Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware - S13 Ep 3: Martin Compston

Episode Date: March 9, 2022

Bleary eyed after our big win, we welcomed our first AC12 guest, Steve Arnott.. better known as Martin Compston onto Table Manners. As Line of Duty’s biggest fan, mum was in her element serving up delicious lamb & pistachio and only slightly disappointed not to hear an Essex accent from our Scottish guest.We talk to Martin about his obsession with chicken wings, eating Chinese takeaway on Christmas Day, how living in Las Vegas compares to living in Glasgow & winning over his (now) wife via an Irish promise ring, a song and all at an 11am Happy Hour! His brand new ITV drama ‘Our House’ is on this week, every night at 9pm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello and welcome to Table Manners. I'm Jessie Ware and I am a little bleary-eyed. So am I, Jess. Why are we so tired, Mum, and deliriously happy? Because it's hard being rock stars, darling. Not so hard for you. You strutted on that stage twice to present an award at the Enemy Awards and then to receive one mum best podcast fantastic thank you to everyone it was a really fun night saw lots of people that have been on the podcast before so many people yeah Ashlyn B Nick Grimmie we saw people that we wanted on the podcast

Mae Martin Charlotte Ritchie Charlotte Ritchie Daisy Charlotte Ritchie. Daisy Mae Cooper. Sadie is there. It was really, really fun. Thank you so, so much to NME for giving us a podcast award. I've never won anything before. I loved seeing you go up to Yasmin Le Bon and being like, you look fabulous, darling. Do you want to come on the podcast? Yeah.

But yeah, no, it was wicked. It was a really good night, but I do feel a little bit rough. I had to take a COVID test just to double-check that this hangover wasn't COVID, and it's not. It's a hangover. Oh, I left way before you, darling, to beat the crowds. This is how rock star mum is. Got the award, and then she was like,

I'm going for a wee, and then she was gone. She did, what's it called, a French exit. Oh, they said, do you want to say goodbye to Jessie? I said, no, I'm seeing her tomorrow. Rockstar. So that was amazing. Thank you. Had loads of fun.

But also, Mum, whilst we're, you know, celebrating our win, we also have another win. Very exciting news. We've launched the Table Manners store on our website. Everyone was asking about this tea towel. You will be able to get your very own Table Manners tea towel. Fantastic. As well as there's many other items,

including tote bags, aprons. So go and have a browse, see what you think. Tell us what you think. Or you can get the cookbook on there. You can get all sorts of things. Tablemannerspodcast.com. For the very devoted Table Manners. You may even be able to get Table Manners tour tickets on the website too,

which is coming up very quickly. What, it's like five weeks until we go to... Is it sold out everywhere, darling? Or still a few tickets? Still a few tickets. Wow. Better hurry up. And we can't wait to see you.

We're award winning now. So today we have the actor. I don't think I've been more excited. You say this quite a lot, Mum. No, but actually, darling, I've followed him since the very first line of duty. And I would have sworn he came from Essex. Blow me down. He's Scottish.

Who would have thought it? And proper Scottish, really. I think he's, well, I'm not thought it i'm proper scottish really i think he's well i'm not going to say which football team he supports we better ask him but he's a devout football i think he plays football jesse has he played with the unicef yeah he plays with for the rest of the world yeah he's yeah a regular um player and loves it that's where I met him first. But I actually remember watching Sweet Sixteen. It came out in 2002. And he, I mean, mum, look at a picture of him in it. He's like a young, young boy.

Oh, sweet. And it's a Scottish film. And it was such an amazing film. And he was so fantastic. Ken Loach film. And it was so fantastic. Well, he is just a great actor and he's in so much more now he's got two new series well he's got Traces his second season of Traces is on I haven't

watched Traces oh I love Traces it's great what is he a cop in it no it's kind of forensic it's about forensic scientists and he's also in a new TV series called Our House. Our House with Tuppence Middleton. Oh, my goodness. I think people will be surprised by the character he plays. He's not Steve Arnott anymore. He is definitely not AC-12. I have done no cooking, so I know that you are tired.

I'm a bit tired, only because it's very hard celebrating awards and then coming back and cooking. So I did hope I was going to try and replant my false eyelashes that they very kindly put on me. I've never heard it in that way. Because she gave me a whole strip instead of single ones. You can use them again. Yeah, but I threw them out. I thought it was a bit sad. I might put them on my.

I get like four or five wears out of them. Okay, of a whole strip. I'm going to buy some new ones. I'll get new ones. Lenny, you're going to start wearing... Yeah, I am. Oh, wow. It does feel good, doesn't it?

I'm going to look like Katie Price. Or Bimini, who was on our table last night. Yeah, definitely. Who we'd love. They would be amazing on the podcast. Bimini I'd love, yeah. I have cooked today because I thought something, well. We went back and forth about this.

Yeah. I think he said he ate everything. Now, I know he lives in America normally. Las Vegas. So I knew he'd get proper steak there. So I've done him lamb. I've done him what we have for Nigella. Lamb with pistachio and mint crust. And it smells great.

And I've done it with dauphinoise potatoes, because you can't go wrong if you're really hungry, and just broccoli. And I'm like, do you think some peas, Jess? I think some peas. Okay, peas too. Yum. And then I'm doing...

Now I'm thinking should we do the anchovy dressing? I think it's too much. I'm doing a red wine jus. Oh, I wonder. Yeah Now I'm thinking you should do the anchovy dressing. I think it's too much. I'm doing a red wine jus. Oh, I'm hoping you are. Yeah, I hope I am. I'm making it up as I go along, having watched the Great British Menu. Mum, he's here.

Enough of your thing. Oh, wow. Martin Compson coming up on table. Woo! I'm thrilled. We are thrilled. We are thrilled. Actually, you don't even know how excited I am that you're here.

Because I've been a huge fan. Slightly disappointed you don't speak with the Essex accent that you normally do. What are you talking about? It's the greatest accent ever. Oh, no. Thanks for having me. Steve Arnold. Congratulations. But Martin Constant. Yeah. having me. Steve Arnold. Congratulations. But Martin Constant.

Yeah. Thanks so much. Yeah, it's good fun. Welcome. But you're jet lagged. I am. See, this is the annoying thing with it as well. Usually in years gone by,

and this is me trying to be sensible, I'd have landed, I'd have got my pals, and I'd have hit Soho, and I'd have had an excuse for feeling like shit. Now I've tried to be sensible. Went to my bed early and you're just getting up in the middle of the night. Are you staying in a nice hotel?

