Digital Spy Interview

Marc Silcock (Jackson Walsh, 'Emmerdale')
Wednesday, October 6 2010, 20:02 BST By Ryan Love, Entertainment Reporter

So there we have it. Alone in his van, reaching for his mobile - a night out for Jackson Walsh ended in disaster. After a special screening of the dramatic episode, I sat down for a quick chat with Emmerdale's Marc Silcock to find out his reaction to the plot and what fans can expect in the months ahead. Despite Marc having recently extended his contract with the soap, things are not getting any easier for Jackson and Aaron...

How did you feel when you heard about the crash?
"[I was] ecstatic, really. It wasn't to me a storyline in itself, more of a switch that starts a new storyline, a new chapter in their relationship and kick-starts Jackson's own storyline in a way. It was a big thumbs-up from everybody upstairs - all the bosses and the producer Gavin Blyth saying, 'We've enjoyed you for the past six months and let's see what you can do'. It's brilliant!"

It's been mentioned that the storyline will continue well into next year, will you be sticking around?
"At the moment, I know I'm there until early next year. I'm there for the first couple of months of 2011 which will be great as it will see me through a year. What happens after that is completely up to the bosses but all I know is that."

Is it true that we are going to be meeting Jackson's father soon?
"Yes! Michael J. Jackson comes in and plays my father Jerry. This is a big key to understanding why Jackson is like he is, why he is so understanding of Aaron and why the relationship is as it is. We understand that a lot seeing his father and seeing the interaction between Pauline Quirke (Hazel) and Michael. We will understand a lot of Jackson's background."

So is it a strained relationship Jackson has with Jerry?
"Very strained! Jerry was not very open to Jackson's sexuality so it is very strained and we'll see the outcome of that in future episodes. What the two characters went through together, and I think the crash and what Jackson has to go through, is a huge strain on Jerry - but that just makes him hold on tighter to Jackson, rather than let him go."

Will Jackson blame Aaron for what has happened?
"I think for a long time Jackson is just glad to be awake. I think there's an empty blame there, a hope that if he was to blame somebody else it would take a little bit of the pain away from him and the situation. However, I think he quickly comes to terms with the fact that what's happened has happened and that he has to focus on where he wants to be and what he wants to do. Blaming everybody and anybody doesn't take any of the blame away. Jackson answered the phone, Jackson was driving the van - nobody else. There's a lot to come to terms with and a lot of strain and strife to get through the fact that there is nobody else to blame. It's on him. This is his life and this is what he has to go through."

How would Aaron cope if Jackson was to die?
"I don't know, really. Aaron is his own character and would have reacted in a number of different ways. I think, with his relationship with Jackson, it would either have gone one way or another. It would have been a case of, my personal opinion on the character of Aaron, I think he would have allowed him to blame himself and his sexuality. With the self-loathing storyline, the way it's gone, I think it would have given Aaron a chance to self-implode again. To be honest, I don't know the way Aaron would have reacted but I think there would be a huge difference in Aaron if Jackson were to die in the crash."

What has the fan reaction been like for yourself and the character of Jackson?
"It's been fantastic! When I first came into Emmerdale I was part of the storyline and now I've become entwined with the storyline. It's brilliant. People don't see it anymore as a gay relationship, just as a relationship - which is brilliant and what we wanted to get to. The whole storyline is about being comfortable with yourself and when fans become comfortable with the relationship and not seeing it as two men together, it makes you realise that it's worked."

Have you had any negative feedback about the plot?
"99.9% of the fans [that] come up to you, from teenagers to 70-year-olds, don't mention the fact that it's a gay relationship. They just go, 'You and Aaron', or, 'Aaron and Jackson', or, 'You two are great together', and it makes you realise that what you are doing is now not a gay relationship - it's about the emotions after and trying to portray what a real relationship is like. Obviously you get the 0.1% people that aren't appreciative, but everyone is entitled to their opinions. Everybody is entitled to express what they want to express in their own way. Although, that is drowned out vastly by the positive reaction and feedback that we get. The response from the audience and the response from the producers; well, we wouldn't be getting these storylines and we wouldn't be getting the response from everybody [otherwise]. Danny [Miller] wouldn't be winning awards if these people didn't like it."

