After working with Jenny on an emergency delivery he realises he does want to stay and maybe they can work together after all. It's not that he
dislikes Jenny it's more the fact that he really wanted the role of Matron. Everyone also keeps telling him the job should have been his. Adam runs the ward strictly but he ensures the team
have fun. People are happy to work there and they enjoy what they do. It may not be as strict as it should be, but the work gets done and Adam knows when not to cross the line. Jenny is
very strict and by the book, which Adam isn't.
Adam’s in a relationship with Heather, but we sense he’s not sure about the relationship. Do you think they have a future together?
Heather is Adam's girlfriend, and they've been together for a while. They bring out the best in each other. She absolutely adores him and he adores her. They have some great fun but they
have different ideas about marriage. He's happy with his life now, which is creating a few problems for them. She's a lot more affectionate and romantic than he is. Adam thinks ‘we
should carry on like this' whereas Heather always wants to kiss him on the wards! Their views on marriage show they're completely different people. Heather has this fairy tale idea about
what marriage should be about, and Adam is happy to stay as they are. It may be more about Adam clinging to his youth and not wanting to get old or grow up. It doesn't really occur to
Adam to propose. He's quite the opposite to me, as I’ve always been quite romantic, and when I meet my wife Anna my romantic gland went into over drive!
How do you find pronouncing the medical terms?
I've played a doctor before so I think that helps a bit. The problem is, when you have to talk about something like ‘Haemoglobin’, as an actor you tend to think 'oh that's a big and unusual
word' and you might attach a different meaning to it. Actors tend to emphasise the word and spell it out rather than just say it. You have to learn how to say some things in a matter of fact
way.
What research have you done for the role?
I think the internet has helped actors research for a role as you can scroll through lots of nformation. I also went and had a chat with a chap called Scott Vansteen who is a charge
nurse and works in the cardio ward at Leeds General Infirmary Hospital. I wanted to see what it was all about and I spoke to him about how I should conduct myself. When we first started
filming I did some research, but you don't know how you're supposed to behave. I wanted to know if it was okay for me to stand with my arms crossed. You're wearing this medical uniform
on set, yet you don't really know how you should behave. I wanted to see how he communicated with the nurses. It was interesting because he could have fun with the nurses,
but they would always know he is of a higher authority than they are. It was the little things that I found interesting. Scott is a great guy and was a big help.
Do you think you could work in a hospital?
Not really. I think of hospitals as a place where you have to work exceptionally hard. I do think having a small insight into what the staff actually do and how hard they work, they should all be
knighted. The hours they work and all the additional things they do to care for patients, means it's a very difficult job. How they manage to do that everyday, I don't know.
The Royal Today is filmed in a real hospital that is no longer in use. How do you find working in an old hospital?
It helps with the role, but it's also a bit scary. It's cool and does have the feel of a hospital. When you’re on other sets it’s usually a big warehouse. It's good The Royal Today set feels so
real. We have real equipment as well. There's these thermometers you stick on your forehead to tell your temperature. In between takes we'll have competitions to see who can raise the
most heat between their hands and use the thermometers to check. I think Lisa Davina Phillip is winning at the moment.
How does The Royal Today compare to other shows you’ve worked on?
The Royal Today is very different to other shows I’ve worked on. Hollyoaks was shot with a single camera, and on The Royal Today two cameras are used. Brookside was similar to
Hollyoaks as it's the same set up. Family Affairs was very fast paced, furious and fun. I played a bit of a baddie in that; someone who's smiling one moment, but doing something evil the
next. Adam is a very different character, so he’s great to play.
What’s it like to be part of a brand new cast?
It's really good to be in a new show and I’m looking forward to all the great things that can happen. Everyone’s working towards a common goal. It's something new and exciting. Having
seen some of the episodes, I’m really impressed. It’s very fast and looks great. There isn't anything else like it on daytime TV, it will certainly hold its own. I was in the original cast of
Hollyoaks when it started and we had a brilliant naivety of what to expect. We were creating this brand new programme which had no set format. It's like that here which is really exciting.
What were you working on before The Royal Today?
I have a company for out of work actors called Next Big Thing Recruitment. I was also writing, as well as painting and decorating. Before I got this job I was thinking that maybe I should give
acting a break and do something responsible to support my wife and pay the bills. As an actor it's hard to make that decision, but then this job came around and it couldn't have happened at
a better time.
Have there been any amusing moments on set?
The other day Steve Huison and I were doing quite an intimate scene where we were discussing Adam’s relationship with Heather. Mid-way through the scene, a supporting actor,
who must have been new to the job, walked down the corridor, and had the whole set to walk around us, but he decided to squeeze between us. It was brilliant, absolutely brilliant! On
another occasion a trolley rolled over my foot. Another thing which causes injuries, and imposes laughter, is the nurse’s station. The edge is quite pointy and I have a constant bruise
from hitting my leg. It’s become one of those things that when someone else does it you just go' yes' and realise you're not the only one!
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