Philip Jackson interview
Philip Jackson plays Alan in Boomers.
Hi Philip. How would you describe your character?
He's intelligent, pedantic, quite grumpy at times and prone to a rant. Everyone enjoys teasing him. He was managing director of a small engineering firm so he had some responsibility but of the three men he's probably the one who's most cheesed off with retirement. He's less willing to take risks and he tends to get more irritated by things. There are loads of scenes where his wife Joyce is telling him off, criticising him and getting him to do things he doesn't want to. But he doesn't necessarily do what she says.
Does he talk about that much with his friends?
They keep their privacy as couples. We all know that Carol is having a crisis in her marriage, and we are keen to help out in whatever way we can. At one stage the three couples go off to a holiday village together and he resolves to switch off his phone so he doesn't get disturbed by work - he's not used to the idea of retirement yet!
Do you see anything of yourself in Alan?
Sadly, far too much. But I'm not telling you which bits...
You have worked with Alison Steadman several times before?
We've known each other for many years and whenever we work together it's a delight. In fact I played her husband in the Play For Today, Pasmore, adapted by Richard Eyre from the novel by David Storey. We also appeared together in Fanny Hill, the bawdy romp adapted by Andrew Davies. Alison was the madame of a brothel and I was a client - a different type of relationship! And we appeared together in The Wimbledon Poisoner by Nigel Williams.
How do you view growing older?
As the Rolling Stones sang on the Aftermath album in 1966: "What a drag it is getting old." A lot of people become quite boring as they get older. I'm really trying not to do that. If anything, I's quite like to get more frivolous and irresponsible before fading away. As Benjamin Franklin said: "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing!"
When I was younger the idea of spending time with someone in their sixties, well, I just wouldn't have dreamt of it. Whereas now the baby boomer generation are viewed as normal, fresh, dynamic and energetic people. When are we going to start feeling old? My generation have a dynamic lifestyle, lots of play. We're certainly not fading away.
How are all the marriages in the series?
John and Alan's marriages are both pretty good and solid. Trevor isn't the easiest person to live with. I wouldn't want to be married to him! There but for the grace... All of them have been married for about 40 years.
You've been married a long time in real life too...
Yes, Sally and I have been married (very happily) for 33 years and we have two children, George and Amy.
Would you ever think about retiring?
The world of retirement isn't one I recognise as an actor. That sedentary lifestyle when you're not working. I've never known the permanence of a regular job, but between acting commitments time is your own, and I have no difficulty finding enjoyable things to do.
How do you fill your time when you're not working?
Playing tennis, reading, meeting pals, movies, a bit of theatre, travel, music, marvelling at my kids' achievements, eating drinking, mowing the grass and writing the definitive novel about the decline of Western civilisation.
Boomers is all about long-standing friendships. Who is your longest standing friend?
He's called Max Blagg. He's a poet and has lived in New York since 1972. We were born in the same hospital ward in Retford within a few days of each other and went to school together and, though we don't see each other very often, we have a great sense of our shared history.
Are you forgetful?
Yes, and no. What was the question again?
How do you cope with learning lines?
Learning lines is the most boring part of an actor's job. There is no quick fix. You just have to go over and over it again and again until the lines stick. I don't have a problem with that as long as I can find the time to crank it out. It's very irritating for anyone within earshot.
What else do you do to unwind at the end of a long day's filming?
Drink a couple of glasses of very cold White Burgundy and listen to Damien Dempsey.
Do you embrace modern technology?
Yes, I'm pretty good. I'm an iPad and iPhone person, but I'm frequently enraged by how often technology DOES SOMETHING I DON'T WANT IT TO FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I refuse to use SatNavs as they always send you the wrong way. What's wrong with maps? And Kindles are just plain stupid. I like reading books, and I do not want to read a screen. I also like vinyl - That all sounds a bit Alan, does it not?
Who will Boomers appeal to do you think?
People of all religions, whatever their sexual proclivities.
What would be your epitaph?
'He had a fine head of hair...'