Rob Brydon hopes Gavin and Stacey finale doesn’t make fishing trip ‘mistake’-Josie Copson-Entertainment – Metro

The Gavin and Stacey cast are back at Christmas (Picture: BBC/GS TV Productions Ltd/Tom Ja)

Summer seems to be finally arriving in London on the day we sit down with Rob Brydon in a luxury hotel just off the bustling Regent Street.

At just the moment we’ve been able to ditch trench coats and umbrellas, our thoughts turn to Christmas.

It’s not because we don’t relish the good weather, but Rob, 59, is set to star in one of the most hotly-anticipated episodes of TV in history.

For one final time, he will put on his woollen cardigan and play the well-meaning, slightly naïve, and always-endearing Uncle Bryn in Gavin and Stacey.

Despite the feverish excitement following the announcement, the actor is pretty laid-back about the whole thing. He doesn’t have any lofty desires for the character he has played for 17 years’ conclusion on the small screen. Instead, he is happy to put all his trust in writers Ruth Jones and James Corden.

‘I just hope that – and I know they will – they’ll give me some of the juicy things to do,’ he told Metro.co.uk, while speaking at a press junket for My Lady Jane (more on that later) at the Hotel Cafe Royal.

Rob trusts Ruth and James (Picture: BBC)

Rob, who teased that although he hasn’t seen the script for the episode which will once again star Mathew Horne and Joanna Page as the central couple, he knows a few things that will happen. He added that there is one matter he feels passionate about.

‘I hope we don’t find out about the fishing trip. That would be a mistake,’ he stated.

Fans of Gavin and Stacey are well aware of the long-running gag that Uncle Bryn and his nephew Jason (played by Robert Wilfort) went on the excursion together, and something happened which makes them both uncomfortable. However, whenever the audience comes close to finding out what exactly took place, something prevents the reveal. It’s led to viewers coming up with their own theories, and Rob told us that people even ask him directly to share some information.

While many fans may be desperate to know the truth, Rob insisted: ‘They should keep the mystery. You must never resolve that. That’s the thing. It is the not knowing.’

What happened on the fishing trip should remain secret, stated Rob (Picture: BBC/GS TV Productions Ltd/Tom Jackson)

We have six months to wait to find out if Rob’s wish to uphold the secret is granted, but for now, let’s get back to the present day, well actually 1553 – the year that Rob’s upcoming Amazon TV series, My Lady Jane, is set.

The Welshman is playing Lord Dudley, the father of Guildford Dudley (Edward Bluemel) – a love interest for the titular character.

The horny medieval show reimagines a different reality for the Tudor-era historical figure, King Henry VII’s great-granddaughter Lady Jane Grey.

In the real world, she was Queen for just nine days before she was disposed of in favour of Mary. Although her life was initially spared, she was eventually viewed as a threat to the Crown and beheaded.

But in the alt-fantasy period drama based on the popular novels by Cynthia Hand, Brodie Ashton and Jodi Meadows, they invent an alternative reality for Jane (Emily Bader), which includes elements of magical realism. It’s a chaotic mix of Bridgerton, and Twilight, with a dash of Succession due to the family drama.

Rob is taking on a very different role (Picture: Jonathan Prime/Prime Video)

Comparing his regal role, who is partial to a little bit of scheming, to his kind-hearted character in the BBC sitcom, Rob said: ‘Well, the big thing with Uncle Bryn is I feel so comfortable and relaxed playing him because it’s so much the rhythms and the music of my childhood and growing up in Wales.

‘They sort of wrote it with me in mind so I find it very easy,’ Rob explained.

‘This chap [Lord Dudley] was a little more likely to be charming, so you try and find the part of yourself that you can bring into it and mould so it was perhaps not quite as comfortable and easy as Bryn but it was it was within my sort of wheelhouse.

‘It was a chance to potentially play a few new notes. I’m usually just the nice guy, so this was appealing.’

Anna Chancellor, who’s starred in an incredible list of TV shows and movies including Four Weddings and a Funeral and Pride and Prejudice, has also been cast in the satirical eight-episode show as Jane’s often not-very-nice mother, Lady Frances Grey.

The 59-year-old jokes that she is used to playing ‘b*****s’, but like Rob, she found great joy in embracing an evil streak.

Anna enjoys playing villains (Picture: Jonathan Prime/Prime Video)

While on-screen, there is much deception and upheaval, but on set, they were just having a lovely old time being the supporting characters.

