Amy James-Kelly - Everyone Else Burns S2

Interview with Amy James-Kelly (Rachel)

How did it feel going back to set for series two?
Oh we’ve waited so long for this! It’s felt like nothing has changed. It’s good getting the band back together and creating this world again.

How did it feel reading the scripts for series two?
One of my favourite things is sitting down and reading the scripts. When you come back for the second series of something, you always get a bit nervous and wonder if you are still going to find something between you and your character. For example, you hope they haven’t changed too much but hope they have gone on a journey. I think Dillon and Oli have struck the perfect balance. I feel like Rachel has grown as a person but not drastically so. I think people are still going to love her and feel a sense of protection over her and that was the resounding thing from series one in that everyone was really rooting for her. I hope people will still feel connected to her. Hopefully we find people who are still rooting for her to go to university and there’s more of the will they, won’t they, thing with Josh. I think people can really get behind that.

Were there any scenes that really stood out to you in the script?
Rachel learns to drive in this series so I’ve had full days on set with Simon behind the wheel of the wonderful yet ridiculous Nissan Sunny which has no power steering and the clutch is really high.

What did you think of the reception to series one?
We had faith in it from the get go because it’s so unique. It’s unlike anything that you can think of. Even though it is obviously a fictionalised religion, the comedy in it is really accessible. There’s also relatable access to each character, even though the world is so weird and wonderful. It’s great that it’s had an impact across the globe as well. I think British humour tends to be quite niche but to know that it’s landed with audiences in America is wonderful. People have gone crazy for it, just as crazy as we did making it.

Why do you think audiences loved the show so much?
Despite it telling a unique and niche story, people like Rachel for example are still going through the daily experience of being a teenager, trying to figure out the world around them, trying to get a boyfriend and fitting in with your friends. It’s set alongside this weird vibe between a family that don’t know how to hug each other and can’t talk about their problems but I think there’s still a lot of love for them because we do see ourselves in them.

Where do we find your character at the start of this series?
Poor Rachel. Ending series one finding out her mum had cancelled her university application and then getting whiplash because her mum decided she could go if she wanted to – then the weird breakup with Josh, she’s had a big identity crisis. We start series two with a little bit of rebellion; she’s trying to be as independent as she can in a world that does not allow her to be. She starts vaping and trying to learn to drive. She trains to be a paramedic, but this is all done in secret and covers up her need to drive with wanting to be an upstanding member of society. It’s all about trying to find her feet. She’s also encouraged to meet other people and have sit down chats with members of the opposite sex under the watchful eye of Elder Samson. She has to choose whether to move on from Josh or start afresh.

What are you most looking forward to viewers seeing in series two?
Eagle eyed viewers might remember from series one that Dillon and Oli did have cameos and I joked if Rachel had managed to convince them to join the faith. I really had to try not to laugh when one of them sat in front of me at the courting ceremony and had to try and win Rachel over. I burst out laughing when Oli offered me a badly made Christingle. Their background is stand-up comedy so it’s been great watching them perform.