Two Doors Down star on her 'villain' role and exciting new TV drama set in Glasgow

IT IS UNEXPECTED, and a little unnerving.

Hilarious, lovable, all-round national treasure Elaine C Smith playing a  thoroughly despicable villain?

“I know, it’s great, isn’t it?” says the Two Doors Down and Rab C Nesbitt star, with a laugh. “Playing a baddie for a change….it’s very against type. Which is why I agreed to do it.”

Actor, stand-up, singer, panto star and writer Elaine is playing the evil Childcatcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a truly scrumptious musical theatre version of the classic tale, which comes to Glasgow in the summer.

The cast also includes Adam Garcia as Caractacus Potts, Emmerdale star Liam Fox as Grandpa Potts and Ellie Nunn as Truly Scrumptious.

Elaine shares the role of the evil Childcatcher with EastEnders star Charlie Brooks, and they are the first two women to play the character in the long-running show.

“I thought, ooh, a woman as the Childcatcher? That’s different, and it’s really great,” says Elaine. “I realise how terrified people are by this character, so it will be really interesting to do. I loved playing Miss Hannigan in Annie for the same reason.

“And I think the way the world is at the moment…it’s quite a harsh place. Most of us want something familiar, something fun to fall back into.”

She adds: “Chitty Chitty Bang is a favourite of so many people, it’s something we know and we can introduce our own kids to - almost like a place of safety in the middle of everything that’s happening in the world.”

The Childcatcher is not the only intriguing new role Elaine is tackling, she reveals.

As part of a starry Scottish cast, which includes Line of Duty’s Martin Compston, Shetland’s Ashley Jensen, Shirley Henderson and Bill Paterson, she is filming a pilot for Wax Fruit, a big-budget TV adaptation of Guy McCrone’s famous books set in 1860s Glasgow.

“It’s amazing – these were huge bestsellers at the time,” says Elaine. “I think that’s what’s been missing from Glasgow – a good Victorian saga. I have learned so much filming this. I had no idea the city once stopped at Charing Cross.”

She adds, with a laugh: “Or that there used to be only 12 people who had access to the Botanic Gardens – the people who lived across the road in Grosvenor Terrace. Or that it was all farmland beyond there, literally ‘Annie’s Land’ - it has been fascinating.”

She adds: “There are lots of stories told about the city on TV and in film, and it’s drugs and violence and Taggart, which is all very good.

“But I do think it’s time for a new type of drama about Glasgow.”

Elaine plays Mrs Barrowfield, a doctor’s wife and formidable matriarch.

“She lives in Monteith Row near Glasgow Green, when it was very grand,” explains Elaine.

“When they asked me, I thought they’d probably want me to play some old hag up a close, but when I read it, I thought oh, this is brilliant. This is different. I get feelings in my water about things, and I think this will be fabulous.”

She adds, smiling: “And I get to wear crinoline for the first time….”

The last 12 months have been touched by heartbreak for Elaine, who was a close friend of comedian and presenter Paul O’Grady.

“The last time I saw him, me and Simon Carlyle had gone to see him in London, and eight weeks later, both Paul and Simon were gone,” she says. “It was unbearable, really, a huge shock.”

Simon Caryle was the co-creator, along with Gregor Sharp, of Two Doors Down, the hit sitcom in which Elaine plays neighbour from hell Christine alongside a brilliant cast including Arabella Weir, Alex Norton, Jonathan Watson and Doon Mackichan.

Playing the foul-mouthed Christine is “very liberating,” says Elaine.

“It’s great not having to care what you look like,” she says, with a smile. “That bad wig, the clothes – I’d only have to walk on to the set and the cast would burst out laughing.

“Two Doors Down changed my life, in terms of visibility. For a long time, people just thought I was Mary Nesbitt.

“I’ve recently done my stand up show, 65, looking back at things and I am proud, I’m glad I’ve done everything I have done.”

She pauses. “I mean, it’s been a slog at times – it’s not been people calling me up saying, ‘oh, please come, we think you’re marvellous’,” she says, wryly. “I’ve had to make it work myself.”

A live theatre show and the eighth series of Two Doors Down were put on hold following Simon’s death.

“I can’t imagine walking on to the set without him,” says Elaine, sadly. “What happens next, we don’t know. A live show maybe could go ahead as a tribute to Simon, but we will have to wait and see, we are all still mourning.”

Paul O’Grady was a huge Two Doors Down fan, reveals Elaine.

“He was desperate to be on it, he wanted to play Christine’s cousin,” she laughs. “That really would have been so good, wouldn't it?”

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will be at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow from August 27 to September 8.