Alex Norton interview
Alex Norton talks about playing Eric.
What is Two Doors Down all about?
As Shakespeare put it in Hamlet, "to hold a mirror up to nature" and I think that's what Two Doors Down does really well.
Unlike a lot of comedy, which is all about adding funny lines being said by characters, this is about ordinary people in real life finding themselves in funny situations.
Whether you live in a semi-detached house or two floors up in a flat, everybody will recognise these characters. We all have neighbours like that. We try to get on with our lives but keep on getting interrupted by them.
What makes it different?
I probably shouldn't say this because I'm in the show, but I absolutely howled with laughter watching it. I'm a great fan of comedies - I watch a lot of them - but they don't always make me laugh as much as I did working on Two Doors Down.
I'm a fairly harsh critic of comedy, so if it makes me laugh, it's doing something right!
Describe your character, Eric.
Eric is just Mr Average - he's a guy you'd like to have as your neighbour. He's an everyman, a good guy who is just getting on with his life. We're all trying to get on and do our very best but life keeps on getting in the way.
One of my favourite comics ever was Buster Keaton - everything that happened to him he didn't bring it about, life happened to him and that's what I think makes great comedy. The minute people start acting like an idiot, they deserve everything they get quite frankly.
What's his relationship with wife, Beth, like?
The two of them get on fine together. They've been married for a long time and have been through all the trials and tribulations that life brings with it. They're very settled and comfortable in each other's company.
Beth's pretty open to the neighbours popping in unannounced - how does Eric feel about them?
Eric basically just wants a quiet life. He likes seeing the neighbours and doesn't mind them popping in occasionally, but more than anything he's probably happier when they don't appear at his doorstep. He doesn't dislike them or anything. He just wants to settle down and read his newspaper, uninterrupted ideally.
Any memorable moments?
Well Jonathan Watson [Colin] and I have known each other for a very long time but have never really worked with each other to any great extent. I've always admired him, so working together as a sort-of comedy team in Two Doors Down was a real joy for me. Mind you, put Johnnie and me together and we end up looking like Pooh and Piglet.
He's got such tremendous comedy experience and we'd go away and have a huddle together to talk through scenes. We had a common feeling for the show, so worked very much in harmony.
Elaine C Smith is a new addition to the Two Doors Down cast - what was it like filming with her?
I've worked with Elaine a lot over the years and it's always a joy. I've directed her in theatre, but this is the first time we've actually acted together. Elaine is just heaven on a plate to work with.
You're being blamed for singing shenanigans day on set...
Oh yes. We decided to get Elaine to sing in the Glasgow style and she did a wee burst of it that sent us all into hysterics. We were carrying on in rehearsals, and as soon as we heard her do it we just exploded and couldn't get through the filming for laughing.