Freeview Focus on.... Martin Trenaman

29 September 2010

PhoneShop returns to E4 on Thursday 7 October at 10pm for a full series. We caught up with Martin Trenaman, who plays Lance, to grill him about the show and why he’ll never forget doing the Hokey Cokey with Bill Bailey.

Martin Trenaman has an impressive comedy CV since winning 1994’s So You Think You’re Funny. He’s appeared in The Inbetweeners as Simon’s Dad Mr Cooper, on stage with Lee Evans and in the critically acclaimed PhoneShop pilot on E4, playing the part of store manager Lance.

1. Tell us about PhoneShop?

   PhoneShop is a new comedy series on E4 and I play store manager Lance Crisp. He’s worked there for too long and should have moved on but takes his job at the Sutton branch very seriously. I’d describe him as the ‘embarrassing dad’ of the piece, getting things wrong but just about steering the ship.

2. You’ve worked with Lee Evans and appeared in The Inbetweeners. What is the standout moment of your TV career?

   Doing the Hokey Cokey in German on-stage with Bill Bailey at the Hammersmith Apollo for his DVD. It was a bit surreal and we were still rehearsing it during the interval but thankfully it all came together on stage.

3. What is your ‘Top TV’ moment from the past year?

   When the television announcer said this was the last ever Big Brother.

4. Do you have a television series, old or new, that you think is ‘Unmissable TV’?

   I love Family Guy and The Simpsons.

5. Tell us what shows you are watching or recording at the moment?

   I always tune in to Question Time and I really enjoyed the live TV election debates earlier this year.

6. Which actor or actress would you most like to work with and why?

   Bill Murray because I’ve always been a fan of his dead-pan humour. In Caddyshack he was brilliant. He sticks to his own thing and I love that.

7. Tell us your guilty TV pleasure?

   Masterchef. I love cooking and I like to think I’m alright at it but I wouldn’t like all the shouting so prefer to watch that on the TV. My signature dish is trout with almonds - it sounds unusual but trust me it works!

8. Who was your childhood TV hero and why?

   Tommy Cooper because he was a one-off. No one else could do that or even come close. Tony Hancock is a big inspiration of mine too.

9. When was the last time TV made you cry?

   When my three year old son lost the TV remote. Ironically, the last episode of Lost was about to start and we had the whole living room turned upside down.

10. Now Freeview HD is available, which part of your body would you least likely to see in high definition?

    My toned six pack because it wouldn’t be fair on everyone else