High & Dry: Interview with Harry Peacock who plays Douglas

25 April 2018

Can you explain High & Dry to us in one sentence?

Imagine getting into a lift at Gatwick airport with four people you would never really come across in your day to day life.

Now imagine being stuck with them.

 

You play Douglas – how would you describe him?

Conservative, really doesn’t like change, but a good man just trying to put his best foot forward

 

Is it fair to say he’s the most cautious of the bunch?

Certainly

 

Had you worked with any of the cast before?

I’d shot the blap with Asim and Marc, and I’ve also made a pilot with Vicki which she’d written called Grey Dogs which was brilliant. I met Marc doing Drunk Histories. But I previously knew him because he’d played my wife’s husband in an Alan Ackybourn play. I hadn’t worked with or met Grace but she was a delightful addition to the team. Everyone really made me laugh..... which was nice.

 

Filming in the Seychelles seems pretty idyllic. Was it as luxurious as it looked?

I was almost embarrassed about telling people where we were making it because it’s such a famously idyllic tropical location, but filming is filming whether you’re in Croydon or the Seychelles. We had waves crashing in dragging us out and it was extremely hot – we had to fit a lot in every day. But the boat to and from the location every day was magical.

 

Ever come across a Brett Sullivan type character on a plane before?

No not really but Marc based Brett on an experience he had with a flight attendant

 

You play Ray Purchase in Toast of London. How do you think he would have fared being marooned on a desert island?

Ray would have gone to a very dark place

 

Were you a fan of Marc Wootton’s comedy before High & Dry?

I adore Mr Poppy

 

Marc’s character Brett takes a bit of a shine to Douglas. He’s quite an acquired taste! How do you think he handles the attention?

Brett and Douglas go on a real rollercoaster with their relationship from Douglas’s point of view initially he’s sympathetic towards Brett then quite scared. But they end up needing each other

 

How do you think you would fare, marooned on a desert island?

I suppose I’d last about a week?

 

If not you, which of the cast would fare best, and why?

I don’t think any of us would last for more than five days

 

If you could only take one comfort to a desert island with you, what would it be?

The Complete Works of Shakespeare