How do we find Freddy in this new series?
In this series of We Hunt Together, we meet Jackson and Lola back in their positions as detectives and Freddy has created a new world for herself. I would say she’s a bit more grounded than in the last series, but she’s monetising off of victimhood and she’s also helping other people with that status.
Then, her new quiet life, is interrupted with a series of crimes which are carried out by the new villain. She plays along with the game as a puppeteer, until she suddenly finds herself a player in the midst of a murder filled game, which causes her to get wrapped up in the police world. She’s back in the interview room and Lola, Jackson and Freddy’s worlds are intertwined once again.
What was it like to step back into her shoes?
I’ve never gone back to a character before, but I suppose you do all the work for that first series. You research the character, you form this person, so it’s actually quite easy to remember them and go back. I looked through all my notes and all my thoughts for her, but really all I needed to do was watch an episode for it to click into place. Freddy is easy to find again, particularly because she is such a powerful, strong personality. She has her nuances and her idiosyncrasies, but really the essence of her is very simple. She wants to maintain power in every situation, so it’s just reminding yourself of that really.
How would you describe her?
I think Freddy is so multifaceted. There is depth to her and a kindness. This exterior that we see of her is only the tip. She’s egotistical, confident and arrogant, but there is a real mix of things underneath that bravado. Being able to step into every scene knowing that she wants to be the centre of attention is really fun to play.
Baba took the fall for Freddy at the end of series one. How is she coping without him?
I think you can tell that Freddy hasn’t dealt well with losing Baba. She’s listless at the start of the series and she doesn’t really know what to do with herself. He filled a void in her that can’t be filled easily, and she definitely felt like he was her soulmate. She’s looking for a purpose and I like that we’ve started there, because as much as she was a terrible thing for Baba and the fact that she destroyed his life, for her Baba was this positive force that she needed. Showing that she does feel loss is a nice thing. It shows another side of Freddy. As abhorrent as she can be, she also has this side to her which does want to love.
Do you think Freddy is hiding in plain sight from the police?
Yes, I think she is. Not only has she got away with the crimes from series one, she’s also not retreating to a quiet corner of the earth. She’s shouting about the fact that she got away with it and she’s writing books about herself. Her charity shop is also there to shout about it, but with other people in mind. She is very much shouting from the rooftops and that’s what drives Lola to continue to want to prove that she is guilty.
Why does Freddy go to a speed dating event?
I think she goes to the speed dating because she’s bored. She has this idea that she’s looking for her partner in crime again. There is a degree of that, because I think she’s seeing if she can meet someone that’s on her level and that can provide some sort of excitement and interest for her. James O’Neil (played by Rik Marakem) initially gives her that feeling, but it turns out that they’re not compatible. She initially goes to make her feel alive again and to give her the feelings that Baba did.
Robert (played by Nico Mirallegro), on the other hand, doesn’t do anything in that first meeting that excites her. His demeanour appears to be extremely shy, inward and awkward and she almost feels sorry for him. Me and Jonathan (block one director) were talking about this being an opportunity to see some of Freddy’s kindness. She sees this shrinking man in front her and she’s kind to him. She’s not cutting like she is with other people. He’s sort of dismissed in her mind, initially.
What is Freddy’s relationship with Henry like?
Henry (played by Angus Imrie) comes into Freddy’s life because he was the original Frederica’s brother, so they’ve known each other their whole lives. He’s always been like a younger brother to her, so there’s never really been any romance there. Henry helps Freddy to set up the charity and helps her with the support for the survivors of abuse. From there, their relationship develops into something else as it comes to light that he has always been in love with her. He has no idea of Freddy’s involvement in his sisters’ death. To him, it was a terrible accident, but as the series progresses there is doubt that creeps in, which was slightly planted by Lola.
She also has a ghost writer for her autobiography. Can you tell us about their relationship?
Freddy has been commissioned to have an autobiography written about her and Liam is the ghost writer for that book. Liam is played by Colin Morgan, and he spends his days trying to get information out of Freddy, who doesn’t give it that willingly. Or, if she does, it’s normally hazy with lies. He might be writing the book, but he has his own secrets and his own reasons behind this job, which she is unaware of. They have quite a nice relationship, I think, it’s light and funny, because neither are aware of the other one’s deceit.
Freddy catches the attention of an influencer online this series. How does that pan out?
The Shannon McBride (played by Tamzin Outhwaite) character is the one that calls Freddy out. She’s another egotistical person in the public eye and that’s why they clash. They’re both out for themselves. Shannon McBride has her own status and her own persona that she puts out to the public, so they are completely in opposition to each other. On top of that, Shannon is convinced Freddy is guilty and is out to get Freddy, again for her own personal gain. For Freddy, it’s a challenge. Shannon isn’t a threat at the beginning, she’s very much a challenge and all publicity is good publicity for Freddy. She doesn’t care what the public think of her, or whether she is loved or hated to be honest. She also does love attention and to be looked at, so Shannon provides that and aids in getting her face out there to a degree. I suppose in this series she does maintain control of Shannon and she continues to be someone that Freddy can play this game with, but I’m not going to spoil what happens.
How would you describe this new series in three words?
Gripping. Surprising. Original.
