How has Imran got himself in to this situation?
He’s not set out to have his cake and eat it but at the same time that is how things have happened, a bit like an Ealing Farce in a way; it’s all miscommunication. Imran assumes they are both okay with it which is naive to the point of stupidity but he thinks he’s hit the jackpot.
Is there any point where he questions that the situation may be too good to be true?
There is certainly a half-hearted attempt on his side to try to establish some clarity between Leanne, Toyah and himself but both Leanne and Toyah make it clear that they are not interested in anything serious and that they don’t want each other to know so at that point he feels like he’s not going to push! In his head he knows something might not be quite right but he is not thinking with his conscious brain.
Prior to this, we know Imran has just divorced his wife. What is it about Leanne that catches his eye?
Not ideally, he uses Leanne as a distraction to manage his own grief but as time goes on he realises that that was a pig-headed and nasty thing for him to do and he sees her more as the person she is, strong and self-assured, and starts to grow a real fondness for her. It develops over time and as the feelings start to develop in his head, that is the point that Toyah comes in and shakes things up.
Why does Toyah take a dislike to him at first?
Again, she is very strong willed and very willing to hold her ground, certainly when it comes to Imran anyway; she’s quite happy to spar with him. They have a slight antagonism with one another from the very beginning which develops in to something more physical and therefore more complicated.
Does Imran feel guilty about what happens with Toyah because he has been involved with Leanne first?
He does and he is not a love-rat; that was something I was keen to avoid because there is not that mean-spirited, nastiness and menace to what he is doing, he is stumbled into this situation as a result of being intentionally naive and is a position where he just can’t believe his luck. But at the same time that naivety and behaviour can still be hurtful to other people.
In his job and career we have seen that he is a very strong character but he seems to have a weakness when it comes to women, is that fair to say?
Yes, the stern version of him post grief just softens entirely when he is with the Battersby girls. There is a slightly more playful Imran which has been really fun to play.
Do you think that Leanne and Toyah bring out different sides to him?
They are even both different to themselves when they are with Imran, they’ve almost swapped roles. Leanne is usually quite bossy and she takes control in relationships whereas with Imran she is flirty and coy. Toyah and Imran’s relationship is very literal love/hate while still maintaining the begrudging respect to one another whereas Toyah is usually giggly and schoolgirl-like with boyfriends.
In your opinion, who is Imran more suited to?
Well this is a difficult question for him as well as me! He would be very lucky to end up with either given his behaviour however there is something very nice about Toyah’s unwillingness to take his nonsense, she has called him out on his bravado from the beginning and that is potentially something he can do with. He needs taking down a peg or two.
How do you think Imran will take it if he gets found out?
It’s been really fun to play this she-said-he-said farcical comedy after a dark grieving period for Imran. If and when he gets found out it will be rough because the whole thing has been fulfilling in it’s own way for him because he has been able to ignore how much he is hurting as far as his family is concerned.
Do you think Imran should be scared of the Battersby sisters?
Everyone should be, they are formidable. They aren’t scared to throw down and they are very, very protective of one another. Imran has wronged both of them so they are scary enemies to make but they also have big hearts between them so hopefully they will go easy on Imran for his sake!
What do you think the viewers will make of this storyline?
It’s light-hearted but having said that, the characters of Leanne and Toyah are so beloved that anyone who wrongs them is probably going to get a fair amount of grief. Personally and selfishly, I hope people can see where he is coming from even though it’s not right.
What’s the best thing about working Jane Danson and Georgia Taylor?
It would be hard for me to specify one thing about either, they are both completely wonderful and have such good humour.
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