Questions by Mike Simpson, freelance writer from Great Britain.
Ben Pullen, Charlotte Comer, Peter O'Farrell, Terry Marcel, Cameron Rhodes, Todd Rippon, Jeffery Thomas, Michael Wilson, Desmond Kelly

Ben Pullen
How would you sum up the character of Ivanhoe as you play him?
Ivanhoe is very much a flawed hero. A man of great courage and singular determination; tortured by his experiences and actions during the crusades and haunted by the pain of childhood tragedy. The only meaning he can find in his world is the restoration of Richard to the throne of England; seldom a man of levity when we first meet him, through the series he casts off some of the demons that haunt him and with the help of Rebecca and Odo regains his trust in himself, in others and in life. The path of the true hero.

How close is your interpretation to Walter Scott's version?
I think my interpretation might be quite similar to Scott's despite the fact that the series has only a loose connection to the book. Certainly a close theme in both is Ivanhoe's tangle in a menage a trois- faithful to the memory of his childhood sweetheart, Rowena, but torn in the direction of the painfully alluring Rebecca; the pain of the past, the hope of the future.

How did you get this role? What attracted you to it?
Terry had seen some of my work, including Prince Valiant and Cadfael which had interested him; we met, I read, Bob's your Uncle (The casting process is an unsavoury part of every actors life, less said the better). Its interesting that both the shows Terry had liked me in involved me as a villain. Everyone knows that baddies are the most fun. Terry was very much interested in the darker side of Ivanhoe, hence DARK KNIGHT, and it was this ambivalence in Ivanhoe's character which initially drew me to the part. Aside from that it's the usual thing; kill baddies, conquer evil, get the girl, be a Hero, SAVE THE DAY. Ivanhoe also reminded me of some of my favourite heroes; a broken soldier returns home suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, misunderstood and alienated, he must learn to forgive and forget, throw of the demons and move on -Ivanhoe or John Rambo.? Seeking revenge for the death of his parents a man meets out justice to the wicked and hope to the weary - Ivanhoe or Batman? n Haunted by the death of his mother saving him from the Dark Side when only a baby, our reluctant hero must avenge her death and save the world from the darkness which threatens it - Ivanhoe or Harry Potter? Even the greatest of heroes err - to err is human. Ivanhoe is only human.

How much of your own stuntwork/sword-fighting are you doing?
Claiming to have done your own stunts is dangerous ground for an actor and, short of being Jackie Chan or Chuck Norris, I suspect few actors can really make the claim. However, I do think that I can justifiably...Anything truly dangerous, or technically above my head, or that requires a fall, or that involves getting your legs at dutch angles or that Sam Williams simply says I shouldn't try, I leave to the pros - that's their job, they relish it. They'll certainly make you look that much better in a fight, which is what my stunt double Jonathon Costello has done numerous times, perhaps that's why they call me his dialogue double. Sam Williams has arranged some fantastic fights and has given me the confidence to do most of the sword-work myself - and in the process created a unique fighting style for Ivanhoe.

Have you had to do any special training or learn any new skills for this role?
The only special training has been the fight work - Sam has taught me many new sword-skills and I suppose I also had to learn how to fight a dragon, slig, incubus, shade, diararog, shrake and of course the necrotising grunid. Of course, my riding skills have had to improve and under the tutelage of the wonderful Caroline Girdlestone I can now look and feel at ease on a rearing horse.

How are you coping with all the scenes where monster or other effects won't be added until post-production?
I seem to have found myself fighting clean air in most episodes - that is, a CGI creature. All these fights have been very challenging - and most have worked very well, I might have missed the mark on a couple of them - gauging my performance with something I can only dream up in my head. It's all a matter of communication between the CGI guys, the director, the fight arranger and the actor -not to mention the rest of the crew. You need to get a good idea of not just what the creature looks like, but exactly how it moves and fights and how the CGI guys see the structure of the scene/fight. You have to be very exact when you deal with the CGI creatures - where one wrong move might mean falling down the throat of an invisible monster, one wrong swordthrust might mean a neck instead of an arm. Sean or Trevor are always on set when there is a CGI element to make sure we are all up to speed - or it could just be because they enjoy laughing at me screaming round a set or bluescreen shouting blue murder, veins popping out of neck, slashing and cutting at absolutely nothing. Straight out of THE ENTITY.

