SITTING in the shadow of Jordanhill School in Glasgow, Suranne Jones ponders the lessons she has learned working on BBC1 drama Single Father.
The first is believe everything you’ve heard about her co-star David Tennant – he’s a star.
The second is be prepared to do anything if you want the part badly enough, even if it means reluctantly dying your hair blonde and attracting unwanted attention as a result.
Thirdly, and finally, is rip up the age-old showbiz adage and make sure you definitely work with animals and children.
Suranne, 32, had little choice in any of the above in the heartfelt new four-part drama series in which she stars as a teacher who, following the death of her best friend, falls for her widower, a dad-of-four played by Tennant. It has been an education.
Suranne said: “It’s been like the comedy Outnumbered. We have four kids under 13 and a dog. I’ve been taught about action heroes and kids’ TV shows I never knew existed, how to make volcanoes out of household items and what happens if you put mints in coca cola – you don’t want to try it at home.
“We went ten-pin bowling after our first read-through of the script and right away we felt like we are all in this together so get on with it. It’s noisy and chaotic but I love it.
Photographer Dave (Tennant) and Rita (Laura Fraser) are a devoted couple with kids Lucy (Natasha Watson), Paul (Chris Hegarty), Ewan (Robert Dickson) and Evie (Millie Innes).
When Rita is killed in a road accident, Dave faces bringing up the kids alone and has to draw on the support of friends and family, especially Rita’s best friend Sarah – Suranne – and her partner Matt (Warren Brown).
When the two fall for each other, it asks how soon is too soon to fall in love following bereavement?
She said: “I’ve wondered what it would be like if friends passed away and I ended up with their partner. They’ll read this now and ask ‘were you thinking about me?’ It’s such a weird thing. She’s a best friend. She’s not meant to be with him. Rita is.
“Following her death, the world just puts you together and once that ball starts rolling, you can’t help it because you are so vulnerable – two people thrown together in a world of grief, with children involved. It’s this awkward question of when is it right to fall in love with someone? Not everything is clear cut.
“I had never read a story quite like it. A father left with children is a very sympathetic figure and I have to be careful. On paper, I’m the cuckoo flying into the nest although that’s not how it is. It’s more about the acceptance of the people or not – you are going to take a dead woman’s husband.”
Single Father is not all tears and snotters before bedtime. It deals with the emotions involved sensitively and with a sense of humour, focusing on the aftermath of bereavement rather than the initial grief. Suranne had to go blonde to win the part.
Read the full interview here: Daily Record
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