Yeah, yeah. I'm staying in the Kempton on Russell Square. I usually stay there. I don't know it. A really nice staff there. Oh, I've heard that's really nice. Lovely, lovely place. It's a nice food.

Yeah, yeah, decent food. Nice bit of salad and all that kind of thing. You're on the press tour. You're trying to eat alright so you're just here doing press at the moment yes for our house

our house yes which starts Monday nine o'clock I know there you go you got it you got it

I know and you don't play such a pleasant person no no because you should it's no Steve Arnott playing there no he's a bit of a bastard

Bram yes but he's a complicated guy full of contradictions which is always fun to play but it's by far the darkest part I've played in a while

just in terms of the emotions he goes through he's sort of on this downward I mean the way the show opens with the lovely Tuppence Middleton

yeah poor wife yeah it's just a surreal and it's always tough to do because when you put that in a book people's imagination can run wild just a kind of surreal and it's always tough to do because when you put that in a book people's imagination can run wild just in terms of going woman comes home the house is being emptied people are moving in and your husband's gone but just by sheer force of nature

uh by tuppence middleton by just her talent you kind of go along with the character of fee and then you kind of meet bram and um yeah he's just completely on this downward depressive spiral for four episodes, so it's a tough old part in terms of the emotions to go through, but in some ways, there's a warped enjoyment in that as an actor. You know, you kind of feel like

you've earned your money when you're having an emotional breakdown every single day. When did you film it, and where did you film it? We filmed it not far from here. And it looked like a kind of South Wales.

Does it look like a me? It's a Peckham Rye, sort of like that way. Oh, Jesse lives down there. Well, I used to live in Honour Oak Park. Oh, wow. So it was kind of... I must shut the door. Oh, mate, you're not going to leave Las Vegas and come back and live in Honour Oak?

Well, no, so I lived... It's well trendy now, Beb. No, that was the weird thing. So when I... When we filmed... When I lived there, because I remember vividly coming back from a night out, absolutely hanging with the fear, as you do,

and the police being at our front door, and going, are you Mr Compton? And you're going, oh, fuck, what have we done? And upstairs had been robbed, unfortunately. But just your mind's going, what is going on here? It didn't look like that now it really it's definitely been

gentrified a bit oh it has yeah we've got restaurants there now yeah there was all these places places that serve coffee but it's got a thingy as well

it's got a chicken shop I mean I'm obsessed with chicken wings it's my kind of weird thing oh you should have told us yeah I just

I don't know because everywhere I go no we should not have served an obsessive chicken wing person. You've never done chicken wings in your life. But I kind of love any kind of chicken wings, whether it be like four for a pound at a chicken shop, which I know people eat, or really fancy ones.

I'm just... There's something... So there's one of them right across from the street from our old house, so I'm a bit guarded by that. Have you got time to pop in? I did. Well, what I did pop in, there's... I can't remember the name of it

but there's these olives I love you put them in it begins with a P, it's an Italian it becomes this white, Pirello oh my god that's the best, they're amazing and the little shop across the street from there now sells them, so you put a bit of cracked pepper in them shake it up, empty the juice

and they're delicious, so then with a wee glass of wine, so there was a load of them so I'd go each day and film and buy a load of them, give them to the drivers and give them to Tuppence and we'd sit on our breaks and have a couple Does she have a nickname, Tuppence? No, it's funny, I've heard that twice today

I just call her Tuppence It's such a fab name I think as well because you'd need to be like, the nickname would need to be like Top or Toppy or something which isn't quite yeah a bit odd

so hon if you've already been asked that twice today have you just been doing loads of promo this morning yeah I think this is my sixth or seventh promo today

no oh my god can we feed him yeah you get fed on this one though are we going to have a proper drink darling we're just easing him in yeah

I think he'd like food. Yeah, no. I mean, I'll have a... Would you like a glass of champagne? No. Red wine. Wine, what do you like? Red wine, right.

Jessie, get the St. Helena out. Oh, yeah. This is so jokes. We had a... Yeah, because I'm excited. I've had a ham and cheese toastie on room service at four o'clock. So I'm up for that. I've done... Do you like lamb? Yeah, yeah, definitely. So I've done a is a ham and cheese toastie on room service at four o'clock. So I'm up for that. Do you like lamb?

Yeah, yeah, definitely. So I've done a rack of lamb. Oh, amazing. And some dauphinoise potatoes and just broccoli. I'm all over that. Bit of home-cooked meal. Yeah, proper home-cooked. So we've got a few mutual friends.

We do, indeed. So, Joe Dempsey. You know, I didn't know you were going to say Joe. I was on the phone to him yesterday. Were you? Yeah, yeah, because... Is he your usual soho partner well you would have been like we've gotten some mischief over the years but i mean joe is such a top lad right he's probably the nicest guy in tv in that terms but the thing with joe is obviously joe's a mad scotland fan

yes yeah um so we're just talking about having a night out we might be coming up for the it's a really strange one actually because Scotland for the first time in 20 years have the chance to go to the World Cup but we're in a playoff

against Ukraine oh really yeah so it's a really and they've oh god so we don't know what to do but I'm kind of I hope the game

goes ahead just in terms of what a chance to show a bit of solidarity yeah absolutely just put your bones through yeah I know because that's the one thing I'm kind of bit me like, I hope the game goes ahead just in terms of what a chance to show a bit of solidarity. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Just,

just, just, just, just put your bows through. Yeah, I know. Cause that's, that's the one thing.

Because no rush is gone. They won't let them through. So they can just substitute. That's the weird thing as well, because I, I, in terms of, we need to help them as much as we can,

whether it be lethal or, or non-lethal aid, refugees, but I'm not letting them win that football game. My sympathies does not extend to that. We've been waiting on this for 200 years because people are saying, but again, in some ways,

that would defeat the purpose. The point is, they're still a functioning nation and they're coming over here. And yeah, but no, we're not letting them go through. But me and Joe are... Which is your team in Scotland? Don't get it wrong.