How do you find the rest of the cast to work with?
The depth of talent that exists in a city the size of Wellington in a country the size of New Zealand is amazing. The whole cast has been really great - Peter and Charlotte have been inspiring and very supportive these last 6 months - I'll have wonderful memories of our time together. Cameron Rhodes will delight people with his Prince John- I think he will be the yardstick against which all Prince Johns are measured - indeed against which all vile/evil/sadistic/monstrous villains are measured from now on. We have been lucky to have worked with the very best actors in NZ - I've definitely learnt a lot from them along the way - except for the accent, and that whole thing with the sheep.

How does this series compare with your previous "sword & sorcery" roles in Highlander and Prince Valiant?
Ivanhoe and Prince Arn would have been mortal enemies. Arn would have detested Ivanhoe's very noble and single-minded obsession with restoring Richard to the throne. "Different ruler, same old shit" would be more Arn. He would have seen Ivanhoe's compassion as a weakness and his striving for the freedom of his people as foolish. He would, however, have respected the fighter in him. He might have questioned Ivanhoe's taste in women. Ivanhoe would have been sickened by Arn's selfish/lascivious/amoral/arrogant/abusive ways. Ivanhoe could kick Arn's butt. In terms of making the shows; they really have been miles apart. Thirteen 1 hr episodes in 6 months compared to a 11/2 hr movie in 2 months. Ivanhoe has been a long, gruelling, very rewarding odyssey; Prince Valiant was a walk in the park. A very enjoyable walk in the park. With lots of toys. And great body armour. And Edward Fox. And that boy Steve Moyer. And Ron Perlman. Great locations. Great looking girls.

What hopes do you have for the development of the character and series?
In an ideal world we would see this show syndicated across the US - a 1st for a British production. I want to be in every American sitting-room fighting evil, oppression, heavy taxes, inflated utility bills (In one Ep, "Stolen Souls", Ivanhoe battles inflated water bills), despotism, fascism, racism, depression, insomnia and generally defending the English way of life, before I'm 30. As for my hopes for the development of Ivanhoe's character; he has a great deal to learn and much to forget and forgive; and a great deal of evil to overcome. If the writers and producers can continue to make his journey interesting and varied, tragic and comic, very real and very unreal and above all passionate and entertaining, then all our hopes for Ivanhoe will be the same. TOP

Charlotte Comer
How would you describe the character of Rebecca?
A woman who lives on her wits, Strong, Independent, Feisty, a woman with her own mind, that and feminine with a strong protective streak.

What sort of chemistry have you and Ben Pullen been able to generate between your two characters?
Chemistry? That's up to you to decide.

How did you get this role? What attracted you to it?
This being my first major role out of Drama School I was very lucky to get it, my agent got me the interview, and I guess I just charmed them into giving me the job.

To what extent are you able to use your dancing, fencing and boxing skills in the show?
The shows very physical with quite a grueling schedule so its good to have stamina; and when your choreographing a fight sequence, quite often, because of time, you only get 5 minutes out of that schedule, so it pays to know what your doing so that no one gets hurt.

When you started modeling, was it always your intention to move into acting?
I love telling stories and playing with imaginary circumstances, coming from family where no one was in the acting profession it took me a while to work out what I specifically wanted to do. Modeling meant that I could be independent, travel and play with imaginary circumstances.

What are you finding toughest about making the series?
The tough part is being away from your family and friends for seven months on the other side of the world.

What hopes do you have for the development of your character and the series?
In the second series the writers decided to make Rebecca much more feisty, just more of the same please, its fun to do. Plus this time round she's wearing a much more practical costume so getting on and off horses was a hell of allot easier. TOP

Peter O'Farrell
How would you describe the character of Odo?
A natural born craven cringing coward, who can show bravery beyond even his own belief in defense of his comrades, though he would be hard pushed to admit to having any. Ergo a natural born survivor.

How did you get this role? What attracted you to it?
Through the industry and help of Terry Marcel who believed in me and followed a hunch. The role looked fun and it beats being unemployed.

