How long has Newark, Newark been gestating in your brain?
For so long. I’ve been writing professionally for about seven or eight years and about five years ago Balloon Entertainment optioned Newark, Newark. It was my first show to be optioned by a production company. Over the years it’s been through so many iterations and so many different stages of development I’d resigned myself to thinking it wouldn’t happen. I couldn’t believe it when it was finally greenlit by UKTV for Gold. These characters, particularly Leslie and Maxine, have been in my head for so long because they’re avatars of me and my mum.
Why did writing about you and your mum feel like destiny?
I’ve always had a very funny and unique relationship with my mum. When you’re into comedy people ask, “Why are you funny? Why do you think you’re funny?” I have two answers; first, because I was a fat kid and, second, because I have a really funny mum. My mum and I had this special connection and, this is no shade on my brothers who I love dearly, but I always felt like an only child.
What’s your relationship with your mum like?
She was my best pal and still is. I adore her, and she’s also ridiculous I can’t argue with anyone like how I argue with my mum, but also no-one makes me laugh like she does. She’s a wonderful, bizarre, and iconoclastic person, so I’ve always wanted to write about her. Of course, she adores this attention and I think she’s honestly devastated she’s not playing herself in the show. I wanted to write her into the show, but she wasn’t available.
How autobiographical is Newark, Newark?
An aspect of the show which isn’t autobiographical is that my parents are still together – they’re obsessed with each other – and I have two older brothers, who are five and seven years older than me. They’re both very blokey and they have quite a lot in common. I was like a little black sheep. I’ve definitely taken real liberties, but the core of Leslie and Maxine are true. Everything else I’ve had fun with to make it a funny half-hour comedy.
How much of Leslie’s story is influenced by your own experiences?
Part of Leslie’s arc in the first episode is very autobiographical, as he comes out to no applause. I came out as gay in the long summer between my GCSEs and A-levels and I remember thinking, “Well, I’ve got nothing to do. GCSEs are done, so I might as well pump some drama out of this.” Within about a week everyone’s reaction was, “Yep cool.” Leslie’s actual arc over the show is not him coming out as gay, it’s more him asking himself, “If no-one’s going to be interested in me being gay, what’s my hook?” That typical teenage question of “What’s my identity?” That’s very much based on real life. The divorce storyline was to give Maxine her own coming of age – I always say the show is a joint coming-of-age story for Leslie and Maxine.
How similar is Leslie to you?
He’s definitely a lot braver than I was as a teenager. I was a gobshite for sure, but writing Leslie is a wish fulfilment – I wish I could have said some of those lines or outwardly been that much of a nightmare. That would have been fun. Leslie’s relationship with his best friend Amber was always very much my MO when I was a teenager. I’d have one very intense female friendship, then she would find a boyfriend and I’d act as if I’d been betrayed.
Leslie has run-ins with some of the local lads – was that drawn from your own experiences?
I was a bullied teenager, but it was never that much to do with being gay. I think Terry says in the first episode, “It’s not him being gay, it’s everything else about him.” I was an oddball and a wild mix of insecurity but wanting attention, so I was bound to be singled out. It makes me sound like I’m bragging about how wonderfully unique I was, but I was just a freak.
What does Jai Hollis bring to Leslie and how similar is Jai to your teenage self?
I’m so proud of Jai and I can’t stress enough what a star I think he is. He makes me laugh every single day. I knew we were going to have to find an unknown, and we saw a lot of boys for the role, but the moment I saw his tape I thought, “He’s perfect.” He has a real magic about him; he’s so funny and chillingly like me as a teenager.
How will your dad, who isn’t divorced from your mum, feel about Terry?
He’s been prepped that Mathew Horne is not doing a portrayal of Alan Foad. Terry’s nothing like my sweet dad. Me and my mum are such ridiculous people, and my dad’s a very normal man, just trying to live a nice, normal life. He is very excited about the show, mainly because he can show off his successful son to his friends.
Where does Terry come from if he’s nothing like your dad?
I find that type of beta man failing at being a bloke very funny. I know that man so clearly – I’d go as far to say I’m related to a couple – and it’s such a specific kind of working-class guy I grew up with. I do have a lot of love for Terry. I originally wrote him as a one-dimensional sad dad, then as the show developed, he became way more rounded. He’s trying his best in his own little misguided way.
Was filming in Newark a special homecoming for you?
It was really special. I’ll be honest, I was nervous about how well we were going to be received. Newark’s a very proud town, and I was scared people would be annoyed by us. I was very moved by how openly the locals embraced the show. Whenever we were filming in public there would be crowds of people filming on their phones. I had a complicated relationship with the town when I was growing up; I kind of hated it, but it also made me who I was. It was cathartic to return and make this show. I mean, I’m very nervous at the idea of being made the poster boy of Newark – I’m not making fun of Newark at all, but I am looking at it with a wry eye.
There are some brilliant names in the series. How excited were you when you found out who was involved?
I mean, come on, we’ve got Beverley Callard! What a goddamn gift. It’s so cool to get to write for these seasoned professionals. This is the coolest thing.