The greatest team in the world Glasgow Celtic Celtic yeah you know and guys here congratulations cheers cheers mum

to Scotland in the World Cup yeah oh that's lovely can I just ask something is there going to be another line of duty yeah I can so this is my party line

which you're already with okay I'm very but you can tell us the truth he's holding on to the table for dear life

as he just said this like he's scared because the thing is with it right I'm delighted that people have taken it so much to their heart

honestly I've loved you from the beginning I just want you to know he's probably had that in the last six

I feel but I do feel I'm kind of like related to you a little bit really because I've watched you for so last six. I do feel I'm kind of like related to you a little bit. Really? Because I've watched you for so long. Yes, of course.

Martin or Steve? Well, Steve. Oh, right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, he's a wee shite. But every time we finish a series, we've always took like two years off. So the way, it's just that the show's got so popular now,

people are sort of determined to find out what's happening and as if there's a big mystery but it's the same as we've always done we always just Jed lets it go for a year just because he wants people to be excited to come back but also to see if there's a story if he doesn't think there's a story to tell he won't come back well you're not going to tell me the truth but I heard that is the truth no but I heard that there was a different ending and it was all to do with James Nesbitt getting

he was the real person no no and he was stuck because of Covid somewhere and he wasn't the one no so you what was the name

is it H this is amazing which are the most ridiculous like myths see that that would be up there oh really because Jimmy was on another show with Jed Dunn.

And just for a favour, just to throw in a red, but he literally came in and got the picture taken. Oh, it's a red heavy. Yeah, that's all it was. Yeah. Thank you for clearing that up. But no, you know what? In some ways, because when I saw it,

when you see it as Jimmy, that opens up this whole other world that possibly it could be him. But yeah yeah it's no there is some wild theories out there which is is fun like when you're seeing them on Twitter after

and some of them are pretty close oh my god Twitter after the episode yeah it's wild it was just the best place to be it's good the memes but some people are

like buying on on the money with some of the things and some there's one there was one going about that I think I was somebody's son and there was the letters or something,

there was something as well because I thought it was real because I said to Jed, is this true? There was an acronym of somebody's name with something but it doesn't make any sense

when he broke to that. Yeah, and there was a Scottish can, yeah, no, but that wouldn't have been it but then the girl, is it her name Shalom? I can't remember. Shalom. Yeah, but that wouldn't have been it. But then the girl,

is it her name Shalom? I can't remember. Shalom. Yeah, Shalom. So now she was supposed to be the first guy. Yeah, that was at Lenny's daughter.

That's correctly Shalom's daughter. Was she? No, no. Oh, okay. It's very heartening that people go that much into it and go that far back.

I'm absolutely obsessed. When I knew it was coming back and also because COVID was so awful and when everyone was so excited it was highly stressful on a Sunday

it was a Sunday night and you'd be like there going to bed and they didn't put them out earlier you had to be in to watch it that's the way

we've always done it and we'll never change that because the only thing with that was look it was great it started during the end of lockdown I think it was two episodes

on lockdown but the build up was just it was too much and then the end of lockdown I think there was two episodes on lockdown but the build up was just it was too much and then by that point we had everybody hooked which was great but by the last episode

I was desperate for it to end it was too much it was just there was intense it's intense and when there's a returning

show like that which I'm so chuffed about Our House coming out because Our House is a proper cliffhangers as well but we're on four

consecutive nights so it's going to be that week people are going to go wild and it's going to be done but when it's it's over six weeks like that the there's a press thing where they they've kind of got to make a there are quotes of you they've got they've got to have so many stories about you and after a while they just start pilot taking stuff from the past, like from years ago, or just kind of making stuff up. And it's just because there's a clamour for stories on you during that time. So by the time it got to... And it was like, it was surreal, man. It was like pubs had like big screens.

People were watching in the garden, like a football match. And it was kind of like... It was fantastic. But you just felt... It was an event. And also, I think, because we were quite aware that like a football match and it was kind of like but you just felt it was an event and also i think because we were quite aware that there's a thing that comes when there's such a frenzy like that there's a bloodlust everybody wanted a mental shootout to end it and because we knew it was

never going to go that way you were kind of like disappointed when they're in when no but there was an amazing shoot that scene when when the armoured car goes, oh my God, it was the best scene ever. I was chuffed to bits with that bit because Jed loves putting me through the wringer as an actor. You were. He's got a bad back in it too. Bad back.

He's fucking, well, he does no work. He's been framed for murder. He's got a pill problem. He's been fired. You're shagging the corrupt policemen. So everybody else, Adrian's got to shoot a guy. Vicky's been hanging off in trucks with machine guns. So that was sort of Steve's kind of moment.

But you kind of really got to commit to it because as cool as that looks on TV, I was by myself in a studio just pointing it through a thingy. Not to kill a bit of the mystery. So I wasn't even on the set when all that was happening. It's well edited, isn't it? It's good though.

The thing that is good is when I'm in the van, they do have firecrackers going off across the van and I love all that stuff. It's a kind of James Bond moment. Yeah. I love seeing you got the gun

and coming around the corner. Could you be a James Bond? I'd like you to be a James Bond baddie. Oh, really? Yeah, yeah. Because again, this is maybe a little,

not a wee bit exclusive for you but I just I signed my first executive producer deal this week that's a tough for what

yeah thank you so it's a show I'm doing with the world to make Line of Duty but that part will be it's a story

I've been desperate to tell for a long time and I can't believe it hasn't been told up to this point but it would be pretty epic in scale and it would be um it's a it's a period piece but it would be in the vein of spies and detectives are you starring in it yeah yeah but the reason is because a true story of a guy from glasgow um who um had this ffrindiau o Glasgow sydd wedi cael bywyd anhygoel ymlaen y byd a dyna'i ffordd cyntaf y prif ddyddir ond roedd ganddo bywyd anhygoel ac roedd yn sbaen a phethau fel hyn ac felly dydw i ddim

deall sut mae ei enw'n gyffrous oherwydd ei enw oedd synonimus â ddyddir ar ôl ond nid yw ei stori wedi cael ei ddweud felly fe wnes i ystyried y syniad hwn i byd a oedd yn rhan mawr o fy nhyrfa His name was synonymous with detectives after it, but his story's never really been told. So I pitched this idea to World, who'd been a massive part of my career, like through Line of Duty and In Plain Sight and stuff. And yeah, they went for it. So we're building this together. That's amazing. It's exciting, man.

