able to stay on the show past that point. It was a really good meeting and he asked whether I would be willing to leave the character open, with a possibility of return, which I agreed to in principle as ever on the condition of storylines.
I really enjoy doing the show but because of the exclusivity it demands on your time, it makes it impossible to perform in other productions, a factor which at this point I feel is necessary and vital to fulfilling a career.
January 2004
Well Christmas has been and gone. I hope you all had a great one and a big thank you for all your cards and presents. Personally I had a great one spending the whole time with friends and family, and just stuffing my face with food.
I'm writing this from the green room at work shivering to death as we've just had a false alarm with the fire drill, so we've all had to stand outside for half an hour in the rain while we waited for the fire brigade to turn up and tell us that surprisingly the building wasn't burning down around our ears.
Actually I've quite a lot on at the moment, storyline wise and while I won't give anything away suffice to say that Nick and Maria are heading for a very tough time as family life starts to interrupt their Utopia. On top of all that I'm also rushing up and down to London whenever I get the chance having meetings about future projects which touch wood will be going ahead later this year.
Also I'm spending loads of time harassing my Mum as for a New Year's Resoluion she wants to lose some weight and get fit, so I've organised a routine for her and am having to motivate her everyday. I have to say it's the bigger role reversal in Parent/Child relationships ever!!
Well that's about it for now, so until next time keep well and have a hugely successful New Year.
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