Chat Ed : Welcome to tonight's live TEACHERS chat with SHAUN EVANS!
Shaun Evans : Hello everyone! Anyone...?
Gareth Wales 22 : hello
matador : hi!
Musuko42 : Hello Shaun.
Ish : hey shaun.
Glittergirl : hiya!
Hello : R U Blond Or Ginger Were Arguing
Shaun Evans chuckles
Shaun Evans : I'm blonde.
Aaliyah : As a new teacher in the show/How have you settled in with the other characters (actors)?
Shaun Evans : Everyone was quality on it - they all made me feel really welcome. It wasn't just me; there was 2 of us so at least it wasn't just me coming in on my own, so it was good.
sophie : Are you gay in real life and if you're not, does it bother you playing a gay character?
Shaun Evans : I was more interested in playing a teacher, a young teacher. That dynamic was really interesting to me. Why are you asking if I'm gay anyway?
Chunder Boy : great episode today, but do you really throw like that?
Shaun Evans : No man! No!
Shaun Evans laughs
Shaun Evans : It took me hours of practice! It did!
Mia : Do you have good memories of your school days?, and do you try to incorporate memories of what your old teachers were like to help you within the show?
Shaun Evans : I hated school. I really liked all the teachers, but just hated all the pupils. So if any of them are watching now....in your face!
Funlad : whats the biggest challenge youve faced during filming Teachers so far?
Shaun Evans : After I was offered the part - that was the biggest challenge. I watched the videos as I hadn't seen it before and because it was funny as well you think oh no I have to try and be funny now!
Kirkland YmF 1 : Shaun Ive Saw Your Face Before What Else Have You Worked In?
Shaun Evans : I played Davina McCall's boyfriend in Sam's Game. I was in bed with Davina McCall - so that was cool!
Rob : How are you looking to develop your career further? Are interested solely in the TV drama side of acting? Would you consider films?
Shaun Evans : I didn't want to do any TV until Teachers came up and I did it just because it was such high quality. I've always wanted to do film so hopefully, yeah I will do some.
rose : do you enjoy playing your character? are you similar to him in real life!?
Shaun Evans : Yes I enjoy playing JP but I'm much better looking in real life.
Hollie : did you audition for the part or did they approach you?
Shaun Evans : The casting director saw me in something at drama school and she approached me and invited me to come and audition for it.
zlie : can we expect JP to get a boyfriend?
Shaun Evans : Yeah! Tune in next week. Plenty of romping.
Miss Blue : I am trainin' to teach at the moment and can assure you that it's nothin' like the TV show!!! Did you go into the classroom, or more importantly, the staffroom, to research your character???!!!!!
Shaun Evans : Yeah I did, I went to 3 different schools. I didn't say why I was going in. I saw what the vibe was like and to see how teachers that were gay were perceived by the kids and the parents and the other teachers. Our representation of it has many similarities to the real life situations. Maybe you just work in a really dull school...
BaNnOr : do u feel much responsibility for your portrayal.. given how rare genuine gay characters are ?
Shaun Evans : I did, yes. It's important that when you do something that you do it with integrity and honesty so I was conscious of not camping it up. In my research I saw what a contentious issue it still was so that's why I was so interested in it. Even today people will still take their kids out of schools just because a teacher is gay. But at the same time it's funny that the people who we sleep with makes up such a small part of the rest of our lives.
Dr Nick : You are a language teacher in the show, so I was wondering, what languages can you speak and how well did you do at school ?
Shaun Evans laughs
Shaun Evans : I can speak French, Spanish and Italian. Why, are you saying that scousers can't teach languages?
Jenna : Did you ever consider being a teacher in reality?
Shaun Evans : No way man. I only left about 3 years before I did this job. So going back was one of the biggest things - going back to a god damn school! I couldn't wait to get out of there when I was at school.
rollerbabez : how old are you in real life and how old is JP meant to be in the series?
Shaun Evans : I guess he's supposed to be 22/23. I was 22 last month so I was 21 when we filmed it.
e m : Considering Teachers is set in Bristol, why have none of the pupils got West Country accents?
Shaun Evans : They have. Loads of them have! Most of the kids are from Bristol and some are from London.
The Golden Snitch : im a member of the National youth theatre and have been accepted to study Theatre at Dartington College of Arts, is this the best way to go about getting an acting job? where did you train?
Shaun Evans : I did the National Youth Theatre as well. I did the course when I was about 14. But my advice would be to do your A levels and then apply for a place on a credited drama school as opposed to reading Drama at university, because it is a much more intense kind of training. But then at the same time if you want something hard enough it makes no difference where you go. Good luck.
Chat Ed : That's it! Thanks for coming and talking to us SHAUN! The CD: A Class Soundtrack is available in the shops now. The CD to accompany the second series will be in the shops from the 15th April. Details can be found at channel4.com/shop
Shaun Evans : Thank you for watching - stay tuned!
Princess_of_Darkness : I LOVE YOU and i think your funny and clever too!, I just wanted you to know!
lozziebeth : i think your great shaun and good luck for more fun in teachers!
Simon69 : Thanks for chatting with us Shaun!
Roy2cool : bye
_Laura_ : BYE SHAUN
Jimbo10000 : BYe
phoenix amber : thanks Shaun!
Alisha b : thanx
Peter Pan : bye
Dave : Bye
Shaun Evans leaves the room