It's daunting as well now that your name's on it. You know what I mean? It's like, yeah, seeing that side behind the camera is such a slog. You'll be all right. What's it like living in Las Vegas compared to Glasgow? Are you Glasgow? I'm Greenock, which is just about 40 miles west.

Okay. But very distinct difference if you're from there. And your wife is from Las Vegas. How does she find coming to Scotland? She loves it, but she's got a warped view of it because she's always here for summers and weddings and Christmas and all that thing. Yeah, it's always fun. Yeah, she's got a fairytale idea of it.

Because she drives me up the wall at times when she says, she says, of course, if you're up in the desert, she loves the rain. And I fucking hate the rain. Everyone does. She loves it. Oh, my God. She loves it.

And it kind of drives me mad. Because the problem is you can't do anything. Like, I don't mind cold. It's the rain. But you can't get out of the house when it's raining. And that's one of the things I love about Vegas is it's dry all the time. ddim yn gallu gwneud unrhyw beth, dwi ddim yn gofyn yn hwyl, mae'r llaw, ond dwi'n gallu gael i ffwrdd y tŷ pan fydd yn llaw ac mae hwn yn un o'r pethau dwi'n ei fwynhau am Vegas, mae'n dry yn yr holl amser, ond mae hi'n llwyddo pan fydd llaw, ond mae hi'n cael ymddiriedaeth ffantasiol o'r Sgwrtland, dwi'n meddwl, oedd, pe bai, os ydych chi yno, ond wedyn mae hi wedi gwneud hynny,

fe wnaethon ni ychydig yn ystod y wythnosau o'r olaf yn y DU cyn i mi ffwrdd, fe wnaethon i fynd yn Ogdewbr, ac mae'n ystod y llaw rwyf wedi'i ddefnyddio i'r Vegas, 4 mis, ond rwy'n meddwl in the UK just before I left. I left in October and that's the longest I've spent in Vegas, four months. But I kind of need the place because the anonymity there, I love. Has it got quite overwhelming that here? Really, you know what? I think there's been two factors in it.

One, the COVID thing. I think from that as well, people have got to drink in them especially. They're over-friendly, which I used to love. But during the COVID times and when you're working, you're nervous. Because if I get COVID, I shut down a job for 70 people. And also becoming a dad, you know, it's a nightmare going. There's this weird thing.

People are very kind and they're just curious but there's been this weird thing I've realised I don't know if you've got this of people taking I'm used to people taking sneaky pictures

of me they're not taking pictures of your kid taking pictures of my kid and then sending it to me no that's weird and it's bizarre that's really strange

and find that really strange why do they do that I don't understand why you would do they know who your child is well yeah or just because

they've followed you they've just followed but it's weird like just because they've followed you they've just followed but it's weird like I saw they'll text you they'll DM you you know what I'm saying and that's why

I've had to stop looking at DMs altogether because it would be like oh I saw you and your kid at the park didn't want to bother you but here's a picture

and you're like don't take the picture yeah I suppose you two have said hi yeah that's it but you get as well I find it bizarre

like people come up and look there's no malice in people when they do this. But genuinely, I've been out with my wee one. And somebody will come up and go, can I get a picture? And I go, I'm really sorry, but I'm with my son. And they go, oh, I think you'll hold him. And I'm like, what?

It's your child. But the thing is, there's no malice in it. People genuinely think they're just being nice, but you're just like, so that's where Vegas is really good. We can just sort of disappear over there. And I, again, I'm very lucky with my wife that she loves Scotland. She's very gorgeous. Yeah, she's all right.

You did well there. Where did you meet her? We met in a bar and she was the hostess in a bar in LA. And so I used to have this thing, it's not really a thing anymore, but there used to be this thing called pilot season in January right yeah so it's January to kind of March so the whole acting world would just descend on LA for this part

and you'd have 15 auditions a day but I had a friend who lived there and we had a sort of tradition that when I'd arrive we'd go on the piss for the first day. Oh, it seems to be quite a tradition that you have in every country. Well, I mean, it seems like I'm in good company here. Yeah.

And we, so we went to this place and it was like happy hour on a Monday. So the place was deserted. And obviously my wife, she's quite kind of strikingly beautiful, you know. She's got this incredible hair. And she was just serving us, but she had a cladder ring on, which is like an Irish promise ring. Oh! So this kind of, you know, she's a mixed race girl

with this amazing hair, American, and I'm going, why have you got an Irish promise ring? And she's like, oh, my dad's Irish. Also, great way in. Oh, very good. Do you think someone might have promised her? No, because it's the way it's pointing. Oh, how do you know so much about this?

Well, I've got Irish family and all that kind of thing as well. You know, you just haven't, like growing up the West Coast has gone. So it points one way and that means you're betrothed? That means it's game on. Yeah, the other way around.

Crikey, Jessie, I need to get one. I'll get you one So I I saw that And then I just I mean I'd grown up For better or worse Grown up a West Coast Catholic and Scotland

Celtic fan You know all the Irish rebel songs And all the old folk songs So Did you sing something to her? I did indeed No I can't sing

So don't ask me to How many drinks were you in by the way? Oh I was a right few And it was happy hour And what was the song? I think I sang her The Fields of Ath and what was the song I think I sang of the fields of Athenry oh my god

I sang of Grace yeah which Grace is I think it's one of the most beautiful love songs ever written it's about during the

Easter rise and Joseph Mary Ponca and Grace Gifford so he was he was one of the instigators of the Irish rising which failed and when he was he was one of the instigators of the Irish Rising which failed

and when he was about to be executed they let him marry his long term love so yeah listen to that song it's like improv

I mean you got the part in pilot season no I know listen to that song and it's just literally about a couple getting married just before one of them was about to die.

And it's like, but it's a beautiful, beautiful song. And who taught you that song? It's just something growing up where I grew up, you know. But it's a weird thing because it was... But hold on, this is, you're singing this song to this woman that you are now married to. Yeah. And I mean, I can't imagine that you'd have that much conversation

before you... We did because in terms of, I said it was Monday morning happy hour, so there was nobody else in the bar. So unfortunately... It's from afternoon to Monday morning now. Okay. Monday morning happy hour? Yeah, no.

Did I hear that right? He started it with afternoon, but now it's morning. Well, it's that 11 to noon. Okay, got it. So she was kind of forced to put up with me, my pal, for several hours. What was this bar? Singing, mordling Irish songs. Yeah, yeah.

