Career Sparkhouse

Sparkhouse - John Standring

"Sparkhouse", the story of the love affair between Carol Bolton and Andrew Lawton, draws on Emily Bronte's novel, "Wuthering Heights" as its inspiration.
Loyal, patient and hardworking, John Standring has been in love with Carol - the daughter of his brutal and violent boss – for years. But can his feelings ever be requited? (BBC Press Pack)

(2002)

He has an affection for her which I feel was based on a need for nurturing rather than on a sexual need. He is very protective of her because of the lack of love she has from her mother and the way her father treats her. (BBC Press Pack)

"It was the first time I went into an audition in character. It was a minor role but it was something I really got my teeth into and I realised that not getting work was perhaps to do with me and the way I was approaching it. I couldn't go back ... I knew that I had to approach everything in the same way. ("I rarely turn down work after years of struggling" says Spooks star Richard Armitage, Daily Record, October 24, 2009)

He is completely inexperienced with women and incredibly nervous about any kind of sexual contact. Inside, he is just an inexperienced boy who can’t express himself very well. So it was really interesting to play when this big burly bloke finally opens up to show this vulnerable child inside. (BBC Press Pack)

But there is a simplicity to John; he doesn't always understand all the nuances of what is going on around him. In some ways he is like an old man on the outside, but there is a real naivety about hm - he’s a kind of ‘young fogie’. (BBC Press Pack)

Production details

Cast
Sarah Smart - Carol Bolton
Joseph McFadden - Andrew Lawton
Celia Imrie - Kate Lawton
Nicholas Farrell - Paul Lawton
Abigail James - Lisa Bolton
Alun Armstrong - Richard Bolton
Camilla Power - Becky Lawton
Richard Armitage - John Standring

For the TV Drama, Sparkhouse, I worked on a farm and shovelled cow dung for two weeks.
("Northern Exposure", Vivid, December 12, 2008)

Writer
Sally Wainwright

Director
Robin Sheppard

Producer
Derek Wax

The dvds for the series may be purchased at:

Amazon.co.uk
(region 2)