Phoebe Fox interview
Friendship is a key ingredient in Switch. So when actress Phoebe Fox learnt she was to play Grace, one quarter of the Witches of Camden, she was keen to create a bond with her fellow co-stars off screen as well as on.
"I felt from the beginning that if we needed to convince the audience we are the best of friends, it was important to spend time together because that closeness can be hard to portray realistically. I put it to the girls when we met that we should start spending time together outside work. Luckily it wasn't hard as we all lived next door to each other in Cardiff during filming.
"We are friends and we do really get on in much of the same way that the girls do, and it's because we compliment each other. We are all very different in many ways and yet it just works."
Starring in a drama that has four female leads was also a big draw for Phoebe, who trained at RADA and was nominated in 2011 for Outstanding Newcomer at the Evening Standard Awards for her performances in As You Like It, The Acid Test and There s a War.
"I was excited about Switch because it's four girls. It is a delight as it is quite an unusual dynamic on television to have a show that is so female heavy. The more programmes there are like this the more that it will become normal to have a female lead rather than a male lead, and in a comedy drama. I think the industry is shifting and it's nice to be apart of that. It also shows that woman can be funny."
Phoebe says she wanted to star in Switch because of its comedy. She has also always loved supernatural drama.
"I thought the scripts were very funny. I've read a lot of comedy scripts and sometimes you don't really get the humour, but with Switch I did. I thought that was amazing.
"I've always liked shows that are supernatural such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which was my favourite show growing up. I loved Sabrina the Teenage Witch and I've watched Practical Magic. If I were a little bit younger now I'd properly be really into Twilight.
"There is something fascinating about shows about witches, because you really can go anywhere with them. Once the boundaries of the world are set, the sky is the limit and I think that is what is exciting about them."
In Switch, Grace has the most traditional approach to witchcraft. So did Phoebe do any research before settling into filming?
"Witchcraft is very important in Grace's life and she does have very strong beliefs. I think if you are playing someone like that then it is important to know what those beliefs are. I bought a couple of books on witchcraft and borrowed some, then dove into what that world was and realised at that point how many different strands there are.
"I bought a book on guides to witchcraft, which I found really helpful. I gave a copy to each of the girls. I also looked on the web and at blogs. I wanted to know how witches conduct themselves in the everyday."
When the Witches of Camden cast a spell, otherwise known as a 'Switch', they come together as a coven, combining the four elements of air, earth, fire and water.
Phoebe explains: "We don't have supernatural powers. We rely upon the coming together of the four elements and the energy and power that provokes. But also, within that, the use of herbs and plants or if we are going to cast a spell on a person we need something belonging to them.
"It's quite traditional in the sense that we have a cauldron and we all hold hands in a circle to chant spells. In witchcraft a circle is your safety. We do love charms, confidence spells and we have to de-hex ourselves quite a few times. We don't do any dark magic, because we are white witches."
Speaking about her character Grace, Phoebe says: "Grace is the youngest of the four, she has a very strong sense of right and wrong and I think because of that, she anchors the girls and pulls them back from making wrong decisions in life. Even though she's the youngest, she is a calming influence, very caring and sweet."
Phoebe continues: "Grace's element is water. I think someone who is water is very in touch with his or her feelings. Water people can be quite emotional, which Grace definitely is.
"When you put someone who is water with a fire element it will cool them down and keep them steady. Someone who is water can help to stop things getting things too passionate and heated.
"I think we all complement each other. As with a lot of friendship groups you may wonder why these girls are friends as they are so different, but they work really well together."
Phoebe reveals the Witches of Camden's friendship is their biggest power, especially when up against their nemeses, the Witches of Kensington.
"The WoKs, as they are affectionately known, are our frienemies but it quickly spirals into a full-blown rivalry. The problem is that they are just really mean.
"It's good for the drama. They keep us on our toes. What the viewer will see is that they are not as powerful as we can be; we use and harness our friendship and even though they appear to be a group of friends it is not a true friendship."
Starring alongside Phoebe in Switch is Caroline Quentin, who plays Phoebe's mother Gloria.
"Caroline is incredibly funny, welcoming and really great to work with," says Phoebe.
When Gloria arrives in London to visit her daughter, Phoebe is less than happy to see her. Armed with a rape alarm and fears for Grace's safety in the city, Gloria hopes Phoebe will return to her roots in Lower Sooth. But her constant meddling and preaching about traditional witchcraft is too much for Grace to bear.
"Grace's mother is a very big presence in her life, sometimes too much I think. Grace almost lives in the shadow of her mother's huge personality and struggles to gain her own independence.
"There is a lot of love, but Grace is at that point in her life where she is desperate for independence. Her mother is over-bearing and this causes them to clash.
"I think there is a time in our lives when we begin to question everything we have grown up believing and knowing to find out if that's right for us, or if we are just carrying around our parent's ideas. Phoebe is at that stage.
"It's a difficult relationship in many ways, but it's also a wonderful one too. Caroline is just perfect. She is such a huge presence when you meet her, in the most wonderful sense."
Viewers will also follow Grace as she finds love in the series...
"Grace is one of those people who doesn't think she's attractive to men but there are at least two who find her attractive," admits Phoebe.
"One relationship leads her into finding love, and away from her strong moral sense, which gets her into a bit of a pickle!
If Phoebe could cast a spell, what would it be?
"I would have to cast a spell for the show to be a huge success!"
Phoebe's previous television credits are: New Tricks; Coming Up; Black Mirror; One Day. Her theatre credits include: Sixty Six Books: All the Trees of the Field; A Month in the Country.
Phoebe is currently starring as Cordelia in King Lear at the Almeida Theatre in London.