The Power of Parker series 2 cast reveal what to expect from the comedy's return and reflect on the annus horribilis of 1992

It’s 1992 and the Queen isn’t the only one having an annus horribilis. In Stockport, Kath, Martin and Diane are all trying their best to get along. Martin (Conleth Hill) is down on his luck, Diane is running Parker’s with Sandy Copper (Steve Pemberton) and Kath just wants everyone to be happy. But Kath’s constant interfering changes all of their lives forever. They’ll need to depend on each other now more than ever, but who do they trust?

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LW

Interview with Sian Gibson (Kath)

Tell us where we pick up with Kath in Series 2?

The series is set two years later in 1992 and Kath thinks she has exactly what she always wanted in life. She’s living with Martin and finally has her man to herself, and she’s also rekindled her relationship with her sister, Diane. She should be living the dream, but instead she’s worried that Martin has “lost his sparkle” now he’s not the boss of his own electrical store, and she is still feeling guilty for betraying Diane. There’s a power shift between Martin and Diane, and Kath feels stuck in the middle of them both. Kath thinks if she can sort out Martin and Diane's problems then everyone will be happy, and they can all live happily ever after. Unfortunately, her interfering doesn't go to plan and she manages to make everything worse, throwing them all into chaos.

How has Kath’s relationship with Martin and Diane changed since Series 1?

Kath and Diane have put their differences behind them and are getting to know each other again and actually getting on! Kath wants to make it up to Diane for having an affair with her husband. (So yeah, she has a lot of making up to do! ) Kath has never really stood up for herself but she won’t let anyone hurt her sister and will happily stand up for Diane whatever the cost.

This is all much to the annoyance of Martin who hates his girlfriend being mates with his ex wife, meaning Kath is having to sneak around behind his back to see Diane. Kath and Martin are scraping a living on Kath’s wage, but Kath has never been money motivated and loves that she now has Martin all to herself with their relationship now out in the open. Kath senses that Martin isn't happy with his new arrangement and does what she can to try and make him happy.

Kath has always been the eternal optimist and just wants her happy ending, but the cracks are starting to show now and she is questioning her life choices and who she can trust.

Do you have a favourite moment from filming?

This is a massive cliche, but we have such an amazing cast, crew and production team that every day was such a laugh. I feel very lucky to work with such lovely people - I can’t really call it work!

What can we expect from Kath in this series?

It’s a rollercoaster for Kath in this series, she's all over the place. In her quest to put everything right for everyone else, she has a fight at a party, gets into trouble with her dad, leans on her old friends for advice and meets a blast from her past. She’s got a lot going on this series!

How was the writing process for this series? Did you always know you wanted to take the characters in a new direction?

Paul and I love writing this series, we know each other so well and know what will make each other laugh which is usually spending our days stuck down a YouTube rabbit hole watching early 90s Top Of the Pops episodes. Knowing the characters more this time really helped, and we knew we had to raise the stakes for the characters and increase the jeopardy. We’ve also added some new characters, Mic and Ash, played by Diane Morgan and Navin Chowdhry who are both fabulous and take the series in a completely new direction.

Do you have a favourite outfit from Series 2?

Our costume team were fantastic, and all the costumes and accessories were vintage from 1992 and earlier. Kath wears a particularly fabulous red dress in one episode but let’s just say there’s a lot of lycra and a lot of Spanx were used in the making of this series.

What were you doing in 1992?

I was starting my A-Levels in 1992. The world was my oyster. I was a wannabe goth, with dyed cherry red hair, Doc Martins and an array of band t-shirts like The Cure, The Smiths and Pearl Jam. I was using fake ID to go to Indie Nights at the local nightclub but in reality, I liked nothing better than wearing sequins and dancing to show tunes in my bedroom.

What’s one thing from 1992 you’d like to bring to the present day?

I can’t name just one thing. T'Pau, Quantum Leap, Body Shop’s Dewberry Oil.. I loved the 90s. Take me back.

Interview with Conleth Hill (Martin Parker)

Tell us where we pick up with Martin in Series 2?

Martin has been out of work for a couple of years now and has never been lower, to top it all off, none of his old business contacts will help him.

How has Martin’s relationship with Kath and Diane changed since Series 1?

He and Kath are cohabitating now, but things are tough as they’re relying on Kath’s meagre wage to keep afloat. Diane is thriving as a new single professional working mother, she and Martin are co- parenting, but she is now running Parker’s with Sandy Cooper which is rubbing salt in Martin’s wounds.

Do you have a favourite moment from filming?

I loved all the scenes and especially the ones with Sian and Rosie!

What can we expect from Martin in this series?

As always, he is aware of his responsibilities and goes to amazing lengths to keep the family and business going.

Do you have a favourite outfit from Series 2?

Martin is quite casual or fleeced to begin with, but it was great getting back into his sales suit again!

What were you doing in 1992?

It was so long ago I’m not totally sure, but I think in 1992 I was probably working in theatre in Ireland or Scotland.

What’s one thing from 1992 you’d like to bring to the present day?

Nostalgia is a creation of ours - I like to live in the now, like Martin!

Interview with Rosie Cavaliero (Diane)

Tell us where we pick up with Diane in Series 2?