How has Terry Marcel developed as a director over the 20 years since Hawk The Slayer?
He's a natural director, he doesn't think so, but his eye for detail is astute. He's matured like an autumn maple, mellowing slightly with time.

How much of your own stunt/fight work are you doing?
All stunts, faints etc, except for potential neck breakers for instance coming through ceilings head first.

How are you coping with having a donkey as a co-star?
We have a tacit understanding, I tell him what I'd like him to do - and he does what the he likes.

As a comic relief character in an action/adventure series, how do you tread that fine line between popular and irritating?
You can please most, some of the time, you can please less, most of the time, you're never going to please everyone all of the time.

Some people might think that playing "a comic dwarf" in a fantasy series (or a costumed alien in a kids' show like Dr Xargle) is a come-down for an RSC actor: how would you answer that?
It's all work to be sure, to be sure, it's all work.

What hopes do you have for the development of your character and the series?
Extremely high hopes, as Odo gets the chance to show more of his character the viewers should be very amused by the antics he is capable of. TOP

Terry Marcel
How long has the series taken to reach production (I first heard mention of it when I interviewed Harley Cokeliss in, I think, 1997)?
I first had the idea for the series in 1996, and it took approximately 3 years to put together.

Why Ivanhoe? Why not just a completely original sword and sorcery series?
The reason I chose Ivanhoe is because the character is known internationally and I felt that the series needed a hook.

What connection does the show have with the Walter Scott novel?
None.

What are your views of previous Ivanhoe series, like the 1960s version or the 1990s BBC adaptation?
I prefer not to comment on other people's work.

There have been several attempts to capitalize on the fantasy adventure market created by the success of Hercules and Xena, not all of them successful. What does Ivanhoe have going for it that will distinguish it from the rest?
What distinguishes Ivanhoe from other series, two things mainly: 1. The extensive use of CGI, and 2. Everything is set firmly in the 12th Century, for instance sets, costumes and props.

Why shoot in New Zealand? Does it help that there are plenty of cast and crew there who have worked on Hercules and Xena? Is it a problem that a lot of the country's film infrastructure is currently devoted to Lord Of The Rings?
Great locations, the exchange rate and the extremely good pool of local acting talent. We haven't been effected by Lord of the Rings at all.

With Lord Of The Rings and Dungeons And Dragons both in production, is this a good time for the sword and sorcery genre? And what do you think has brought about this renaissance?
Yes I do. I'm not sure why this renaissance has taken place, but as far as I'm concerned there has always been an enormous interest in this genre evidence by the vast amount of literature sold worldwide.

With advances in effects, etc, what can you do now that you would have liked to have done but couldn't on things like Hawk The Slayer and Prisoners Of The Lost Universe?
We can now create 3-Dimensional creatures in a very short space of time, which was not even conceived when I made Hawk.

As series creator, how much say have you had in things like casting and episode storylines?
My involvement in the casting was shared with Corinne Hollingworth at Channel 5 and Phil Wallbank, the co-producer. The story lines were mostly mine, some were done by Mark Ezra, one of the script editors.

How have you picked the writers and directors of various episodes?
We picked the writers and directors from people that we knew and have worked with before-and those we thought could cut it.

Any comments on your principal cast?
My comments on the cast are that I am delighted in their performances and they have lived up to my expectations.

How much international interest has there been in the series so far?
Every major territory in the world has shown interest in the series and Portman, our distributor, is currently in negotiations.

What have Channel 5 brought to the production?
Apart from the financial aspect, the main contribution from Channel 5 was Corinne Hollingworth, who has been an enormous help with the work she has done on the scripts, and the support she has given the creative team.