Absolutely - and he now has two Inside Soap Awards to his name...
"His performances have been unbelievable! Those awards are the realisation that it is time for Danny to get some recognition for what he has been doing. It took a while, and it was unbelievable that it took that long, but it's been fantastic to finally see him win the awards that he should have won a long time ago. Now, being in the storyline, it's not as easy as everyone thinks it looks. Danny's obviously worked extremely hard for it and it only helps everybody else get their game up a little bit. When you look at it and you're facing that and the cameras are watching you, and Danny's doing what he is doing - what he is being awarded for - it just makes you want to fight a little bit harder and box at your weight. It just lifts the whole cast and the storyline. That's why the storyline is so popular, because people believe in the characters and the performances."

How does Hazel deal with events?
"Hazel's character is bright and chirpy and always looking on the bright side of life. For the very first time, we see that crust crack a little bit. This isn't something that can be laughed off. This isn't something that a cup of hot chocolate is going to make better. She's going to really struggle now, not only with the arrival of her estranged husband and how that affects Jackson and their relationship, but she's now got to worry about Jackson. Not about Jackson and Aaron and how they are doing or how she's doing - she's got to focus on Jackson now and it's a heavy weight for Pauline to go through. You have to believe that you are losing a son or that your son is going through this and I know Pauline has a son and she's been fantastic. Some of the stuff that I've been in the room for that she has been doing has been unbelievable. All the stuff after Jackson wakes up with himself and Aaron, himself and Jerry and Pauline - it's just been unbelievable to be a part of. It's been brilliant."

How do you feel when you're called a role model?
"It's a bit strange! I personally don't see myself as a role model but I do see the relationship as one. And I see the way that Aaron has come to terms with his relationship to everybody else as a role model for how it should be. Obviously that is not real life - people react in different ways and people have different families and different opinions but I don't consider myself as much of a role model as I do the relationship that's now been formed."

As a couple, Aaron and Jackson have a strong fanbase which has many hopes for their future. Where do you see the relationship going?
"I think when the storyline [was] set out there was always going to be an end for it. There was never going to be a fairytale ending because the two characters are polar opposites. Although there is an attraction, it's very difficult for two people like that to come together and mesh. I'm ecstatic that the fans are worried about the characters. Again it shows a great relationship between the characters on screen and the fans off it. I think it's very difficult in the situation that the characters are finding themselves in to pluck at that silver lining. It would be very difficult for any relationship to survive the struggles that everybody is going to go through over the coming months."

[source]

Marc Silcock extends 'Emmerdale' contract

Marc Silcock extends 'Emmerdale' contract
Wednesday, September 29 2010, 18:57 BST By Ryan Love, Entertainment Reporter

Emmerdale's Marc Silcock has confirmed that he has extended his contract to remain in the show until spring next year.

The actor, who portrays Jackson Walsh, told Digital Spy that he was pleased to know that he will have spent at least a year in the Yorkshire soap.

"I've just been extended, which takes me through until spring next year, which is fantastic," he said.

He continued: "At the moment, I know I'm there until early next year. I'm there for the first couple of months of 2011 which will be great as it will see me through a year.

"What happens after that is completely up to the bosses but all I know is that."

Emmerdale's executive producer Gavin Blyth praised Silcock and said that it would have been "silly" of the soap to let him go.

"Marc's performances have been absolutely fantastic," he said. "So we would be silly not to keep him and enjoy more of Marc and Jackson."

He added: "We've actually just extended his contract a little bit more into 2011 which is great. The chemistry is so good and the story has proved phenomenally successful.

"We'd be daft to break that partnership up."

[source]

A blog from The Gays Of Daytime

I'd like to put a blog from The Gays Of Daytime. The original blog is here.

"Danny finds it hard to kiss a boy = Danny Miller is the biggest homophobic bastard asshole who ever roamed this planet and how dare he say this, as a professional actor?"

Much has been made out of a quote from an interview Gay Times had with Danny Miller and Marc Silcock. And as is done so very often, this quote was repeated - including on this website - without providing proper context.

