Tell us about the inspiration for the series?
I had wanted to write Love, Lies & Records for quite a while, because I suddenly realised, having gone to register the death of my mother and literally five days later been at a wedding and watching somebody walking out passing me that had just registered the birth of their new baby, I thought, ‘This is the absolute sharp end and hub of life.’
This series feels a little darker than your other recent work - such as The Syndicate and In The Club. Do you agree?
It started to become darker naturally and I’m never one to shy away from drama, and I thought, ‘I have to go where it’s taking me.’ I was talking to the registrars all this time and I thought, ‘I wouldn’t be a responsible writer if I daren’t go to those places.’
You visited register offices in the north as part of the research process and I understand the majority of stories in the series have come via the registrars you spoke to…
I visited register offices in Huddersfield, York, Leeds and around Wakefield and would say that something like about 98% of the stories in the series have come via the registrars and via the register offices themselves.
Love, Lies & Records feels like a state of the nation piece in many ways. The themes that run throughout the series are very relevant and seem to resonate with what is actually going on in the world today.
When the idea first formed in my head to do Love, Lies & Records, I was thinking births, marriages, deaths, and what a rich seam that was, but then I began to hear the real stories that were coming through and I thought, ‘This is even more interesting, fascinating, because it sort of is the state of the nation and where we’re at today.’ Looking at immigration, Brexit very much up in the air, feelings of people feeling displaced and not welcome and then other people feeling that there were too many immigrants in our country.
You have a wonderful cast in Love, Lies & Records… Ashley Jensen is perhaps best known for her comedic roles. How did you come to select Ashley for the role of Kate?
Ashley Jensen I’d watched in Ugly Betty years and years ago and then I watched her in Extras and I always found myself drawn to her. She has something about her that is an everywoman quality. Yes, she’s a star, but you can identify with her and there’s a warmth to her.
Rebecca Front crosses genres and has a very successful career as both a dramatic actress and a comedic actress. Why did you choose Rebecca to play Judy?
Rebecca is glorious. She’s stern but warm and perfect for the role of Judy. Judy is Kate’s nemesis but it’s interesting where that relationship will end up: they go on a journey together and it doesn’t end up where you think it’s going to.
Mark Stanley plays the part of James brilliantly. His character probably goes on the biggest journey of all.
Mark just came in and blew me away. He auditioned for me and I just thought he was amazing straight off. I could just see that he had great depth of character and I knew he had to be a good actor to play that role. He really had to be because he had to have the courage to play James - it’s a big story and Mark didn’t put a foot wrong.
Are there any particular moments that stand out for you in the series - any favourite scenes?
I absolutely love the hospice wedding. I love it because it’s so tender and even though I wrote it, when I watch it I find it moving, because I think it’s so human.
I love it when James makes his announcement. I love that moment. Kate gets the job and we think, ‘Oh, that’s what that scene’s about,’ and then we go, ‘Oh no, hang on a minute. It’s not about that.’
Watch Love, Lies and Records on BBC One on Thursdays at 9pm and on BBC iPlayer