Interview with Karl Johnson – Tom

14 December 2023

Tell us a little bit about Tom.

Tom is a man of a certain age. He had a colourful background and a colourful career. Last job he had as an accountant, he enjoyed. He’s very outgoing, a social animal, and is now retired and enjoys life immensely. I enjoyed playing Tom. When I read the part, I thought, what a guy. Life is a party to him, whatever he does. And he loves his boat. He's got a small boat, a little yacht, and he just can't believe his luck - every day is like Christmas for him.

What can you tell us about Truelove?

Truelove is about a group of retired friends of a certain age and about how all of a sudden death comes into the frame. For some people, it's a shock when your friends start to die. The show starts at Dennis’, their very good friend’s funeral and Tom takes it rather badly. I think it's a shock to him because death and age are taboo, we put them away.

I'm getting old and when you first notice it, it's quite a shock. You get on the London Underground and people stand up to give you a seat. First time this happened was quite a few years ago and I didn't know what to say, I felt slightly affronted.

What can you tell us about the friendships between the main characters?

Tom is a single man, never married. Marion, Tom’s dear sister who's married to David, who is great fun. Phil was a distinguished police officer, didn't quite make head of the department. Ken is a dear friend. They grew up together and are a very close bunch of friends and they probably never analysed why they're so close. They are the sort who accept friends for what they are, which is wonderful. It's great to see that in a script - unconditional love for each other.

How does the Truelove pact come about?

It’s Tom’s idea to make a pact that when they become too ill to manage it, that they bump each other off. He is the first to become ill, and although he doesn't want to leave the party, he doesn't want to be as ill as Dennis, that's what horrifies him. He's the first one to ask for the business to be done, but nobody wants to do it. Understandably, because of the realities of it.

How has it been having the main cast in their seventies?

That was delightful about the script - a gang of old people, working with your own age group. I was curious. Now, when I go and do a job, I'll be the oldest person there, the oldest person in the cast and older than the crew. That came as a shock. I think some viewers will be in denial about any identification with us and some might get comfort from it, and some might be disturbed. Something for everyone! And I'm sure the young viewers will be going: “This isn't going to happen to me!” And I'm still at that stage [laughs].

What is it that you think makes this show a little bit different from anything you've done?

It's such a good question. It’s a gang of old people dealing with the rite of passage. That’s what I get out of it. Dealing with the inescapable. The script is beautifully written and there’s an immediate identification with what's on the page. It's always a delight when something's well-written.