Interview with Paul Whitehouse (Tony)

How has Tony’s character evolved when we meet him in series two?

I don’t think he’s evolved very much – he’s very easily persuaded that what he’s been saying is wrong. He has moments of enlightenment, but they don’t seem to last for long. 

You share a lot of scenes with Bridget where it’s just the two of you in the scene. What’s it like working alongside her, and are there moments when you two couldn’t help but laugh?

Bridget and I really enjoy those scenes – there is something intense about it – with it just being the two of us across a table in a pub, but we always approach it with a twinkle in our eyes. Linda has definitely got the measure of Tony - he’s got that working class confidence – he’s ‘King of the Pub’ – that’s his arena and he rules in it. Playing Tony is a real joy to do, Bridget’s writing is very funny and having done Gone Fishing it’s nice to have something intense and scripted for a change. And we laugh a lot. 

Tony often finds himself aligning with Linda’s way of thinking after speaking with her, like when she says that women are entitled to be funny. Why do you think Tony’s character works well as a foil to Linda’s? 

I think he’s very set in his ways and suddenly he gets caught out and he’s been wrong footed and gets dragged into the modern world. That’s what works so well. In The Fast Show I used to play Indecisive Dave – he was always changing his mind in the pub and there is an element of that in Tony. And of course, Tony slips back quite quickly for comedic reasons.

How important do you think it is to address serious topics like emotional labour, women’s identity beyond motherhood, and misogyny through comedy? 

If you can do it with a character like Tony, then it’s not sort of preachy – it doesn’t feel like you’re being lectured or patronised and that’s what’s brilliant about Bridget and The Change – there is a lightness of touch, and you can see there are other people with different opinions. I love how her sister talks to Linda for example.  Bridget is able to see many different opinions and ultimately that’s why I think it’s great.

Tony tells Linda it’s a lonely old world out there. Without giving too much away, do you think Tony will find someone this series? 

[Laughs] As I say, I think Tony is ‘King of the Pub’ but what is his life like when he lives in the pub? He probably is lonely at times – who knows if Tony finds a companion. Maybe he should just get a dog…

What scene from series two has been your favourite to film?

I honestly love doing those scenes in the pub – it’s more like doing sketch comedy for me – I’m also most irrelevant to the plot. There is one scene where there is, how can I put it, an infestation – now that was a very interesting one to film.

Is there an aspect of Tony’s character that you wish you could be more like in real life?

[Laughs a lot] His gung-ho confidence is quite refreshing and his ability to laugh at himself is quite intoxicating. The fact he does take things on board does also save him as a character – there is hope for Tony and that’s what I like about him.

If you could give Tony any advice for this series, what would it be?

Get a good, medicated soap.