The Reluctant Vampire: Tom Davis Interview

The Reluctant Vampire was a huge hit with viewers when it launched last Sunday evening on BBC One and iPlayer.

As the heir to the vampire throne, Val is expected to follow in his father’s footsteps and uphold the family’s ancient traditions. But there’s just one problem – he’s never quite mastered the bloodthirsty rituals expected of him.

Everything changes when his mum reveals the truth: Val isn’t a vampire at all, but a human. Suddenly caught between two worlds, he must keep his identity a secret, protect his family and navigate the challenges of discovering who he really is, all while feeling drawn to the human world.

Based on the books by Eric Morecambe, this heart-warming comedy is written by Neil and Rob Gibbons and stars Lenny Rush.

With plenty of spooky fun and a big heart, it’s the perfect way to kick off the spooky season!

Tom Davis plays Victor.

How did it feel when you first read the scripts for The Reluctant Vampire?

I was blown away, I’d been a fan of the books as a kid and the Gibbons brothers perfectly encapsulated Eric Morecambe’s writing and tone.

What was it like bringing them to life?

It was a real joy. It felt like a really special thing to be trusted to work on a show that felt it was part of the Eric Morecambe legacy.

You play Victor, the patriarch of Val’s vampire (Lenny Rush) family, so you must have spent a lot of time with your on screen family. What were your highlights filming the series?

I think the instant chemistry between us all. Lenny, Sian and Gabe are all so brilliantly talented and such fun to be around. The laughs we had behind the camera quickly transferred to on camera. Lenny Rush is a superstar, his ability to navigate the laughs and the heart of this show left me in complete awe.

Victor is obviously quite a larger than life character. How would you describe him in three words?

Pompous, bumbling, idiot.

The series is full of weird and wonderful characters and hilarious hijinks. Are there any characters or moments from the series that you’re particularly excited for audiences to see?

The cast of this show is stacked, it really is a special thing to have been a part of. I think everyone brought something unique to the show – Joe Wilkinson, Asim Chaudhry, Esther Smith and Charlie Cooper are all incredible performers I’ve known for years and was so excited to work alongside. Bill Bailey and Ross Noble are comedy royalty and every scene they’re in is an utter master class. Ellie-May Sheridan is someone to watch, she has so much talent and lights up the screen whenever she’s on it.

Victor, along with all of the cast, comes out with some brilliant one liners. Are there any that stand out to you? Or were there any scenes during filming that you remember having a hard time getting through?

The dialogue and the jokes are so deftly written you’re constantly just trying to do them justice. There is a line about Moths and Butterflies that just wooed me from the first read, you’re then just hoping that you land those brilliant lines.

Catch up with The Reluctant Vampire on BBC iPlayer. Watch the next episode this evening (Sunday 11 October) at 6.40pm on BBC One.

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