EastEnders’ James Bye discusses the pressures of filming for the BBC cleaning soap opera within the lead as much as Christmas.
After taking part in the function of Martin Fowler on EastEnders for simply over 10 years, James Bye has opened up on how he appears to be like again on his time on the cleaning soap.
Talking solely to on-line on line casino Betway, the actor speaks in regards to the pressures of filming the dwell episode, which noticed his character depart the present in February, breaking the hearts of the nation as followers tuned in for the anniversary.
James additionally shares his ideas on collaborating in Strictly Come Dancing with skilled dancer Amy Dowden, admitting that being backstage for the outcomes present was one of the ‘tense’ conditions he’s skilled.
Your pal Shona McGarty is at present within the jungle – how do you suppose she’s coping?
She’s such a kind-hearted, real individual. It could’t be straightforward for her in there. I do know what she’s like, she’s a really delicate individual, so for her to take that leap and bounce up and do one thing like I’m A Celeb, I feel she’s unimaginable.
Do you suppose she’ll go far?
I don’t see why she received’t. She’s being very truthful to herself, and that’s who she is. You simply by no means know with these exhibits, they’re brilliantly made. They’re cleverly constructed as a result of they need to be entertaining; they’ll’t simply movie folks sitting on a campfire, chatting. They’re edited to be entertaining. I feel it’s the great thing about that present as a result of it’s out of your management. If you happen to go in there and also you’re your self and also you’re true to your beliefs, I don’t suppose there’s something extra you are able to do. I don’t suppose it issues who wins or loses.
The EastEnders Christmas particular will probably be arising quickly – what do you keep in mind about these specials? Was there strain when it got here to filming them?
EastEnders is known for its Christmas Day storylines. Everybody sits down to observe it, whether or not you benefit from the present or not. For the Christmas episodes, you’d usually have a gathering and most characters are in it indirectly or one other. I feel I received the primary story on the one the place everybody thought he’d killed Keanu. So for me, that’s all I wanted to give attention to. I feel when you’ve had a Christmas Day episode, you’ll be able to say you’re a real member of EastEnders.
However sure, the strain is on for Christmas as a result of so many extra folks will watch the present that point of yr. You wish to make it possible for they’ll do an excellent job and hopefully, maybe followers which have dipped out within the yr, will watch the Christmas episode and proceed watching all year long.
Barry and Pat are coming again this Christmas to tie in with Nigel’s exit. What are your ideas on bringing characters again from the lifeless, and would you need the identical for Martin?
Oh that’s sensible! That opens up the door for me, doesn’t it?! Martin will probably be on Barry’s shoulders – that’s nice. Pat and Barry are essentially the most iconic characters to ever depart the present. As a fan of the present, once they weren’t in it anymore, I used to be devastated as a result of they have been sensible.
I’ve chatted with Shaun a bit bit. I don’t know him significantly properly, however I feel he’s a category act. He’s a superb, sensible performer. And clearly, Pam, nobody does it higher than her. I didn’t really know that, so thanks for telling me! I’ll be tuning in for Christmas now.
Zoe Slater’s return was overestimated as an enormous comeback, however some followers have been disenchanted with the storyline and the way it’s gone to date. What do you consider it?
I feel having Zoe again is a unbelievable factor. Intelligent transfer from Ben. She’s massively iconic and clearly has the long-lasting ‘you’re not my mom’ scene. Clearly, Michelle Ryan’s a unbelievable actress. I feel if I had one thing to say to the followers, simply belief what they’re doing. They’re very sensible folks on EastEnders creatively, they’re unbelievable, so keep it up. I feel they’ll be shocked as soon as it kicks off.
Max Branning’s return will probably be large with a flashback episode on New 12 months’s Day. Have you ever spoken to Jake and what do you wish to see from him?
Something! Jake’s not dissimilar to Steve [McFadden]. He’s simply him and he’s so sensible. He’s received it. He doesn’t have to do lots. He doesn’t seem like he’s doing lots, however I do know he’s, as a result of I do know when Jake works, he’s extremely clever.
I’ve spoken to him. He was actually useful to me. He gave me a whole lot of recommendation about Strictly and he additionally helped me make the choice with the brand new challenge, 2:22 A Ghost Story, as a result of he did the unique play with Lily Allen. I feel he’s carried out it twice. I chatted to him in regards to the staff and every thing, and he was similar to, you’re going to have a ball. He’s actually superb to work with. I’ve received a whole lot of time for Jake.
What was the toughest storyline on EastEnders?
Nicely, apart from dying dwell in entrance of tens of millions – that was tough. That was tough technically, as a result of it was dwell, and also you solely get one go at it. I did it with Lacey [Turner]. We had such an emotional journey and there have been moments the place we weren’t positive whether or not we’d be capable of get by way of it. Clearly, it was actually tough. There have been positively moments the place we have been like, ‘Oh, this won’t be the perfect factor for us,’ however we received away with it. It was tough as a result of I used to be saying goodbye to her as a colleague, however not as a good friend. I’ve seen her rather a lot.
How tough was it to study strains on the present?
One of many abilities, and it comes because the longer you do it with cleaning soap, is you do have to have an incredible short-term reminiscence. I labored primarily in theater and grew up working in theater, so that you spend a whole lot of time getting these strains in, drilling them in for days, after which they keep in and to the purpose the place I may in all probability nonetheless recite some strains from once I was at drama faculty. With cleaning soap, it’s utterly totally different. It’s important to kind of choose a script up, scan it, get it in your system, after which simply know what you’re doing. What comes from that’s you really overlook you must have a ability, the place you then overlook it in a short time, since you’ve received one other scene to study.