But she was getting the right kick out of it because she was calling her dad and going, like, you know, there's this guy. Oh, do you know this one, dad? Oh, my God. You met the parent on the first... Well, I think she texted him the first one and his first question back was Celtic or Rangers. Oh, my God. So I think saying Celtic kind of got me in.

It was called the Hudson, the bar. It's closed down, unfortunately, saying Celtic kind of got me in it was called the Hudson the bar it's closed down unfortunately but we still drive by it but it was yeah it was just amazing like I wasn't even

going to go out that day it was just amazing like we walked into that bar that day and I think about it and go and if I didn't then no she's my wife we have a kid together now

and if I didn't go into that bar that day I mean I suppose everybody feels that way yeah that's it we wouldn't have the little terror that's an amazing

way to meet that's it. We wouldn't have the little tear up. That's an amazing way to meet. That's phenomenal. So we need to ask about food. Yeah. So you grew up with, who was around the table and what were you eating um we weren't this is a kind of funny thing i didn't realize i i and my apologies yes but i didn't realize i kind of thought my mum was a bad cook and it's just that i realized after traveling my dad

likes shit food um because it took a while until I was travelling, like all our food was overcooked, everything was in it. But that's the way my dad likes it. Still, I'll take him to a beautiful steak restaurant and he will literally say

the way I make it, burnt. I want it burnt. Well, well, well, well done. And I'm like, there's no taste in it. But that's the way it took me a long time

to come back travelling and my mum cooking it and saying, Mum, can you mind doing my medium? She went, oh yeah, of course, son. And then all of a sudden

I went, I thought in my head for the whole time that it was my mum's bad cooking but it was just my dad's eating habits so what's like a memorable dish from your childhood well the one thing

I love you've got a smile on your face well the one thing I love which is because we on Christmas day we always ordered

Chinese takeaway like the Jews I love what do the Jews do in New York. It was just our tradition. And were their places open? Yeah, yeah, yeah. The Chinese was always open on Christmas day. Even open to sit in. But we'd

order the whole menu and we'd put a big cloth out on the floor. How exciting! Yeah, it was great. Maybe we should do that one year. Sam, my husband, will never let you do that. But you know, because never let you do that but you know because it's funny that as well I took

because I remember that was our tradition my ex-girlfriend we'd went out for quite a long time and you'd alternate Christmases and I remember

taking her to Christmas dinner for a Chinese and she was mortified and yeah just because I think she was just looking forward to her traditional

kind of thing but we'd do it on Boxing Day we would do the traditional thing. Oh, okay. So would you have a turkey on the Boxing Day? Yeah, we'd do all that stuff on Boxing Day. So where did this tradition come from? I don't know, probably just laziness.

But Sunday night as well, our Sunday dinner was always a Chinese. But there's a very specific... Scottish and Irish Chinese is different to anywhere else. It's the curry sauce it's um yeah the Chinese curry sauce sauce it's um

it's a I it's that's my favourite dish a beef curry and chips um I and I can't wait to get home

but nowhere else does it it's only Northern Ireland and Scotland does it the way we do it because every you come down here it's sort of like I don't know

like beef and black bean and all that kind of thing but a dirty really good dirty beef curry beef curry and chips oh it of thing. But a dirty, really good, dirty beef curry. Beef curry and chips. I'm buzzing to get up as soon as well. As soon as I get to my mum's house, there'll be one waiting for me.

You're very proud of your heritage, aren't you? I think you've got to be in some ways, haven't you? Like, I think throughout my career and throughout my life, I think there's something to be said for having a chip on your shoulder. But I think I've always had something to prove. I think people kind of maybe in terms look down on us a little bit

and look down on our accent and stuff. So I think you've got to kind of fight for everything. But I think there's been a massive sea change in that in the last few years. I think accents from all over Britain are now on TV. It used to fucking break my heart when I did a show, which I loved, for instance, say Monica de Glenn 20 years ago. But when I'd get into ADR, they'd make me redo my whole performance

and just go put a T on the end of the word. And I'd be sitting there going... That's not how it's made. No, it's just like... What I'm saying is completely clear. It's clarified. If you don't understand that, you don't want to understand it. But that's changed massively now. Even it was really heartening doing our house coming in and don't get me wrong there's lines where i mumble and i need to redo it that that that happens

but there's been a huge change in the last couple of years just i think things like peaky blinders and birmingham accents has really changed that and you're now hearing scouse accents manchester geordie but you are the master of accents I would never have believed you were Scottish as Steve Arnott I'm really not

how did you do it that's the thing I'm really not good at accents I got lucky because I was doing a film called Piggy with Paul Anderson who's Arthur Shelby

and thingy so me and Paul were doing a film and I was playing a Cockney guy in that and I stay in accents when I'm doing them I don't like

from when we start I don't break them I don't stay in character I just stay in accent and so luckily when the Line of Duty edition came through I was already

in a London accent again which is sliding doors but would you say that was because it was slightly flat oh yeah

flatter than London but I think it's kind of Essex. Yeah, Essex, definitely. I actually based a bit of it on Nick Leeson. You remember the Rogue Trader guy? Oh, yes. I based a bit of it on him.

I listened to him for a while. So do you just listen to it till you get it right? I just do. It's like going to the gym for a week to even see if I stay in it. Because when it is awkward is when, so I stay in it the whole time when a friend

is cast in a new series so if it's somebody like Stephen Graham who's somebody I've been close to for a long time it's jarring for them for me to meet me

in a London accent and I just stay in that thing but the dialogue in that show is so challenging and so heavy like if you're going into one of those

25 page interview scenes and you've got these fabulous actors across the table and you're worried about your accent you're going into one of those 25 page interview scenes and you've got these fabulous actors across the table and you're worried about your accent, you're going to be in trouble. So it has to be that good

that I don't worry about it. So I have to stay in it. You know it gets good when you start talking to yourself in an English accent. Wow. You know,

when you get up in the morning and you start dreaming and stuff, that's when I know I'm in the zone. Genuinely, it is like going to the gym. The more you do it, the better you get up in the morning and you start dreaming and stuff, that's when I know I'm in the zone. Genuinely, it is like going to the gym. The more you do it, the better you get. And I can feel...