Diane is in a good place at the start of series 2, she is running Parker’s very successfully and is up for a business award. However, she is finding the presence of Sandy in the business very annoying, he patronises her and belittles her at every opportunity. She’s enjoying being independent and free from being married to Martin, and she’s juggling home life with the kids and work but maybe feeling a bit lonely in the love department. Although she wouldn’t admit that to herself or anyone else!

How has Diane’s relationship with Martin and Kath changed since Series 1?

Diane and Kath are close again at the beginning of series 2. For all Kathy’s chaos, she is supportive of Diane and wants her to succeed and be happy. Diane still finds Martin vain and self-important but tolerates their relationship. I think she’s so glad to be free of him at last even though he’s now living with her sister. Kath will try her patience as ever, but they need each other in their own quite bonkers way. I love sharing this chemistry with Sian. It’s a joy to play every day.

Do you have a favourite moment from filming?

I loved filming episode 3 in the hotel. It’s an action-packed episode with everything going on, lots of proper farce and physical comedy. I loved my scenes with Elizabeth Berrington at the beginning of episode 3. She plays a snooty boutique owner who takes delight in lording it over Diane. We had so many wonderful guests including the fantastic Graham Fellowes in episode 1. I’m a massive John Shuttleworth fan, we all are, so that was a treat!  And of course how lucky were we to have Diane Morgan!

What can we expect from Diane in this series?

We can expect Diane to be braver this series, but she will still be on the verge of a nervous breakdown on several occasions!

Do you have a favourite outfit from Series 2?

I love her 80s suit from episode 1, she’s trying to go for a sort of Alexis Dynasty vibe - not sure she pulls it off. Shoulder pads central!

What were you doing in 1992?

In 1992 I was living in Battersea in London mainly temping and auditioning and trying hard to get my career started.

What’s one thing from 1992 you’d like to bring to the present day?

Probably the lack of social media, and the younger slimmer me!

We see a different side to Diane this series, how was that to play?

It’s always fun to play a character that has moved on and evolved. I love Diane’s thirst for independence and her joy in turning the business around. I love the fact she really loves her family though they all drive her mad. I love that she’s dipping her toe into the dating scene again and growing in confidence.

Interview with Steve Pemberton (Sandy Copper)

Tell us where we pick up with Sandy in Series 2?

We first meet Sandy at the Stockport Business Awards, which are very prestigious awards in Stockport, where the great and the good businessmen, with the emphasis on men, have an annual Shindig. He's holding the table with fellow businesspeople, explaining how he's bailed Parker’s Electrical out by becoming a major shareholder in the company. So, whilst Diane is clearly the main driving force behind the business, he's taking all the credit, so, it's business as usual for him. He's invested in the company, he's got his feet under the desk, but he's not doing much of the work and he's enjoying having a bit of power over Martin.

Do you have a favourite moment from filming?

We did some filming in a hotel in central Manchester, the Midland Hotel, which is where Sandy is actually living. He's in what he sees as a temporary split from his wife, Jean, and he's taken up residence in this hotel. The hotel room is a bit of a pigsty. He's not been looking after it very well, he's got all his golf clubs there, he does all his business from there, so it's a little bit chaotic. There's an episode that centres around Kath coming to see Sandy in his hotel room. They have a few drinks, a bit of room service - some curly fries, which were very big in the early 90s. Martin and Diane end up arriving, and the four of them have these very funny and quite dramatic scenes in this hotel room. There was some singing, there was some dancing, there were some arguments, and there was a lot a lot of laughter when we were filming those scenes.

What can we expect from Sandy in this series?

On the outside he’s very successful, bigging himself up, self-aggrandising, bit pompous, he enjoys flaunting the fact that he's invested in Parker's electrical, and he enjoys the fact that Martin is very much on the way down. It turns out that Sandy's life isn't going great after all, he's split from his wife, and he cuts a bit of a pathetic figure really, but he has to keep up appearances. So we get to see a different side to Sandy, perhaps a softer side than the one he normally shows to the world, and it's Kath who brings all that out.

Do you have a favourite outfit from Series 2?

Well, at the Stockport Business Awards, I had this wonderful cream suit with a pink shirt and tie, and I think Sandy really would fancy himself in this. It's probably one he’s had since the early to mid 80s. He probably fancies himself looking a bit like John Travolta, but really, he looks more like Martin Bell, the politician who wore the white suits. As soon as I tried it on, it felt so right for the period, and it felt like the kind of thing Sandy would wear to stand out from the crowd who would all wear darker suits. The costumes throughout are absolutely brilliant.

What were you doing in 1992?

I left college at the end of the 80s, in 89 I'd moved to London, and I had set up a theatre company with a couple of friends, and we used to put on what were laughingly called ‘Profit share productions’ in small pub theatres, and you would just desperately try and get your friends along and anyone you could to see your shows. That led eventually to The League of Gentlemen being formed. In 1992 I was planting the seeds that that would take a bit of time to grow, and nothing would really happen very much until towards the end of the 90s. But I loved being part of a group, putting theatre on and just creating my own work.

What’s one thing from 1992 you’d like to bring to the present day?

I suppose the lack of social media would be very beneficial. If I was in charge, I'd turn the whole internet off, maybe I’d allow emails and texts, but I'd turn it all off for five years and just reset everybody and make everything less divisive!