When you’ve completed a scene, your mind kind of goes, ‘overlook that,’ and it deletes them. And then you definitely tackle the brand new one. It’s very quick paced.
Generally we’ve carried out scenes, began on one other scene, and so they’ve wished to return to a earlier scene as a result of we missed a shot and also you’ve already forgotten the strains by that time. It’s genuinely gone despite the fact that you filmed it like 10 minutes in the past.
What was essentially the most difficult factor about Strictly Come Dancing?
The dancing! I did go into the competitors with a little bit of confidence, however primarily to have enjoyable. I used to be very fortunate to have Amy Dowden, who’s a sweetheart, and we received on brilliantly properly. She received me from the beginning. She knew what we have been doing, however she didn’t push me too arduous. I had a barely powerful time behind the scenes, so she was very accommodating with me there as properly.
I used to be utterly out of my consolation zone. I had zero coaching. I’m clearly an enormous lad and I’m not very versatile. I don’t actually have a lot in the best way of timing, so it was an uphill battle for her from day one, however I had a ball. I usually had the perfect time. It was a lot enjoyable, and I type of simply didn’t take myself too severely.
What’s the outcomes present like behind the scenes?
I’m not giving something away once I say that the consequence present is completed on the identical day. If you end, you both really feel such as you’ve carried out your self proud otherwise you don’t relying on whether or not you tousled or not. Everybody’s buzzing. Clearly, when you’ve received a extremely good rating the remainder of the night time’s sensible. I didn’t have that luxurious many instances, however I actually loved it the nights I did. The nights I didn’t, it’s pandemonium backstage. Everybody’s working round. Some {couples} will go off on their very own as a result of they don’t wish to be round different folks. However others are similar to, properly the job’s carried out, I don’t care what occurs now if I’m going into the dance off. I’ve been in lots of, many tense conditions in my life, and that’s proper up there.
The Halloween episode, there was a second the place we simply received a sense, like an vitality, telling us it was our time. I had stuff occurring behind the scenes for me so I kind of had checked out a bit bit, however I assumed I did a comparatively good job. I tousled a bit bit, however I used to be advantageous. However backstage, I used to be like, I don’t care if I’m going. I’ve carried out my time. However then I needed to dance once more, and I needed to dance with Fleur. I went right into a dance off in opposition to Fleur. I did my dance first, and it was fairly good, higher than the one I did earlier. And when she did hers, she fell over to cease her routine. I’m standing there going, ‘I feel we would get by way of as a result of she’s gone flying. They tousled.’ However they let him do it once more. Amy’s saying: ‘I’m undecided that’s the principles!’.
I don’t suppose it actually mattered anyway as a result of I didn’t wish to do it. I used to be type of carried out. However the entire crowd have been going psychological once they received to do it once more. So I used to be a bit like, You understand what? That doesn’t matter for me, the proper factor occurred, as a result of it could be loopy to have taken her out of the present fairly than watching me strolling round flat footed round in every single place. I keep in mind that hitting the papers, everybody went loopy about that!
Who do you suppose ought to change Tess and Claudia?
It’s actually powerful. I don’t know the way you’ll comply with it. I feel there are a great deal of individuals who may do it. Personally, I feel it could be good to maintain it within the Strictly household. A previous contestant could be good. They’ve received a hell of a problem. And I feel they should get it proper. The judges, they type of hold it going, however there have been totally different judges over time, and we clearly had Bruce to begin with. However these two are Strictly. It can change. It’s gonna change the present. And I assume, do they attempt to change it? The format’s sensible. Do they attempt to let these new folks are available? Do they go younger and attempt to get a youthful viewers in? Who is aware of what is going to occur however they are going to be very missed.
How a lot time did you get with Tess and Claudia behind the scenes?
I didn’t suppose we might get time with them however you do. Even earlier than the dwell exhibits, they arrive in and you’ve got lunch, and so they provide you with a very long time. They provide you actually sound recommendation, and so they’re sensible within the other ways they do it. Clearly, Claudia is way extra like tongue in cheek. However finally, they are saying simply to be your self. Do your finest in rehearsals. However finally, it can come down as to if the viewers will get in your facet or not. And that’s all you are able to do. I tip my hat to the individuals who do actuality TV and do it properly, as a result of it’s tough.
Strictly is thought for grueling rehearsals – how did you discover them? Did you lose any weight whereas dancing?
I will need to have carried out. I did one thing to my calf once I was doing one thing just like the Fox Trot. It was week 4 or 5. You’re going up and down in your toes, in order that’s one thing I’m clearly not used to, however it’s grueling, and it’s not at all times in regards to the jives and the Charleston. We did the backflips, don’t get me flawed, they’ll kill you. However it’s the opposite issues, you don’t realise how match these dancers are, to have the ability to sit into these holes and keep there and simply go once more. They’re very gifted.
You do shred the load. I received the jive on the primary week, in order that was once you do two weeks of rehearsal for the primary dance. So doing the jive for 2 weeks each single day was a killer and it does take its toll. It does drop off you after which folks say, ‘oh it’s cardio’. That’s a load of nonsense. Like, I used to be doing between 15,000 and 20,000 steps a day with out fail. And so they have been the straightforward days.
The energy you’re burning, and also you don’t eat tons since you don’t wish to waste time going for lunch day by day. It was valuable time. We needed to rehearse lots at Elstree as a result of I used to be doing EastEnders and the fellows there have been giving us tremendous wholesome meals. And so I used to be like, my god, I really feel like an expert athlete. I simply want I may carry out like an athlete!