Interview with Faraz Ayub (Ali Shah)
Category: Press Pack ArticleWhat did you make of the reaction to the first series?
I was happy that it found an audience who liked it enough for us to get a second season! The feedback I've had is that people have really enjoyed it, found it heart-warming and enjoyed the camaraderie between the prison officers and the uniqueness of each character. Everyone is an individual but we all gel together, which is very rare.
Did you hear anything in terms of what prison officers made of it?
Yeah, Rob (Williams, series creator) told us that the biggest fans of the show were people within prisons. He got a lot of letters from people in prison, prisoners themselves and prison officers, who said that it was the most accurate portrayal of prison that they'd seen on TV in a very long time. Rob has a first-hand knowledge from volunteering in prison, so he's coming from a place of truth. People see that and understand that, so hopefully it resonates.
What were you most looking forward to about coming back?
I was just looking forward to the chemistry between the cast. It's very rare to find actors who gel so well together, how easily we fitted into those characters and vibe off each other. There's no quantifiable way of figuring that out – the credit comes down to casting directors.
Do you feel weirdly at home on a prison set now?
I wouldn’t say I feel at home, but there's a level of comfort that you develop, because you've been there before. I found it very difficult the first time because we were on this set in a prison for 12, 13 hours a day. But again, the cast chemistry makes it a lot easier.
Has that helped with Ali as well, in that he was relatively new to the job but has more experience now?
Yeah, that's true. When you portray these characters, there's a part of you in there and I suppose this would be a case of art imitating life. That would make sense.
Is he becoming a better prison officer as time goes on?
He believes in himself. His confidence takes a knock, but in terms of his professional life, I think he's very confident in how far he's come, his ability to handle situations and how he has been accepted by the group.
The first series ended with Toby Phillips (Jack Bardoe) getting killed. What has the fallout been in Long Marsh, both psychologically and practically?
It has a huge impact. It's taken a toll on all the characters in different ways and psychologically, you can see that in the expressions and behaviours. My character had a very positive nature in the first season, but his personality takes a darker turn at the beginning of season two. I don't want to reveal too much but, as upbeat as he is, he's human. Seeing one of his fellow prison officers killed does affect him; couple that with what's going on in his personal life and he hits some setbacks. That eternal optimism is still there, it's just taken a backseat.
What does he make of the rumours that an undercover police officer is at large?
In the beginning, it probably affects him a little less, because he's got his own problems and he’s a bit wrapped up in his own world. He's probably not as fixated on it as some of the others.
What has been the most challenging aspect of making season two?
The turn that Ali has taken needed a very different approach from me as an actor, so I had to go in with a different preparation method to last time. Ali is an optimist is who very happy, positive and energetic, and a lot of that has been taken away, so his energy is down a little bit. But working with such talented guys helps you step up your game.
What has been your favourite “true fact” from Ali so far?
There’s something in this season regarding why bridesmaids stand to the left of the groom. I’m not going to tell you the answer, but I can say that every other person on set found it fascinating. They came up to me afterwards to ask whether it was true, and I was like, I don’t know, I didn’t write it!