So, we're filling in the holes for you:

Directly from the magazine:
[Opening paragraph]: "It was never going to be easy. You're young actors, playing what you hope will be perceived as a hard-hitting but realistic interpretation of gay life in a Yorkshire village. Then suddenly you've got people getting a little bit obsessed with you, or worse, shouting abuse. So a little trepidation is understandable as Danny Miller and Marc Silcock undertake their first photoshoot together. [...] As well as appearing on the cover of Britain's longest running gay mag - a big enough deal for two straight lads- they're getting ready to shoot their first proper kiss the following day."

What's the reaction been from the public? I heard you'd had people shouting at you?
Danny: You do obviously unfortunately, being in a soap, get the people who can't separate the soap from real life. You have had unfortunate homophobic comments, and that is quite sad because you think from a heterosexual's point of view, "What does it matter to you, if I was gay in real life? What's it got to do with you, it's none of your business." And I think it's given me more perspective to understand how gay men and gay women feel when that kind of thing is shouted at them. But other than that - that's the negative stuff - it's been really positive and everyone's been singing the praises of the storyline.

I know that you're doing a scene tomorrow where you two get together. Is that difficult, given that you both have girlfriends in real life?
D: I don't.

And now comes THE question that led to what has been perceived as a controversial answer from Danny, who is 19- and even though not new to acting, certainly new to the high-profile, on-the-cover-of-a-magazine, take-your-shirt-off-hottie media frenzy that's been going on since the storyline started on EMMERDALE:
How do you prepare for a scene like that? Personally, and not meaning any offence, I wouldn't want to kiss a girl so it must be slightly difficult to have to do something like that? (Editor: You would call me crazy if I went on a big rant now, calling the interviewer misogynistic, wouldn't you? And you'd be right. So what exactly is wrong with the responses that now follow?)
Danny: Yeah, it is, obviously. it's difficult because you're kissing the same sex and you know, you're not attracted to them, you're not a homosexual and you're not attracted to them in that way. So it is hard, yeah, but you realise it's not real, so, it's all for TV and you've got to get on with it.
Marc: For the first time we just had a chat about it. And we had a chat about tomorrow as well. It's just a case, like Danny was saying, it is difficult to kiss a member of the same sex because you're not attracted to them. But you know, it's got to be done. But the only way we can do it is the way we find most comfortable. So the only way of doing that is to sit down and have a chat and just try and make it look as real as possible, we don't want it to just look like it's two straight blokes kissing each other. We want to make it look like it's as real as possible, whilst getting over the difficulties that there are involved in it.


After talking about having their pictures taken involuntarily by people just walking up with their mobile phones (ANNOYING and IRRITATING - they're both human beings, just ASK them), the interview then trails off to have Danny talk at great length about his love for Cheryl Cole (professed before in other interviews) and giving nothing away about what will happen to the characters, minus that their personalities won't change.

See? Much ado about, ultimately, nothing.

I would like to thank to The Gay of Daytime.
When I read some negative reactions to Digital Spy article, I felt sorry for them. They are young and new actors. Let them be themselves.
I think the difficulties are same as actors play roles that they are very different form themselves, but I agree with a point of view that some people pointed out. Most of time, interviewers don't ask gay actors about kissing girls but they do ask straight actors about kissing boys.

Interview: Danny Miller & Marc Silcock

Danny Miller: 'Kissing a boy is hard'
Wednesday, June 16 2010, 18:13 BST By Paul Millar

Emmerdale actor Danny Miller has admitted that he can find it difficult to play his homosexual on-screen persona.

Speaking to Gay Times, the 19-year-old actor was asked about his relationship with his alter ego Aaron Livesy's love interest Jackson Walsh (Marc Silcock).

Miller said: "It's difficult because you're kissing the same sex and you know you're not attracted to them, you're not a homosexual and you're not attracted to them in that way. So it is hard, yeah."

Silcock added: "But you know, it's got to be done. So the only way of doing that is to sit down and have a chat and just try to make it look as real as possible.