Why are you shooting on super-16mm?
We are shooting Super 16mm film simply because as of yet tape is still not universally accepted. TOP

Cameron Rhodes
How would you describe the character of Prince John as you play him?
Prince John is a complex individual. On the surface he is arrogant, and often rude to people he sees as inferior, which is virtually everyone!His behaviour is often petulant, childish, he is prone to temper tantrums, and exhibits all the traits of a spoilt brat. He is at times sadistic, cruel, aggressive, and gives orders that are verging on downright evil. He plays power games with people, and "kicks" those below him, especially Falco.Ê His hold on power is tentative and under threat, which fuels his paranoia. He gets very drunk and often has neurotic rants in this state. He hates his brother Richard, is jealous of him and wants to commit fratricide. He basically wants anyone in his way dead!Below the surface is a scared "little boy", needing constant attention. Prince John has a fragile ego, and is really very vulnerable. He has few friends, and those around him are 'out for what they can get'. He has a genuine fear of Mordour, who is one of the few people who can put John in his place. Things really hot up whenever John's matrichal mum, Eleanor and her butch lover De Bois come on the scene. Prince John is delight to play as there is a wealth of complexities and character flaws to get my "teeth into". He is a true "baddie", and" the devil always gets the best lines!"

How does your interpretation compare with previous screen incarnations of Prince John?
The two Prince John's that stand out for me are in the 1952, IVANHOE with Elizabeth Taylor and Robert Taylor and in THE LION IN WINTER with Peter O'Toole and Kathryn Hepburn. In IVANHOE, John is played fairly close to the Walter Scott book, florid, self-centered and definitely a baddie. However he is very much a supporting role, pretty much in the background, he also seems to be in his late thirties. (The film has fantastic jousting scenes which John attends). The LION IN WINTER has John as a teenage halfwit!He is played as a bit simple, very unsophisticated, and in the shadow of Richard. Both are wonderful performances and very different interpretations of the character. Prince John in DARK KNIGHT is late twenties, and very much a strong part of the story. I have the chance over thirteen episodes to develop interesting relationships with other characters, especially Falco and Mordour. I have the opportunity to explore different sides to Johnâs personality, so we see him in an array of moods, the highs and lows, the light and shade of his makeup.Ê This, of course, is more possible in a thirteen episode series, than over two and a half hours of film. I have been given the opportunity to make the"role my own", to play him in a multidimensional, contemporary way. I suppose, my Prince John is, like the series, very much of now, 2000, despite being set in the late 1100's.

Have you researched the character historically?
When I got the role I did a bit of background reading, mainly looking for descriptions of his behavior. He seemed to suffer from an enormous temper, as did his father, and brother Richard. He also could be quite sadistic, with one book describing John pulling someone's teeth out to force them to repay a debt!Others describe him as a good ruler when he eventually became king. The reading was mainly to give me a feel for the man and the times he lived in. Although John is an real person from history , it is important that I create a character that is full blooded, and works dramatically in the series. Like, say, in Shakespeare's Richard III, it is more important that we have a complex villain that is entertaining and dramatic, than a portrayal based on history books.

How did you get this role? What attracted you to it?
When I read the audition script I knew that I could play this man, that it was really ,my cup of tea. It made me very excited, so I worked very hard on my audition piece. Basically I, went for it, pulled out the stops and luckily got the part. Prince John, was described , in the audition script as a spoilt brat, a temper prone, tax hungry ruler, who is hell-bent on retaining power. I could immediately see the enormous potential in the part, and also to have a lot of fun with the role. The producers (Terry and Phil) wanted a real character, not an over- the- top caricature, a villain in the Die-Hard mode, basically a fantastic role!

With such an over-the-top piece of nastiness as Prince John, how do you stop yourself from overacting?
Well, it's the old acting rule, "play the truth". If it's truthful and rooted in real emotions, it won't be overacting. Sure, Prince John can be extreme, but it's always for a reason, usually fear and insecurity. If I look for why he is behaving as he does, and play with the other actors it will be right. We have the chance to explore the scenes together to get the pitch right,( and sometimes I am screaming, very drunk or hysterical!) Although I am nasty, itâs only one side of the character, plus there are many shades of bad behavior. Plus, we have had some very good directors who can always pull me into line!

What redeeming qualities (if any) does prince John have?
Well, he has a witty, sardonic sense of humour. John knows how to throw a great party, (even if the guests are all sycophants.) He has a great dress sense and always looks good.( Sure he is pretty vain, but is also fairly charismatic) I think we all love to hate the villains, they do naughty, outrageous, extreme things that we are perhaps tempted, but would never dare to do. John is this, a little devil, a brat, who deep down we would all like to have a go at being, but of course the consequences we be horrendous. So, in a bizarre way, I think the audience will be both repelled and attracted to the character.