So maybe I was really strict about it in the early years where I didn't break it at all. But maybe the odd night now, like if my wife's visiting or something, I'll stop it. But I can tell the next day. Like, I can feel the next day it's not as good as it was. So I... But maybe that's just in my head. But yeah, I really feel I next day it's not as good as it was but maybe that's just in my head

but yeah I really feel I need to stay in it or I feel like it's struggling I cringe when I watch the first series back because I think I'm I can tell those moments I'm really straining with certain words and I'm more worried about I thought actually

looking back I think my performance is quite flat in the first one because I'm up opposite this incredible actor, Lenny James, a lot of it. And he's from London and I'm so worried about getting the accent right that I'll let it affect. You're quite self-critical. Actually, I kind of believe I haven't told you this actually already. I kind of used you one bit for a wee bit of work for Line of Duty. Mother! You're missing this! What's this, darling?

You inspired Martin's performance. Can we say this? Oh yeah, kind of, because basically I was trying to get back into the accent. So what I start listening to people from thingy and I'd, and Dermot's a really good sounding board for the accent. Oh. So I listened to, Dermot was here. How interesting! Yeah, yeah.

And it sounded, I know, I was like I know I was like I want a piece of that that sounded like fun so you were a semi you were a semi professional footballer I was a professional sorry I'm so sorry

you were professional I played two games and we got beat both 4-0 so ok so you were a professional footballer

but you were also acting so I saw you way back when in Sweet 16 how old were you when that 17 so you're doing two

yeah it's the 20th anniversary of that this year are you doing anything for it yeah we're having they're doing like a gala screening in Glasgow in a couple of weeks

that's nice I'm excited man and it's also because what's became mad about that is it's a lot of students study it it's on drama courses It's great

So it's Your performance is amazing So Han you were you were being a professional footballer Yeah Whilst doing that It was a weird time so I just Because that was was that the beginning of your acting Yes

Because that was like your first thing and you're not were you trained Well I did bits no I did bits at school but just being where I'm'm from, it's not something that was considered a viable career. My teachers always wanted me to be the dame in the school plays, but my mates would have battered me. You know what I mean? It was just something you couldn't really do. And then all these sort of events fell in where I saw My Name is Joel by accident.

And I just loved that film because I went to see I was on like a double date and we'd went to see some blockbuster and we'd missed it so the only other film was My Name Is Joe and it just blew my mind because I didn't know voices like mine could be on a big screen and I was like I know these characters, I understand

these characters, I relate to them and I went I can do that and then just by chance Ken Loach who directed my name is joe was casting for sweet 16 at my school the next year i know i mean the chances of that are and i still remember vividly my my teacher uh mr harkins who was also my he was also the school football coach and um he was the dad of one of my close pals and he came to me in the corridor and said, look, there's this film happening

and they're coming to the school looking for kids and the kid they're explaining is you. You could do this. I want you to meet them. I now know that was a cheeky wee gobshite. You know what I mean? Like, I get that now, but yeah, I remember that vividly

because that moment's probably changed my life and thanks to him for for believing in me and um but yeah that it's just all those moments fell in because i didn't per se know who ken loach was but he said it's the guy that did my name is joe and i was like i'm i'm going for this yeah and i just it was a bizarre thing like i've never felt more at home when i was on set and now looking back if i I walked onto a set now with a new director stuff, I wouldn't try half the stuff I tried then. In some ways in my career, I'm trying to get back to that kid

because I was fearless. I didn't know what I was doing. I didn't worry about camera angles. I didn't worry about whose take it was. I didn't worry about who you were or how important. I just believed in the truth of it. And I knew that story because it was set and't worry about who you were or how important i just i just believed in the truth of it and i knew that story because it was set and sort of around my town so i was like when people were saying something i was going no no no that wouldn't happen we'd do it like this

and the directors were like all right let's do it but now looking back i'm like the leverage they gave me was was insane and i would never ask the questions I asked that quickly early on a new job um so I'm kind of trying to get back to that but I'll be forever grateful for them to for taking a chance on me and and they were great to me afterwards and also look they could have gave me buttons they didn't give me a lot of money but they paid me what a leading actor in an indie movie should have been paid um and that set me up for a couple of months where I could take my time and think about whether I really wanted to do acting or football.

And when it came to The Crunch, yeah, I just went for acting. What did your parents think? My mum was really adamant that I had to get my grades from school. I was actually, again, for being a... It's funny when you talk about cooking. Around the house, I can't change a light bulb. I can't change a socket. I'm fucking close with that.

I didn't crack my first egg until I was in my 30s. I threw a few eggs before then, but I hadn't... And the only reason I cracked it as well is because people found that out at a party after Tea in the Park and everybody was obsessed with me cracking an egg. And because I was drunk, one crack, bang,

smashed it. Martin, it's slightly under and if it's too under for you, you can, we can fry it off. No, let's have a go.

No, that's perfect. As long as there's no blood. This looks delish. So, okay, so, I love this.

The cracking eggs story came from Tea in the Park, a festival that is, you know, a Scottish festival. It's the biggest Scottish festival yeah well unfortunately

I went to that it's not there anymore no I went to it ten years in a row as well oh wow do you want some veg

yeah give me a wee bit you're not into veg no but give me a wee bit my wife's getting me into it hold on a minute you're gonna have three do you want some peas nah I'm alright for peas

oh mum he's not a veg boy he's not a veg boy I can be like my wife's got like my wife's mushrooms and her carrots and her asparagus is

are pretty amazing she tries to my wife that's again I think I've she because my wife is amazing at DIY

like she this is okay this is interesting so you can't do it I can't so you're the cook now I'm literally no so she's the cook

I'm kind of the skivvy in the house like literally when we're at home because she loves she loves her DIY she loves building shelves and putting stuff up

so I'm always standing behind her with the baby and the drill bits and she just tells me and she's up the ladder looking you're a teen

yeah yeah so she would tell me what she needs and I'll run about doing it so you're not the cook no but you're the sous chef maybe no nothing

I can't I can't, I can't. I literally am... The Jumon? It was funny, my wife taught me how to cook a lemon pepper chicken with this bacon-wrapped asparagus. Ooh.

Which was lovely, and the only time I've actually ever cooked it, I cooked it for Vicky McClure and Adrian when we were in Line of Duty. And so Adrian's a great cook and Vicky can cook. So we'd always be round there as eating.

And it took me a while after to figure this out. But so we're saying, I think we were eating at like seven. I said, I'll cook it, you come round.

