Freeview Focus on... Daniel Casey

27 January 2011

Daniel Casey is an English actor with an impressive performance CV, appearing across the Freeview channels. After starring in Our Friends in the North on BBC Two, Daniel went on to play Sgt. Gavin Troy in ITV’s crime drama Midsomer Murders. Daniel will join the cast of Marchlands, a new supernatural drama on ITV1, playing the role of Scott.

1. Tell us about Marchlands…...

Marchlands is the story of three families who live in the same house over successive generations: one in the 60s, one in the 80s and one in the present day. The story revolves around a strange presence in the house and how that impacts on the lives of the families who live there.

I play grown up Scott, who lived in Marchlands when he was a teenager. He now runs the village shop and meets Nisha ( Shelley Conn) who is pregnant and has just moved into the house. This meeting takes him back to the most traumatic of his life and he worries how living there will affect her. Some very strange things happen and it’s very spooky and rather scary!

2. You’ve starred in Midsomer Murders and appeared in the Doctors and The Bill - what is the standout moment of your TV career?

I am lucky to have really enjoyed every job I've done in my career. Obviously Midsomer Murders was brilliant for me. I loved working with John, and Troy was a joy to play what with all his hang ups and bad driving. However, my first job playing Anthony Cox in Our Friends In The North is still the standout moment for me. It was my first main TV role and the show has become an iconic series. Peter Flannery's writing is wonderful and the cast was amazing. Mark Strong said to me at the time “Not all the scripts you get in the future will be like this you know!” He was right, it certainly was a classic.

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

There have been a lot of dramas I have enjoyed over the past year but my top TV moment is a sporting one. The climax to the Ryder Cup was amazing and pure drama. It ended with one man, Graeme MacDowell, having to putt to win the Ryder Cup on the very last hole, in the very last match. Brilliant!

4. What television series, old or new, do you think of as ‘Unmissable TV’ and why?

Curb Your Enthusiasm on More4 is Unmissable TV for me because it is the comedy of embarrassment. Larry David's character never really does anything wrong but ends up in the most excruciating situations imaginable. I have to admit that some of it makes me squirm so much I have hide behind a cushion.

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

I have really loved Zen on BBC One and Upstairs Downstairs (BBC One) was also excellent. I'm really looking forward to more Luther on BBC One, it was really gripping.

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

I would like to work with Al Pacino because he has been my acting hero since I watched The Godfather and Scarface. It would be amazing to work with him. It would also be wonderful to work with the four from Our Friends in the North again - Mark Strong, Christopher Eccleston, Gina McKee and Daniel Craig have all gone on to do some great things.

7. Tell us your guilty TV pleasure.

My guilty TV pleasure is America’s Next Top Model on Living TV. My wife watches avidly and I pretend to put up with it, but secretly I can't wait to see the cat fights and Tyra Bank's fierce comments!

8. Who was your childhood TV hero and why?

Funnily enough I loved Bergerac when I was a little boy. My uncle Norman looked really like John Nettles and was all action like Jim Bergerac. I remember playing it and being Bergerac, so John was my hero but don't tell him!

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

My wife is expecting our second child in February so we have been watching the new series of One Born Every Minute on Channel 4. There's nothing like being a parent, getting all emotional at the sight of a baby being born!

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

I have an unsightly big toe due to an in growing toenail I had when I was 19. IT’S NOT PRETTY!

Marchlands begins on February 3rd at 9pm on ITV1 and ITV1 HD. For more info, vist ITV's webpage here .