How does Ivanhoe compare as a production with Xena?
Both Xena and Dark Knight have very high production values, they are shot on film with excellent post production. Both are high action and have a high entertainment value. Both are made in New Zealand. It's the working together of highly skilled people from the U.K and the States combined with the Kiwi ingenuity and passion that give both Xena and Dark Knight a wonderful richness. Dark Knight is a new cutting edge show, with a lot more CGI than seen before in a series of this genre. It has a fantastic N.Z -U.K team, that has created something unique and very exciting.

What hopes do you have for the development of your character and the series?
The character is already being developed fairly fully, it would be great if we continue to see him in a range of different situations, having to deal with new and frustrating problems. There are some wonderful moments when John and his nemesis (Ivanhoe) come face to face, there is great potential here for some thrilling encounters. The costume department, have already given John some fabulous garments, Iâm excited about what new delights await in this area. It is wonderful when John is out if his depth, in new environs outside the safety of the castle walls, it will be interesting to see where John travels to. There is huge potential for untold adventures in DARK KNIGHT, and Prince John is ripe to be enmeshed in a lot of them. TOP

Todd Rippon
How would you describe the character of Falco?
Falco is a brutal, sadistic individual that is perfectly suited to Prince Johnâs uncaring and fearful rein. Heâs constantly berated by Prince John and often humiliated by Ivanhoe. But he is completely faithful to Prince John because he thinks he may further his position and purse by doing one thing and one thing only; KILLING IVANHOE.

How did you get this role? What attracted you to it?
My agent rang to say that Ivanhoe Dark Knight were interested in me playing the role of Falco about three weeks before we started. Then I received another call asking if I could ride a horse. I said yes I could. And finally about two weeks before the 1st shoot day my agent asked me if I would like some work. To which I replied, yes and then he said "would you like a lot of work?" Apart from the obvious attraction of an on going role in a big budget T.V. programme I liked the idea of playing Falco as he sees a reasonable amount of fighting action with Ivanhoe and it was a chance to develop a character on film over a long period of time.

What did you mean when you said the role's strength was Òthe devil in my eye"?
A director once said to me "you have the devil in your eye" and I always remembered it because it seemed a strange thing to say to me. I think Falco should be scary so that the scenes where he and Ivanhoe fight has a cruel sense of danger about them.

Does your appearance get you typecast as bad guys? Do you mind?
I'm not naturally bald. However a lot of the roles I play have asked for me to shave my head for the baddie. Yes I think my appearance does lend itâs self to bad guy types and I donât mind at all. Iâve played good guys and bad guys and Iâve always enjoyed the bad guy roles more. Their just seems to be more scope for what you can do with the part if youâre a meanie. All my favourite actors have been type cast as bad guys in the past too.

How much of your own stunt/fight work are you doing?
I do as much of my own stunts as I can without being too stupid. You have to be pretty highly trained to set yourself alight and run around like a chook with it's head cut off. We have some fantastic stunt men and a great Stunt Co-ordinator, Sam Williams who has taught me a lot about swordsmanship. If you look closely itâs me in all the horse riding stunts except one I think. The biggest stunt I did was falling off a balcony during a fight. I love it. I wanted to be a stunt man at the age of four, before I wanted to be an actor.

How does Ivanhoe compare as a production with Xena and Hercules?
I donât like to compare Ivanhoe to Hercules and Xena cause they are all really neat in their own way. Both to work on and as entertainment. But if I had to, Iâd say that the story lines in Ivanhoe are more robust than Xena and Herc, as Ivanhoe has a clear mission in life and a terribly dark memory of the crusades. They are alike I think in that they try to entertain the same family viewing public. However, as the name suggests Ivanhoe Dark Knight is darker and more scary.

What was it like to work with Peter Jackson on The Frighteners?
I had a delightful time on the set of 'The Frighteners'. Peter is such an unassuming, casual character that one is made to feel quite at home very quickly. 'The Frighteners' would take two days to shoot a two minute scene, we average about six or seven minutes a day on Ivanhoe, so there wasn't a lot of pressure being brought to bear on anyone.