And they turned up at the door at half five. Do you want a bit of? I don't think it's great. Oh, I'm sure it's great, Mum. You'll have a wee bit of that on the veg, thanks. Oh, it's yum.

Yeah, it's great. So they turned up like a wee bit of that on the veg, thanks. Oh, it's yum. Yeah, it's great. So they turned up... On the veg. He wants the gravy on the veg to mask the taste of vegetable. Well, it just brings out the flavour, I think. Go on. They turned up at 5.30? Yeah, because I thought they were like,

oh, we've got a nice bottle of wine, we just want to catch up and all that. And I realise now it was because they wanted to keep an eye on me cooking and they would they would pop up every second going oh maybe that's just a wee bit overdone maybe you want to get that and how do you feel about people doing that when you're well i never cook so i don't mind i think that's literally the only time i've ever cooked for people we ask everybody starter main pudding drink of choice. Right. Starter would be chicken wings. I've kind of named them all out.

Where from? It kind of depends. Where's the best one I've had? Again, I find the ones out of chicken shops in London, after I've had a few drinks. I'm sorry, this is a recurring theme. They're so addictive. The ones you can go and just give me 16 of them.

But even, I love KFC wings, you know, the spicy hot ones, but probably there's a place called Big Wangs in LA, which do some pretty good lemon and pepper, extra crispy lemon and pepper with some ranch dressing. I love ranch dressing.

I can't believe that ranch is not a big thing over here. It's so good. I adore it. So I'd probably go with those. I've said the main, I'm sure, the beef curry chips. Yeah. Beef curry with onions, curry sauce, chips. I've never been a massive pudding guy.

Right. Actually, you know what? The starter could be between chicken wings and crispy duck. Oh, nice. I love a bit of crispy duck. Yeah, with the pancakes and stuff I mean

there's one thing there's one starter dessert that's always kind of wound me up and I had this I don't know if you're Craig Parkinson who is a foodie

now I've never had this in my life and I don't know one Scottish person who's had a deep fried Mars bar it drives me up the wall

so why because it's a tourist trap because there's literally people who come to this one thing and they think it's how Scottish people eat but it'll drive me up the wall. So why do, why? Because it's a tourist trap because there's literally people who come to this one thing and they think it's how Scottish people eat. But it'll drive me up because I remember then my friend used to give me,

who's a real foodie, used to give me right shit about that all the time. Wasn't it a joke though? They'll decry everything. Yeah. But then, so he told me. Did you find it quite offensive then?

No, I just, this is when I found it offensive because my mate, who's a right foodie, who's a right foodie, who's a right foodie, he couldn't wait because he was going to Craig Parkinson.

He said, I'm going to Heston Blumenthal who's an incredible chef. Oh God. But he said... You smell porridge there. But he said, I can't wait to try

his bacon and egg ice cream. Oh yeah. And I'm like, are you fucking mad? So because he's got a fancy name, bacon and egg ice cream is amazing but a deep fried Mars bar

is sacrilege so desserts are quite political for me but I'd probably I don't know like I don't know I mean what would you recommend

what would you say is a good I'm not that fussed about pudding actually mum mum has done and actually you're so good at it

what your roulade I've done a roulade and she's done raspberries because you're Scottish I don it. What? Your roulade. I've done a roulade. Raspberries because you're Scottish. Is that a thing? Apparently. If ever you want like high-class raspberries it says Scottish raspberries. Oh that's a good point. Wow. Yeah. Oh wow. Now you said you weren't a pudding man. Well you have a bit. But it kind of looks like a kebab so it's good. This is really nice, Mum.

Oh, that's lovely. It's so true, it's delicious. It's good, right? Really good. Is it slightly frozen in the middle? A little bit, but I like that. Yeah, me too. So was it in the fridge?

Are you frozen strawberries? Frozen raspberries. And I think it kind of works slightly better. Yes. And what is that around the end is that paper what is the it's meringue

this is lovely man so it's like yeah a soft meringue so you know meringues are usually quite like hard but this is like

chewy and soft mum that's delicious is it that's my fruit ration for the day as well oh my god well done god you don't do well

with your five a day darling how does the the next how long are you in the UK for did you ask him about done god you don't do well with your five a day darling how does the the next how long are you in the UK for did you ask him about drink

his favourite drink oh yeah what's your drink of choice red wine iron brew of course really yeah

oh yeah can you get it in the states yeah there's a wee shop found a wee shop but no there's a

mainly a Malbec well for Ed I love a pint of Tennant I love a pint of Magnars in Ireland getting a pint of Magnars out the tap

is beautiful but do you like Tennant? yeah yeah yeah but you know what I like it in the terms of I grew up with it it's because it's familiar

well it's because yeah I've been drinking it since I was about 10 yeah it's familiar it can't be because of the quality. Yeah, it was just when I get home.

You're a romantic, aren't you? You are romantic. Everything. I love it. It's like, I believe also in fate, but you've had the chance encounter with your wife. You've got this kind of romance around Christmas with the Chinese takeaway.

I love it. The fact that your first acting job was this film that you went on a double date the year before was inspired by, you know, I mean... Can I just ask, what were you drinking at happy hour when you met her? Tenants. What was she serving?

Not tenants. She can't get it in LA. Well, I've got a tenant's tap in my house. Oh, my God. Yeah, I've got an actual working tap in my house, tenant's tap. Well, how do you get it in? Well, I need to call tenant's tap in my house. Oh, my God. Yeah, I've got an actual working tap in my house, tenant's tap. Well, how do you get it in? Well, I need to call them to get me a barrel because I've got a stock.

What would I be drinking? I love Maker's Mark bourbon. Me too. What is it? Bourbon. I really like a Maker's Mark. Because it's a weird story with that as well. I did a film called Soul Boy about Northern Soul,

and I love Northern Soul music now. I'm obsessed with it. Okay, favourite artist? Well, that's the thing with Northern Soul. There wasn't really... I need a playlist done by you. Yeah, Vaughan Baker.

You Didn't Say a Word is an incredible song. It should have been a Bond anthem. But from that, I had to learn to dance to have to do because they're the most... What's this film called?

