The Other One is a comedy about what happens when you discover your dead dad has a secret family and you now have a brand new sister.
It stars Siobhan Finneran (Downton Abbey, Happy Valley), Rebecca Front (The Thick of It, War and Peace), Ellie White (Inside No 9, The Windsors), Lauren Socha (Misfits, Catastrophe) and Amit Shah (Hospital People, Stag, W1A). Read an interview with Ellie White below.
Created and written by Holly Walsh (Motherland, Dead Boss) and Pippa Brown (Psychobitches, Bad Education).
The Other One, Fridays from June 5, 9pm, BBC One.
What can you tell us about your character?
I play Cathy Walcott. She's in her late twenties and works in re-insurance. She's uptight and neurotic but conversely quite naive and never wants to offend. I would say she's a bit of a perfectionist and wants things done her way. She's not exactly street smart, in fact probably the opposite and meeting her new sister Cat certainly opens her eyes to the world beyond her small bubble, which after the death of her dad I think she finds quite cathartic.
What was the funniest moment during filming?
There was a scene where I was hanging, legs spread from a tree dressed in a monkey costume. It wasn't so much as funny as deeeeeeeeeeeeply humiliating. Still I think the people around me got a lot of laughs from my cries of agony. Looking forward to see how that turns out.
What drew you to the project?
Holly's an amazing writer and the script stood out as soon as I read it. I've never played a lead part before, and one who's funny is the absolute cherry on the cake. I think there's such a lovely tone to the whole thing: a silly sitcom with big characters but with real emotion.
Have you got a favourite scene?
There's a whole part of the last episode where Cat and Cathy take their dad's boat out. They were incredibly fun to film and playful and Cathy is much more free and loose than she has been before, so I hope people will enjoy those scenes. There was also added excitement and jeopardy when we filmed it in seeing whether or not Lauren Socha would fall into the freezing cold water and get the entire shoot shut down.
How similar to your character are you?
A carbon copy..... Lil joke. Hopefully not too similar, though there are some things I can relate to like serious and deep repression.....
How would you react if you found yourself in this situation?
I think I'd find it quite fun to be honest. I've always wanted a sister so it would be interesting. I mean if we didn't get on I would disown her and pretend it never happened, but if we did, great!
How would your character react to lockdown?
Probably a few anxiety attacks mixed with super organised shopping trips mixed with extensive sanitising mixed with trying desperately to volunteer for the NHS and making a hundred rainbows for the window. Then a mild breakdown.
Did you know anyone who has been in a similar situation?
Um, not exactly but I knew someone that found out their grandparents were cousins. Wow, that's not the same at all. No, then.
Interview supplied by BBC. Pictures: BBC/Tiger Aspect