What hopes do you have for the development of your character and the series?
Just let it go again I say. As far as my aspirations for Falco's character, I think he's pretty well set in concrete. Heâs not going to see the light and jump ship to King Richard's side. He's not going to over step his status with Prince John I don't think. Although in a recent episode we saw a vulnerable side to Falco which appeared to come from nowhere but in the context of the story made complete sense. You'll have to watch it to find out what I mean. TOP

Jeffery Thomas
How would you describe the character of Mordour?
Evil. Evil. Evil.

How did you get this role? What attracted you to it?
It was offered to me. I was attracted by the prospect of having a lot of acting to do and I rather enjoy acting.

As a magical character, presumably you have a lot of special effects scenes: how do you cope with those?
Patiently. It can be quite a slow process dealing with CGI shots and you really need to use your imagination well.

What loyalties (if any) does Mordour have? Does he have any redeeming qualities?
None. He's decisive, imaginative, intelligent, well read (for his time) and has a healthy contempt for complacency.

How does Ivanhoe compare as a production with Hercules?
They're quite similar. Hercules is more lavish and better paid and shot on 35mm as opposed to the 16mm on which Dark Knight is shot. Technically this makes quite a big difference but in terms of the work an actor does there's virtually no difference.

As a writer yourself, what do you think of this show's scripts?
They're great stories and I have enjoyed collaborating on some of them.

The Peter Jackson-produced spoof documentary Forgotten Silver (which I believe you narrated) is said to be excellent: can you tell me a bit about it?
It tells the life of New Zealand film pioneer Colin MacKenzie who died tragically in the Spanish Civil War.

What hopes do you have for the development of your character and the series?
Naturally I hope the series continues and that Mordour's character can grow to allow me even more acting to do. TOP

Michael Wilson
How would you describe the character of Friar Bacon?
Friar Bacon is a deeply serious man who is devoted to his scientific studies. He does not see this as conflicting with his religious convictions. As a natural scientist, he seeks to unlock the mysteries concealed in all God's creations. He does, however, get quite a kick out of those mysteries that reveal themselves explosively. I think he's a bit of a secret thrillseeker. Perhaps, despite his own celibacy, he gets a similar kick out of encouraging the explosive chemistry between Ivanhoe and Rebecca. As a man of conscience and justice, he supports Ivanhoe's cause passionately.

How did you get this role? What attracted you to it?
I had worked with Terry Marcel on another project, where I played a pathetically hapless Prime Minister. Something about that portrayal led him to ask me to tackle Friar Bacon. I had my tonsure cut and my habit formed and fitted before I knew much about the part. Now I love it for its depth and potential for development. I have so far only scratched the surface, and am keen to show more of the man beneath the funny haircut and the brown dress.

To what extent is your characters based on the real Roger Bacon, and how much historical research have you done?
Roger Bacon was obviously the model for the character of Friar Bacon, but the writers have deliberately avoided claiming that my Friar is the historical Bacon, and so must I. I am acting in a modern television adventure series and not a historical documentary. I am fascinated, though, by what I have discovered about Roger Bacon and am keen to see more of his interests and discoveries find their way into the programme. His knowledge of gunpowder is already there, and his use of optical devices to peer at his arcane manuscripts. I am sure that the series creator, Terry Marcel, has been careful to insert just the right amount of Baco''s scientific innovation into the programme, without provoking too much audience scepticism. The simple fact is, that most people would scoff at a monk from the so-called 'Dark Ages' having practical experience of microscopes, steam power and gunpowder, and who had predicted flying machines and suspension bridges. I suspect, in future series, we may see Friar Bacon introduce more of his radical scientific ideas, to help Ivanhoe's cause. He may not exactly be 'Q' to Ivanhoe's 'Bond' but I am sure that he has more than gunpowder up his sleeve. My characterisation of Friar Bacon is, of course, primarily based on the scripts. I have not tried to bring a classically - educated Mediaeval Franciscan Friar to the screen. For a start, my Friar spends more time hurtling down secret passageways pursued by soldiers, than poring over ecclesiastical texts. I have given him a hint of a regional accent, to suggest that he may be humbly born, and also to distance him from the aristocracy surrounding Prince John's court. He also seems to be more of a freelance friar, than one closely associated with an order, like the original Bacon.

