We sip cocktails and chat with Kay Mellor, the writer and director who launched the careers of Jude Law and James Corden
Among the cocktails, we find out how Kay spends her downtime, what she does to stay grounded and which legendary US film director phoned her up.
We sip drinks with the writer and director, 66, then sit down to chat musicals and launching Jude Law and James Corden’s careers.
Cheers, Kay! What’s your favourite tipple?
Well, I’m enjoying this one! It’s has tequila, rum, and passion fruit in it. I also like Cosmopolitans – I’m a Sex And The City fan. Cocktails are my favourite: lethal and lovely at the same time!
You’ve launched many careers including Jude Law on Families, and James Corden and Ruth Jones on Fat Friends. Do you keep in touch?
I speak to James periodically. I’ll see him in the Groucho Club or he’ll drop me a line or a Christmas card.
He and Ruth wrote Gavin & Stacey on the set of Fat Friends. I wish they’d brought it to me to make it, but I’m so proud of them and I bask in their glory.
Jude doesn’t drop me a Christmas card, but bless his heart, he’s got his own super talent. He doesn’t need me.
Do you ever get offers from Hollywood?
I’ve had a call from Steven Spielberg himself. His company made an American version of The Syndicate and I was very flattered. He asked if I’d ever make a movie with him and I might, but not this year.
You often work with your daughters – TV producer Yvonne Francas, 50, and Emmerdale actress Gaynor Faye, 46. How do you find that?
Gaynor wrote a couple of episodes of In The Club when I was stretched, and Yvonne does some producing for me when she is available. It’s nice to work with them. Family and friends keep me sane.
Your dramas attract huge talent. Do you cast them yourself?
Ashley Jensen stars in Love, Lies And Records and I’ve had my eye on her for a long time. I’ve also got Freddie Flintoff in Fat Friends The Musical.
My casting director suggested him and I said: “Are you mad? Can he even act?” And he can. When he walks into a room he just lights it up – I was really pleased with him.
Fat Friends is your debut stage musical – did you get any good advice from showbiz pals?
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s son Nicholas is my musical director, and he asked if he could bring his dad to rehearsals. I said: “Of course,” but then realised who his dad was! He came up to me at the end and said: “Clearly you have a musical here. Now you have to get Jodie Prenger.’’ And she was cast as the lead.
How do you spend your downtime?
I like to hang out with my family. I never like to be away from them for long periods.
I’m a proud grandmother of four and we often all have Sunday lunch together, and I’ll do the cooking.
How do you stay grounded?
I came into this job late and I didn’t go to university until I was 28. I was pregnant with Yvonne when I was 16 and Anthony and I had to get married. We didn’t have any money and lived on a council estate.
How will you and Anthony celebrate your 50th wedding anniversary this year?
We’ve stayed together because we’ve worked on our marriage over the years. We’ve planned a family trip to Hawaii to celebrate, which I’m very excited about because I’ve never been before.
– Love, Lies And Records starts on Thursday November 16, 9pm, BBC1.
BTW
Kay wants to write another series of both The Syndicate and In The Club, and is working on a drama about the sex industry.
Her cocktail was called I Predict A Riot, after Leeds band Kaiser Chiefs’ 2004 single.