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Ryan Sampson and Danny Dyer on Mr Bigstuff, getting comedy right and more | EXCLUSIVE

Ryan Sampson and Danny Dyer on Mr Bigstuff, getting comedy right and more | EXCLUSIVE

A still from Mr BigStuff featuring Danny Dyer and Ryan Sampson

In a true delight for comedy lovers, Mr BigStuff brings together actors Ryan Sampson and Danny Dyer as estranged brothers. Glen, played by Sampson, is a nervy perfectionist who is a carpet salesman by profession, and Dyer's Lee is an alpha male with a prescription drug addiction.

Having been a part of After You've Gone, Plebs, Brassic, Doctor Who and The Poison Sky, Sampson is a prominent figure on television and the big screen. But with the new Sky Max comedy that marked its release on July 17, Sampson also makes his debut as a writer.

In an exclusive interview with WION, Sampson shared how he became a nerve ball on the sets. "It's been great, we had a brilliant time. It is probably the first thing I have written and it's not the most enjoyable to be that anxious every day on set when you have written something," he said.

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Sampson explained that the feeling of the "stupid jokes you have cooked up in your bedroom" being performed by actors on the screen is an equal mix of happiness and nervousness.

Meanwhile, a comic comeback was due for Dyer, known for Human Traffic, Mean Machineand The Football Factoryamong other notable works. The actor wants people to laugh, but also to offer them creative television and with Mr Bigstuff, he opines they've done just that. "It's been a long time. The show has got every element. The world needs to laugh at the moment. It's a weird era and we must never forget to laugh," he said, citing Charlie Chaplin's quote, "A day without laughter is a day wasted."

But the show isn't just comedy. From different definitions of masculinity to mental health and familial bonds, the series explores a myriad of themes.

Elaborating on the process, the former EastEnders star explained that the toughest part was to switch between the comic and twisted parts. "The schedule made the process easier. We shot it in a certain order, in a way that helped us. We were doing the emotional stuff towards the end and you want to get it right. If you set up a show to be funny, the audience also gets a bit freaked out - is it meant to be funny, or am I meant to cry?"

Sampson, too, chimed in, adding, "That's the difficult thing. The jokes need to be within the realms of reality and one needs to find that line and tone."

Dyer, however, wouldn't have it any other way. "That's the beauty of it. You don't want it to be easy, you do want to have trickier days. You believe in the project, you believe in each other and you never know," he said, adding that he will be surprised if the show doesn't work.

"I watch a lot of television and I am not just biased, but there is a lot of s*** on television and this is a clever piece of television," he concluded.

Set in Essex, the irreverent comedy also stars Harriet Webb, Adrian Scarborough, Fatiha El Ghorri, Ned Dennehy, Victoria Alcock, Geoff Bell, Nitin Ganatra and Judi Love in key roles.

About the Author

Kriti Tulsiani

When not watching or writing about cinema, you'll find Kriti in her own Bollywood bubble dreaming about the magic of movies. Her other areas of interest include all things lifestyl...Read More