Jerk

Series 2 cast interview

Tim Renkow, Sharon Rooney, Rob Madin and Lorraine Bracco talk about returning for a second series of Jerk...

Tim Renkow

Tim, what can you tell us about the new second series?

I've been told by people who know these types of things that "it's insane." I have no reason to doubt them.

Where did you draw your inspirations for Jerk?

I draw my inspirations from my endless travels through the universe as a cosmic wanderer. I search the stars looking for that elusive mistress - meaning.

Tell us more about your character?

I think of Tim as a good-will vampire. He doesn't destroy your life unless you invite him in but, once you do, he takes all your good intentions and uses them to make your life miserable.

Do you find any similarities between yourself and Tim?

As a writer, you put a little of yourself in every character so there are some similarities. There is a certain similarity between Idris and me. However, I think that the character I'm most like is Ruth.

Do you have any standout moments from the new series that you're looking forward to viewers seeing?

Tim has a duel with the Devil which is pretty cool.

Have there been any highlights during filming the new series?

I love working with Sharon and Rob. They are both so talented. Don't tell them I said that though. I don't want them getting big heads. The crew were amazing. At the risk of sounding sappy, it was an honour to work with all of them.

How has it been to film during the current global pandemic?

It definitely made everything a little more difficult but our covid advisor, Andy, was adorable.

What is it like to work with the rest of the supporting cast?

Great, they are all very talented. I'm very jealous of all of them.

Do you think that representation of disability within television is improving?
It is getting better. However, there is still so much to be done. We are still not at a point where there can be a disabled person on screen without their disability being mentioned. Once that happens, we will be on the right path.

What do you hope audiences can take away from watching Jerk and why should they tune in for this new series?

Laughs. I am a comedian so giving people a good laugh is what I live for. For me, it's above all the most important thing.

Sharon Rooney

Tell us about your character, Ruth.

Ruth is Tim's "carer" and I say "carer" because she's not great at the caring part but excellent at the friendship part. She's very loyal to Tim and she's the only one that's allowed to wind him up or tease him. They have a great bond and ultimately she cares for him but just not in a very conventional way.

What is it like to work alongside Tim Renkow and the rest of the cast?

I clicked with Tim instantly back at the auditions, we just got on right away and there was a complete trust there which I think makes the job so special.

Rob is so wonderful to work with! It's a joy being with them both. They make me laugh constantly and there's a lot of giggles. There's a lot of fantastic people in this series that came to join us and we had a lot of fun!

How have you found filming during the current global pandemic?

I've been very fortunate to be really busy the whole time, so I've become so used to the new way of working and new rules. The first day on a new job is always a little daunting anyway but there's always slight differences from job to job but ultimately the main rules are the same. You get used to it very quickly and safety has always been the most important thing.

How would you describe Jerk to someone who has never seen the show before?

It's a comedy that I'm pretty sure is unlike any you've seen before. It follows Tim, who not only has Cerebral Palsy but is also American, on his many adventures. His carer Ruth is a foul mouthed Scottish scowling champion and his "friend" Idris is really super annoying but also very funny. His mum Skypes from the States and she's pretty terrifyingly brilliant. His main arch nemesis is called Kiefer who makes up for his lack of voice with his HARSH insults. It's a wild ride but it's full of outrageous banter, awkward moments and a LOT of laughs!

What drew you to being a part of the show?
It sounds simple but it really made me laugh and I loved how different Ruth was to anyone I'd ever played. When I saw the brief said "Ruth is Tim's carer" I thought, "Oh yeah, this will be a lovely part!" and then read the script and realised she was the opposite of a traditional carer, I knew it was someone I wanted to have a shot at playing and I was thrilled to get the chance.

Do you think you share any character traits with Ruth?

The eye rolls mostly and worryingly the fashion sense and the high buns! I like to think I'm a bit more naturally caring than she is but deep down, she looks out for her friends and cares about them. I think I just show it more. I don't think I'm as brutally honest as she is and I would love to think I'm not as lazy as she is but I have been known to play computer games for hours!

Do you have any particular favourite moments or scenes from the series so far?

It's funny because we spend a lot of time laughing so it's hard to pick just one. In the first series, I loved the ending because it was the first time you got to see a different side of Ruth and you get to see how much she truly cares for Tim.

This series, Kiefer who's played by the brilliant Lee Ridley, had me laughing a LOT! And there's also a moment with Rob that I can't mention but when I say you'll know it when you see it, you'll know it!

What do you hope viewers will take away from the new series and why should they tune into Jerk?

I hope they laugh and enjoy it. That's all I'd want. And to see that you can all be completely different but have great friendships. It's a bit shocking, it's a big wild but it's a big bit funny. We've all worked really hard and I truly hope people enjoy it as much as we did making it.

Rob Madin

Tell us about your character, Idris.

He's a well-intentioned, but ultimately quite irritating friend of Tim's. In the first series, he worked at the Job Centre, where he tried (and failed) to find Tim a suitable career. Despite having lost his job, he's still hanging around like a bad (but, again, kind-hearted) smell.

What drew you to being part of the show?

The script made me laugh. And Tim and Sharon are both great.

What is it like to work alongside Tim Renkow and the rest of the cast?

It's fun being back with such a nice cast and crew - especially after 12 months of working from home. We've missed Lorraine this time around, but her video-call scenes very much make up for her physical absence on set - they're very funny.

How would you describe Jerk to a new viewer?

It's a show about a guy who has cerebral palsy, but it's not a show about cerebral palsy. It's Tim getting himself into various ridiculous situations and winding people up - like a sort of impish, more devious Larry David.

How has it been to film during the current global pandemic?

Aside from the regular nose & throat swabs, temperature checks, incessant hand sanitising, wearing a face mask up until action is called, having all doors open, big electric fans everywhere, and props being disinfected between takes... It's actually felt quite normal.

Do you share any character traits with Idris?

No, I'm a hell of a lot cooler than Idris in real life - as I just illustrated by my use of the words "hell" and "cool".

Do you have any particular favourite moments or scenes from the series so far?

There's a fairly trippy dream sequence in one of the episodes, which Idris features heavily in. That was a highlight. To be honest, I think Tim just added it in to try and make up for the more humiliating scenes they made me endure this series.

What do you hope viewers will take away from the new series and why should they watch Jerk?

I think the take-home message is that just because somebody has a disability, it doesn't mean they can't still be a d***. And Tim is a real d***.

Lorraine Bracco

Tell us about your character.

She's a tough but adoring mother to her son - she can be brash and crude, but she's full of love & concern for Tim.

What drew you to being a part of the show?

I was blown away by Tim's talent and humour and drive, and I also hadn't seen anything like it before.

How would you describe Jerk to new viewers?

Like any ambitious person, Tim will use whatever it takes to get what he needs.

What is it like to play Tim Renkow's mother on the show?

An absolute joy and incredible fun.

Has been there a particular highlight of filming Jerk over the two series that you can recall?

When I finally came to England to shoot scenes in person. It was great fun finally meeting everyone and getting to play.

How has it been to film the new series during the current global pandemic?

Truth is, most of my work had been via Zoom to start with so there isn't a significant difference. But it would've been nice to be able to come back to the UK to shoot more scenes with Tim & Co.

What do you hope viewers will take away from the new series and why should they watch Jerk?

Have a laugh - we all need it.