What sort of props or effects are involved in the science and technology which Friar Bacon invents for the series?
Because my laboratory was trashed by Prince John's soldiers early in the series, I have not carried much paraphernalia about with me. I am never far from a stash of gunpowder, though, and I carry my quaint mediaeval spectacles with me wherever I go. I am keen to find another base, though, so I can get back among the pipes and retorts of my chemical laboratory. Celestial charts are vital to my calculations-like Roger Bacon, I am well-versed in astronomy. So, at the moment I'm travelling light, but the potential for adding to my scientific armoury is high.

The Ivanhoe website says you have "a tendency to be spectacularly accident prone" - what have you managed to do to yourself (or other people) on this shoot?
So far I have kept that side of my personality away from this project. Perhaps Friar Bacon's contemplative nature has slowed my usually feverish metabolic rate. Perhaps I don't want to wreck any expensive equipment. If there is a wall to walk into, though, I'm your man. I've broken ribs, sprained ankles, torn muscles, and bled profusely on a number of other film sets. But so far, nobody has asked me to ride a motorcycle backwards on this job.

How much of your comedy or stunt experience are you able to bring to the character?
Friar Bacon is a pretty serious character. You don't want to be cracking too many jokes when a ravening beast from the jaws of Hell is morphing out of the wall at you. Nor is it his thing to lift up his skirts and deal a flying karate chop to the local representative of the Antichrist. But comic timing will always stand you in good stead, and I also like to imagine the foibles and fantasies lurking beneath this friar's facade. As for stunt work-it's always useful to know how to fall off things, and this is an action-packed series. So far, Ivanhoe has done most of the physical stuff (and there have been some stunningly choreographed sequences), but, hey, Bacon will have his day.

What sort of things were involved in stunt doubling for Worzel Gummidge?
The first thing was getting made up as Worzel. This took three hours. Then I would fall off a bike or a ladder, or down a hole, get the make-up off, and go home. I loved it. There was no ego involved. Just "How can I dive through that gap or fall off that cart in the same way that Worzel would do it?" I was deliberately messy, arms and legs all over the place. I wanted to look like a mad old scarecrow and not a top gymnast. John Pertwee said he appreciated that, and I certainly appreciated having such a good character to do it on behalf of.

How does Ivanhoe compare as a production with Hercules?
I think there's a bit more historical accuracy in The Dark Knight. Sure, it's an adventure series and there's a whole lot of supernatural stuff in it, but it's still grounded in some sort of reality. You could say that the supernatural elements reflect the superstitions of the time. It's just that they are physically realised on the screen and treated as if they were real-horrifyingly real!The Dark Knight is similar to Hercules in its enjoyment of heroic adventure and the exploiting of some very impressive visual effects, but there's a larger cast of central characters in The Dark Knight and they are interesting beyond their ability to swing an axe or wrestle a villain to the ground

What hopes do you have for the development of your character and the series?
As I mentioned before, I would like to bring more of Roger Bacon's interests and discoveries into the plot of the next series. I love the blend of the scientific and the philosophical in Friar Bacon's character, and I would like to see him assist Ivanhoe in both ways. Ivanhoe strikes me as having a troubled soul, and I think he could do with a bit of help on that score. I can see many alchemical and technological devices being provide to aid Ivanhoe's cause, or just get him out of trouble from time to time. Alright, he could be 'Q' to Ivanhoe's 'Bond.' Why not? TOP

Desmond Kelly
How would you describe the character of Fingal?
He's a very old Druid, skilled in ancient lore and and magic, the last of his kind. He is set apart from the ordinary world by his background and his task of trying to overcome evil in any form. He is Ivanhoe's computer in the sense that he has a data base of knowledge available by no other means. He recognizes the special nature of Ivanhoe and they gradually form an unusual but close friendship in which they risk their lives for each other and for the cause of good in medieval England. Despite his magic Fingal is human and I have found a couple of his human frailties. For instance he is inclined to be short tempered and does not suffer fools gladly. He knows that Odo is an inherent trickster and cannot understand Ivanhoe's patronage of the little man. Fingal itches to turn Odo into a toad and have done with him and his thieving ways. I have also found him to be just the littlest bit vain. He is proud of his abilities and expects to succeed. He has a deep commitment to his work with Ivanhoe and despite his austerity has a very warm heart.

