Steve Delaney has been on the Arthur Strong facebook page to answer some of the concerns voiced by longterm fans of the radio series. Here is an edited transcript of the highlights
Marie Graves: r..u goin to tour again arthur.saw you at the regent theatre stoke,laughed till we cried,brilliant Mr S .x
Arthur Strong: Will definitely tour again. I love the live stuff. It’s a chance to behave disgracefully again, but not until 2015 I’m afraid. Pretty sure well be back at the Regent too!
Marie Graves: love the show Mr .S x
Arthur Strong: Love your post Mrs G!
Stuart Hammett: funny in parts but it doesn’t come across as Count Arthur Strong. Count Arthur is never wrong and will argue his case and often determined to make several attempts to find the right word. In the sitcom I just see a confused mold mannered elderly bloke
Arthur Strong: Well Stuart I’m the guy who knows what Arthur will do and won’t do. Television isn’t radio. What works on the radio will often not work on tv. For the record I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved with the tv series and I love the fact that on tv things can be a little more subtle. On the radio for instance I spent half the episode describing what I was doing to people that couldn’t see what I was doing. That may have seemed like a character trait but it was actually an audio necessity. Don’t get me wrong, I loved working in radio but for me the tv series is a totally natural progression. So sorry if you don’t get it. The bottom line with the radio series was, how many more times could I repeat the format? And what was in it for me in terms of furthering what I do with Arthur? Arthur can’t stand still, he has to develop. You’ve seen two episodes so far and the BBC have paid us the huge compliment of giving us two series to develop the show. It would be nice to be given some time in this twitter/Facebook age in which we live. For better or worse. Here endeth today’s sermon!
Stuart Hammett: Don’t get me wrong. I still think its very funny. I don’t expect it to be the same as radio. What I mean Arthur seems to be missing some traits (is that the word?) the way Count Arthur conducts himself. Like last night he called the Internet “Ilfracombe”. utterly brilliant but in the past its hilarious when he makes three attempts and finally gets the right word after cursing himself “oh sod it!”. Or in certain scenarios when he’s in the wrong but will always make out its someone’s else’s fault. a really unique character. That’s what I was trying to explain
Arthur Strong: Okay Stuart I get you now. But….we do have two series to define the tv Arthur and it will be different to the radio Arthur. It has to be. I suppose I’d just like people to stay with the show and be patient. Unfortunately some people expect the show to be all things to all people at once. I don’t think that’s reasonable really. There’s a transition going on. And to reiterate I love the subtle differences in the visual Arthur. It’s like a breath of fresh air to me both as performer and co writer. And I have to say Graham Linehan has brought nothing but freshness and inventiveness to the show. It’s a treat for us to work together. I hope you stay with it but it may be that you remain a fan of the radio work.
Stuart Hammett: oh I’ll keep watching without question. Its very rare that I make a point of switching the tv on for myself and last night I did that. So maybe I expect too much but either way CAS is a very unique funny character
Paul Carter: If I had ANY complaint at all it would be that TV Arthur doesn’t look old enough… otherwise, I larfed like a drain!!
Arthur Strong I can’t help having the physique of an Adonis Paul. It’s a cross I have to bear.
Paul Carter me too Arthur, it’s hell
Iain Cochrane: Aside from Arthur’s subtle, necessary transitional changes, I think there are one or two unnecessary major ones. His reliance on meat and, more importantly, alcohol have been very underplayed which is strange given how central to the radio Arthur these commodities are. Also, what has happened to Wilf, Jerry, Geoffrey, Malcolm, Sally et al? Surely the new writing allows for the characters we all know and love to follow Arthur on to the telly? I get the feeling that Arthur may have been diluted by an annoyingly ‘right-on’ BBC who think that his level of alcohol consumption may be ‘glorified’. Will Arthur ever con Jerry (or whoever the new landlord is) out of a pint or two? For the record, I’m loving the show. Rant over.
Arthur Strong: Iain, it’s not the radio show. The radio show was the radio show. I don’t want to do a television version of the radio show. The BBC didn’t want a television version of the radio show. I wrote 44 episodes of the radio show. Cut me some slack! The actors in the radio show played up to 4 characters each some episodes. Dave Mounfield played Jerry, Jack and Geoffrey. Do you see what the implications of that are? Sorry if I’m banging on but I’m getting rather frustrated re why characters from the radio show are not in the tv version. It’s not the tv show of the radio show. It’s a new start. Its different.
Iain Cochrane: OK, I get it. It’s a new start for Arthur. I will always be fan of such a complete comedy character whatever he does because he generally makes me laugh. I don’t mean to cause you frustration. You must have worked very hard on the new format so I’m sorry for that. I guess I just miss the old guard because they all had a charm of their own. But you’re right; onwards and upwards. Looking forward to Monday…
Arthur Strong: Thanks Iain. I do understand what the radio show meant to some people. It meant the same to me.
Andrew Duncan: I’ve noticed that in the radio show, you were all just voices whereas in the TV show, many of you have faces, and some even have bodies. Was this a conscious decision on your part?
Ellen Loudon: So. To summarise. Radio Arthur is different to tv Arthur. But they are the same as well. But different as well. & he’s got some different friends. X
Mike Brain: Very much enjoying the show & have introduced family members to CAS with success. I I must admit Michael is a breath of fresh air in Arthurs life. Because he was a new character yet so pivotal to the show I wasn’t sure if he’d work, that he’d take something away from CAS but how wrong was I?! Not only is the character strong but the performances by Rory Kinnear are superb. Just to add, when Michael (Rory) put his finger to his lips to silence the child as you drove by in the ice-cream van was both hilarious & creepy in equal measures – a visual delight. Roll on Monday..
Arthur Strong: You’re absolutely right Mike when you talk about Rory as Michael. He brings so much with him. And he has some great comic moments too. There is more emphasis on the supporting cast too, who all have their moments throughout the series and hopefully we’ve introduced some pathos which didn’t exist in the radio show. For me it’s different and more exciting for that.