"We don't want it to just look like two straight blokes kissing each other. We want to make it look as real as possible, while getting over the difficulties that are involved in it."
[Source]


Marc Silcock (Jackson Walsh, 'Emmerdale')
Tuesday, June 8 2010, 00:02 BST By Kris Green, Soaps Editor

Earlier this year, former Hollyoaks actor Marc Silcock joined Emmerdale as Jackson Walsh, a new love interest for sexually confused teen Aaron Livesy (Danny Miller). Having met Jackson in a gay bar, Aaron took a keen interest and the pair eventually shared a kiss outside a club, witnessed by Adam Barton (Adam Thomas). Aaron and Jackson's friendship, however, took a turn for the worse when Aaron punched him in The Woolpack - presumed by locals to be a homophobic attack. Aaron's case reached court and with Jackson sat in the public gallery, Aaron seized the opportunity to publicly come clean about his sexuality. Here, we chat to Marc about Aaron and Jackson's future, Pauline Quirke and Emmerdale's rejuvenation.

What are your thoughts on the reaction to the Aaron and Jackson storyline?
"It's been unbelievable the amount of people that have been in contact with myself and Danny throughout the storyline. We set out to make a point and showcase the issues that we have been. Personally, I never expected it to be as big as it's become. It's a massive weight off our shoulders to know that people in the same situation are relating to the characters. It's been fantastic."

Do you think Aaron and Jackson are meant to be together?
"There are points where it looks like they're the perfect couple but on the other hand, there are underlying problems with both characters, especially Aaron. It'd be difficult for them to be together forever - it's probably be too much of a fairytale for Aaron to settle down with his first ever boyfriend. They'll be together for a while, but it'd be Disneyland to think that they'll end up as 40-year-old blokes getting married and adopting kids."

Are you excited about Pauline Quirke joining?
"Pauline's such a fantastic actress - I'm so excited that I'm going to be working with her. It'll be great to know a little more about Jackson's family!"

What's it like working with Danny?
"When he's out of work, he's one of the funniest guys but when he's at work, he's so focussed on every single scene. It's scary sometimes having to work with him because you know that at no point there'll be any let-up! He knows exactly where his character is from the scene before, what time it was… It's fantastic, though, because it makes me want to work harder!"

Were the kissing scenes awkward to start with?
"Danny and I sat down and had a quick chat about it beforehand. We're not going to lie and say that it's not difficult for two straight guys to kiss each other, because it was difficult and a bit awkward. But it's only as uncomfortable as you make it, so we had a chat, decided what we were comfortable with and just got on with it. We're not going to start doing it in our spare time!"

Do you think Danny deserved to pick up something from the Soap Awards?
"Don't even get me started on the Soap Awards! It's the way the voting goes, though. Danny apparently had the problem of coming second in a lot of categories. The stuff he filmed with Dominic Brunt was incredible. I do think it was wrong that he didn't get anything, but there's always next year. It's brought the whole cast together and it's made us all want to work that bit harder so we don't go through the same thing next year."

Aaron turns to Jackson during next week's episodes and confides that he's being bullied at community payback…
"The relationship between Aaron and Jackson's still a bit frosty since Aaron attacked him. Now Jackson's working in the village, they're trying to make it a little easier for each other to get along. Aaron 'lets slip' that someone is bullying him at his community service for being gay. Jackson's quite dismissive of him, though."

What happens when Jackson sees Aaron about to be attacked by Wayne?
"The bully, Wayne, follows Aaron back to the village and Jackson sees their altercation - Wayne's actually threatening him with a spanner! Jackson eventually goes over to help Aaron and sort Wayne out. Jackson knows that if Aaron gets into another incident, he'll be sent to prison. Wayne eventually skulks off and that's the key turning point in the thawing of Aaron and Jackson's relationship. As soon as you see it, you see that Jackson really does like Aaron."

What happened after that?
"They end up going to the pub and talk turns to Aaron's suicide attempt. It's the first time Aaron's opened up about it and Jackson just wants to understand why. At this point, you actually start to see that Jackson wants a relationship with Aaron because it seems like he's finally coming to terms with his sexuality. From that, they take the next step and end up back at Smithy where they have their first passionate kiss. It all leads from there."

Aaron and Jackson become involved in Holly's drug story, don't they?
"Yeah, they do. With Aaron comes Jackson and they get trapped by the whole situation and have to start keeping secrets from everyone else. But where that leads I actually don't know."
[Source]