How are you coping with having a rat as a co-star?
The rat and I tolerate each other as professionals. We expect each to carry out his work on time and on the mark. I regret to say the rat is sometimes blase about his responsibilities and has a cavalier attitude to precision of movement which has resulted in my having to repeat my side of the work more than once. I fancy that at times the ratâs mind is more on the supply of condensed milk than on filming. These short comings have prohibited the development of a deep and meaningful relationship between us. It is in the ratâs favor that he is very beautifully marked. He is a Hooded rat which gives him black and white markings. Carolyn Girdlestone has done a wonderful job in providing animals for the show which look absolutely magnificent in their roles. The rat is the worst actor amongst them.

How did you get this role? What attracted you to it?
Terry Marcel saw me in the role of a crazy German professor scientist in an episode of Enid Blytonâs stories some three or four years ago and he offered me the role of Fingal straight off - no audition. Did I want it? I did. Not that I knew much about it at that time, but it has worked out to be a very satisfying shoot.

As a magical character, presumably you have a lot of special effects scenes: how do you cope with those?
With some bewilderment. I am amazed at how writers, directors, cameramen and the special effects computer people come up with the astonishing scenes that they do. I listen to the director, talk to the cameraman and try to imagine all that mayhem and fantasy taking place around me as I say the words. I hope it works because I have only seen the pilot at this stage and we are shooting the last episode of the first series now. I find it a test of imagination and inhibition.

What made you decide to take up acting at such a late age?
I was teaching in a tertiary institute and I cared greatly about teaching. However it was becoming apparent to me that my ideas about teaching and officialdom's ideas about teaching were on divergent paths. I began to look for another profession rather than stay and grow bitter. At a Christmas party I found myself after too much beer, rattling on to the Drama teacher about how I had always liked drama and would like to have had a go myself if I were younger. He also had drunk too much and promised to put me in his first production the following year. But he remembered it when he was sober and insisted I take a role in Gammer Gurton's Needle. It was the most fearful experience of my life. Each performance he would send the two biggest men in the cast down to my office to pries the script out of my hands and bring me up to the dressing room. In the next nine months I did four more plays and at the end of the year I took a year's leave of absence without pay and auditioned for a professional theatre in Wellington. It took me on and that was it, I became an actor at 49. Now, I'm 71 and still enjoying it though I still get fearful before a performance.

How does Ivanhoe compare as a production with Xena? Or with other fantasy shows you've worked on like Ray Bradbury Theatre or Mirror, Mirror?
Those shows were far shorter experiences for me. I appeared in various episodes and then was gone. In this one, I have been used increasingly as the series has developed and I am one of the core cast and so have got to know the other actors more fully than was possible in the shows you mention. In that sense it is more comfortable for me. Technically there is much more computer work in this production than in those other series.

What was it like to work with Peter Jackson on The Frighteners?
It was strange. Peter gets into the action. He is quite likely to talk all the way through the take, giving instructions and getting the performance he wants. I thought this is great, there will have to be dubbing work later to overcome his voice and I'll earn more. Nothing of it. How they got his voice off the sound track is a mystery to me. Not all the magic effects were on the screen! The result was I did not get extra days in the recording studio. Oh well! Can't win them all.

What hopes do you have for the development of your character and the series?
That's difficult. I'm not the writer, but I would like to see another couple of series made. I like Fingal. I like finding the humour, the vanity and the testiness in him and I like his intensity. As a character, he is quite a contrast to anyone else in the series and it's always a positive, acting someone like that. At the beginning of the series Fingal remained largely in his cave and was consulted by Ivanhoe now and then. He was not in every episode. Since then much more of a partnership has developed between them. This has resulted in Fingal becoming a much stronger force on the Ivanhoe team and moving out of the cave and into the world as a full campaigner. I like that development and hope that any future series will see it sustained and developed.

Ben Pullen, Charlotte Comer, Peter O'Farrell, Terry Marcel, Cameron Rhodes, Todd Rippon, Jeff Thomas, Michael Wilson, Desmond Kelly