‘People would be happy to see us, as we’d be the ones popping in,’ recalled Anna.

Rob added: ‘Sometimes, it was five days on, then five days off. When I was younger, I wanted to be in, but now I want to be at home more, and scheduling lunches.’

While the job sounds idyllic, it did not come without its challenges. They say never to work with children or animals, and they now both understand how that saying came into existence. Rob admitted that being around horses made him nervous, and even Anna, who rode as a child, had her struggles.

‘On our first day, I am riding a horse, Quinton, who falls to his knees and the sound is like ‘bum bum bum’.can hear everyone around gasping. This is the ultimate trained horse, but still fragile. I feared it breaking its leg,’ she recalled.

‘I remembered that you lean back when a horse goes forward. The horse did stand back up again and we carried on.’

Emily Bader plays the lead role (Picture: Jonathan Prime/Prime Video)

Anna may also like to add a third thing to the avoid list – ugg boots and period dresses – after the combination left her in tears.

Although their costumes reflect the era, what viewers won’t see is that Rob is often wearing Nike trainers, and Anna chose clunky winter footwear.

‘One time I turned around and trod on my skirt. It became a tight knot at my ankles and then I was just like a tree, I crashed, and then I cried,’ she said.

‘It was because everyone kept running, and said “Are you alright?” I tried to say “I’m fine” then just started whaling. There’s an innate sort of humiliation about falling over, but it’s funny. I know people were secretly laughing.’

Rob had his own difficulties with the heavy period dress, including how much it weighed on his shoulders and back. ‘I don’t want to sound like a fusspot though,’ he added.

More actors will be learning the perils of period dressing if the current love for the genre of dramas continues. From Bridgerton to West End’s Six to Apple TV+’s Dickinson and The Buccaneers, there is a clear appetite for the content.

Rob thinks only a social psychologist could truly find the answer to why we’re obsessed, but he has a theory that we enjoy watching something so different to our current world.

Rob shared his theory on why we’re loving period dramas (Picture: Brett D. Cove / SplashNews.com)

‘There was more order to society that was cited more clearly delineated in those days, whereas now it’s a big old ungovernable ball,’ said Rob.

‘This show could heal the world,’ he joked after Anna said that people are wanting to watch more fun on TV.

Like other TV shows in the realm such as Bridgerton, Outlander, and Gentleman Jack, there are many raunchy moments.

Anna has witnessed change in the industry (Picture: Brett D. Cove / SplashNews.com)

‘I don’t really take my clothes off. I just romp in a dress,’ Anna shared with a laugh.

She’s been acting for three decades and so has seen the industry change over time, including the increased presence of intimacy coordinators to help actors navigate the passionate scenes.

‘Before they used to just say: “Go at it”. Us older actors, we were trained just to do it. You don’t ask any questions,’ she recalled.

Anna has noticed the industry’s attitude to intimate scenes changing (Picture: Jonathan Prime/Prime Video)

‘That was a little bit awkward because you think “does this look like how I look when I’m having sex?”‘

She calls it ‘helpful’ that somebody is now employed to make sure everyone is comfortable, but thinks there needs to be a middle ground.

‘It’s much better now, obviously, although sometimes you can feel it’s going a bit far, like making a meal out of putting your hand on someone’s knee. There is a balance.’

Rob and Anna would be willing to do a second series (Picture: Jonathan Prime/Prime Video)

If viewers enjoy the series, then they’re in luck as Rob and Anna would be happy to return, although they state that the decision is ‘above our pay grade’.

‘I’ll just glide along. I’d just like more of the same basically,’ said Rob.

When asked if he’d like to partake in more of the action scenes, it was a resounding no from the Would I Lie to You? host.

Anna and Rob would return for series two (Picture: Jonathan Prime/Prime Video)

‘I certainly don’t want to do anything that involves rolling around on the floor or jumping off things.

‘Even a little fall can be a lot when you have to do it seven or so times.’

He hopes his character won’t be killed off, but if it is, you’ll hear nothing from him. When Anna shared a rumour some Game of Thrones actors begged for the characters to stay alive, Rob said: ‘Oh no oh no oh no, dignity at all times.’

Luckily, we don’t think that’s a concern for Uncle Bryn on Gavin and Stacey.

My Lady Jane arrives on Amazon Prime Video on June 27. 

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