Max Beesley, Philip Glenister, John Simm and Marc Warren’s holiday from hell has been extended, with the second series of Mad Dogs beginning at 9pm on Thursday 19th January on Sky1.
> Buy the Series 1 DVD on Amazon.
A man for all seasons, Max Beesley is a musician who has played with Take That, Paul Weller and James Brown, and an actor who has appeared in dramas as diverse as Bodies, Hotel Babylon and Survivors. He plays Woody in Mad Dogs.
How pleased are you at the success of the first series?
“I’m delighted. We’ve had people coming up to us in restaurants [in Majorca] and saying ‘Please tell me you’re doing another Mad Dogs’ and that response has been lovely.
“In this climate, I think to be able to do a piece [of TV] that is well-made, well-written, well-directed and well-shot and for it to have that popularity is a great thing.”
Why do you think Mad Dogs did so well?
“It’s dark and unique, and hopefully as actors we’ve all brought something to it. We’ve all been lucky enough over the last ten to 15 years to have done work that people really like and I would hope that has something to do with it.
“Without sounding egotistical, I think the audience like the combo of us together. You know – the boys!”
What do you think of the state of TV drama in general?
“I think it’s absolutely imperative to have multi-faceted characters and to be able to show that on a show like this? That’s what so great about it. It’s addictive viewing.
“I’ve got mates across a broad spectrum of people who love this show – lads that aren’t really into drama or telly or anything. It’s touched something in their subconscious and it’s woken up a few of the senses in these guys. So it’s good to be a part of it.”
Of all the boys, Woody was something of a moral centre in the last series. How similar are you to him?
“I think I’m quite a driven chap too and this thing about ambition always crops up. I think there are two types of ambition: the very negative one which drives you to do anything to get anywhere, and a healthy type which means you are never going to be sitting on your arse twiddling your thumbs.
“I have that second kind. When I first started in the business, I used to waste mental time envying others’ success and now I don’t because it creates such negative energy.”
What can we expect for Woody in this series?
“He’s definitely at the centre of things again, but in a different way. When John’s character Baxter does something that we’re all unaware of that puts us right back in it again, Woody goes mental and decides to relapse.
“That adds a different dimension to things because previously he’s been this solid guy and now he’s volatile and an unknown quantity. That’s great to play.”
You weren’t shy about getting naked in the last series – and for good reason. Have you always been so at ease with your body?
“Yeah, a lot of people mention that from the last series… I don’t think I’ve done a job where I haven’t had it happen. Bodies desensitised me to it because me and [co-star] Neve McIntosh did it so much so I’m cool with it now. It’s never comfortable though. It’s always a bit weird.”
You were about to turn 40 when you filmed the last series of Mad Dogs. How was your 40th?
“Amazing! I went on the Orient Express with my folks and my missus. I had always wanted to do it – that train has so much history, so much heritage – and to share it with the people closest to me was incredible. And the night before we left, we watched Murder on the Orient Express and we stayed at the Cipriani in Venice. Top drawer.”
And how is it being 40?
“I’m cool with getting older. I totally like it. It’s definitely better than the alternative.”
Finally, what’s your holiday essential?
“Sun cream. I am a big, big freak with the sun cream. Twenty minutes before you go into the sun and then every half an hour.”
> Buy the Series 1 DVD on Amazon.
Watch the Series 2 trailer…
Are you looking forward to Series 2? Let us know below…