Interview with Omid Djalili (Steve)

Steve makes his entrance into the Forest of Dean at the end of series one. What was your reaction when you read the scripts for series two, and how excited were you to see what happens to Steve next?

The read-through we did together before filming was the best read through of any comedy show I’ve ever had the pleasure of working on. I’ve never seen so many laughs. It was sharp and the feeling in the room was that everyone was very much on it. The first series was very good, but this is going to take it to a different level.

Steve embarks on a journey of self-discovery this series. What motivates him to take this path, and what does he hope to find along the way?

Men misunderstand things so when Linda says, “You need to work on yourself and you need to transform”, Steve feels she means physically, not spiritually and emotionally. So, Steve sees it purely as a physical thing and he embarks on a journey and has somehow convinced himself it’s the right thing to do. It’s a quick fix and a quick solution and that’s why it’s funny because it’s so brilliantly stupid. It actually brings round a real sense of joy and discovery. 

Steve undergoes a transformation this series. Can you share any insights into what he goes through without giving too much away?

Well, I can’t say too much but he travels to Turkey and that tells you all that you need to know about what’s going to happen to his face, his teeth, and his hair! It’s a catastrophic decision and remarkably, he doubles down and thinks it’s great and a wonderful transformation. 

How is Steve different from other roles you’ve played in the past, and what do you enjoy about playing him?

Well first of all, the fact that he’s called Steve, and no one even questions his ethnicity. That’s really good because it’s not been, “Oh but where is he from really? Is he Greek, Cypriot, Iranian, Arab?” It is the first time I’ve played a character, and no one has asked anything about his background. I also like the fact that he’s a proper bloke, he seems to be an ‘every man’ kind of bloke. He’s someone who is well-meaning, he’s a good guy but he’s not aware of the sides of himself that he needs to work on. He didn’t realise that his wife could be so unhappy, he thinks, “We’ve got a house, we’ve got jobs, kids. What more do you want?” He even misunderstands the way she wants him to change into being more sensitive and more appreciative. She wants him to help her and work with her. The fact he only thinks to change himself physically displays the extent to which he’s misunderstood. It’s very cleverly written - it captures the zeitgeist of men who are really well meaning but painfully unconscious of how they hurt the people they love most.

What’s been your favourite moment from series two?
My favourite moment was the look on Bridget’s face when she came into the makeup trailer after Steve’s transformation. She was honestly in hysterics.

Is there something about Steve’s character that you’d like to embody more in your own life?

Absolutely nothing! I love the fact he fights, and he wants to fight for his relationship. He is very concerned when Linda leaves and in series one, she tells him, “Don’t chase me,” and he does. Persistence is something I understand but, there’s nothing about Steve I want to replicate!

If you could offer Steve one piece of advice for this series, what would it be?

“Listen a bit more closely to your wife and read in between the lines - really try and make sure she’s heard and only then act.” Men are always so keen to act so my advice is to sit down and listen and make sure you fully understand.