Soul Boy. Oh, we should watch it. It was myself and Felicity Jones and Felicity's an incredible I'm really I mean the only thing is

it's a great film up until the last ten minutes when there's a dance off between me and Craig Parkinson and neither of us that good

so you've seen all these amazing dancers throughout the film Craig Parkinson who's in yeah yeah I've worked with Craig's one of my

best friends I've done like five jobs he's in Line of Duty he's the caddy the caddy oh yeah

but isn't he much older than you no well five years oh but I so for learning to dance with that

for that film I had to go live with a guy called Keb Dard who's like a legend in the Northern Soul game but you should remember Madam Jojo's

yeah I love it he was the DJ in there but he he's like what I learned as well because it's all high kicks and flips

so all the guys were actually like ex-kickboxers and stuff they all did martial arts aside so I stayed in his house where they taught me to spin but he'd just sit

on a chair like this with his feet crossed with his top off and his boxers and a bamboo stick like got a fucking whip on the floor

going spin you fucker spin Jesus Christ and then he would then part of my reward would be a glass of Maker's Mark

so like proper sort of tortured in my head like I was for those weeks so did you get drunk or were you sober as a judge

I was how good were your kicks no the kicks and the flips turned out alright because at the time I was really fit good were your kicks no the kicks and the flips turned out alright because at the time I was really fit

like I'm just I hadn't long stopped football and I'm kind of lucky because I although I can't cook I do have a massive

appetite like I can eat and eat and eat so I'm lucky that I do actually are you greedy kind of like if I

if I get shared pizza I'm like I'm marking out what bits are mine from the off you know I'm like I'm marking out what bits are mine from the off you know I'm looking at the big parts

going that's mine but yeah just from him I think there's just a weird association like I maker's mark

is like a treat for me so I've been drinking that beer but there's a excuse me I'm a Malbec man

but there's a Cab Sav which you get in America called Josh from Josh Sellers and I can drink it And it's too easy to drink

Expensive wine No that's the thing With this It's only 11 bucks Oh great Where is it from Where did you get it You can get it all over America

But it's only in America God you pay Mom we're in LA In five weeks We're going to LA But we all pay twice As much as that

For a glass Get Josh Josh Cab Sav And it's funny Because when you go Into a restaurant it's like $50 a bottle but you can go to

the local discount store and get it for $10 that's what we're going to do that's what we're going to do drink Cab Sav

Josh that's the one Martin before you go and do the one show just slightly shushed well yeah we've got a few

more questions to ask you your karaoke song Brown Eyed Girl mainly because I can't sing Sam Morrison yeah because you can just go

everybody sing sha la la la la and you don't need to do it because it's the one thing and I'm genuinely not one of those guys who go I can't sing

and then bust out a song those people annoy the life out of me because I would do anything if I could just give me one song if I could sing one song and I could do that

all day I'd be happy have you ever had to sing on a film? Yes, and they've dubbed me. Oh, that's so true. And I feel like you're such a doer. You really would have tried your hardest to have sung that song.

Well, if they gave me a coach or something, but it was never anything with a budget. But I, it was one thing that terrified me. I had to sing. Actually, they didn't dub me in this. I had to sing, I did a film with in this I had to sing I did a film with Keira Knightley and I have to

fake play piano and sing what's the major da da da da da da da I can't remember the name of the song but it's a

it's like a the best way to describe it is like a 1940s rap it's like it's a weird old thingy song and I had to do that and then I have to sing

another song but I'm trying to antagonise Alexander Skarsgård who is a fucking giant he's Tarzan yeah

and so I'm trying to wind him up and so I've got I had a couple of vodkas before to try and get me in the zone so singing this thing and then it's the weirdest standoff ever because I mean I'm

it feels a thing like I'm 5'8 but anybody I've had a grievance with in a show whether it be Alexander Skarsgård Rupert Penry-Jones in this job Craig Parkinson, Neil Morrissey, they're all 6'4 it's brutal man and it's so

literally going toe to toe with Tarzan after playing the piano and singing it was a terrifying day of work terrifying. Did it pay off? It looks good because I look like a right cocky little bastard. Martin, finally, before you go, have you got good table manners? Well, I'm sitting here with my elbows at the table. It depends on the setting, doesn't it?

I think I can be very well behaved. And yeah, or I can be a bit mischievous. We like to think that you've got your elbows on the table because you've had a nice day. Oh, I've done, guys. These are ruining the time. Do you need a coffee

before you go? I'm okay. I will try and get a nap in the car. Will you? Yeah. Thank you so much for doing this.

And good luck with our house. It's been on for a couple of nights already. Go and watch it if you haven't started watching it, which I'm sure you've already been watching it, but catch up.

Guys, I'd love this. Oh, good. Tell all your friends to come. Yeah, we've got a little warm glow about me now. Oh, good. Bum. Don't you such a delight he did not disappoint um bum we were the remedy to his arduous promo day he's had an awful day and i think he came a little bit reserved yeah i think he was tired yeah tired reserved jet lagged we sorted him out

probably actually dreading the idea of having to sit with us for two hours and chew the fat but how he loved it and thanked us we had so many hugs from Martin proper hugs darling love him just an absolute pleasure to have Martin Comston

chatting with us, giving us a few exclusives. Mum, you missed this, but you didn't hear. But when he needed to get back, when he was talking about the accent, he was listening to Table Manners, Dermot O'Leary's episode to really get him into the swing of things. Why Dermot O'Leary? Because he said it was quite, he's got a good voice for the accent. And I guess Dermot's a bit Essex, isn't he? Of course he is, darling. He's from Essex.

Yeah, anyway, so you're welcome, Jed Mercurio. That food was delicious. Did you like it? Ginger pig did us proud again. Loved it. Another Steve. Yeah, loved it. That roulade was chewy and delightful. Your dauphinoise, how many cloves of garlic did you have in the dauphinoise?

Three to four. Oh. I grated them in. Heaven. And it's the first time I've done it that way. Often I've infused the milk with garlic and then taken it out. Didn't need to. But I think actually leaving the garlic in was worth it.

I could taste it more and it was heaven. And I do think a little hack, if you're doing raspberry roulade, use frozen raspberries and let them thaw out once you've made it. It keeps the whole dessert cold so you don't have to put it in the fridge and the raspberries stay whole. Loved it, Mum.

Thank you. Pleasure. And thank you for listening and thank you, Martin. Oh, what a delight. Good luck with the show. Yeah, absolutely. Our house is out now. Go and watch it on RTV. RTV.