My Almost Famous Family – We’ve Only Just Begun – Episode 1
Aug 27, 2009 Author: admin | Filed under: Episodes
My Almost Famous Family is a brand new, all-singing, all-dancing comedy series set to strike a chord on CBBC. Singing, dancing and doing the chores is all in a day’s work for the Swann family. By day, the Swanns perform as television pop group We’re In Perfect Harmony; by night, they’re a big and sometimes harmonious step-family.
When English musician Gary Swann stepped on stage with African-American soul singer Shalondra in Las Vegas, it was love at first verse. Now, their families have come together, moved back to the UK and landed the best gig in TV – house band on everyone’s favourite tea time chat show, The Totally Annabelle Show.
In front of the TV screens, teen presenter Annabelle is a darling and adored by all. However, once the cameras stop rolling, the Swanns soon discover her real persona…
With five child stars living, singing and schooling under one roof, there are guaranteed tears and tantrums – and the occasional spontaneous musical number! Firstly, there are Gary’s two teenage children – self-styled bad boy of rock and secret softie Hadley and quick-witted musical genius Toyah. Then there are Shalondra’s children – fame-hungry diva-in-the-making Aretha and family joker Isaac. Finally, Gary and Shalondra have produced the baby of the family – cheeky, entrepreneur-in-the-making Martha, who is deaf.
In the first episode, the Swann family get their first shot at fame as the house band on The Totally Annabelle Show.
Gary is played by Andrew Clover, Shalondra by Rakie Ayola, Hadley by Angus Harrison, Aretha by Dominique Moore, Isaac by Matt Morgan, Martha by Rachel Bradley and Annabelle by Alice Henley.
My Almost Famous Family is simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC’s High Definition channel, available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.
CBBC’s new musical comedy My Almost Famous Family
Aug 21, 2009 Author: admin | Filed under: About
My Almost Famous Family is a brand new all-singing, all-dancing comedy series set to strike a chord on CBBC this September.
Singing, dancing and doing the chores – it’s all in a day’s work for the Swann family, stars of the new 11-part high-energy, musical comedy series.
By day the Swanns perform as TV pop group We’re In Perfect Harmony; by night they’re a big, blended and sometimes harmonious step-family.
When English musician Gary Swann (Andrew Clover) stepped on stage with African-American soul singer Sholandra (Rakie Ayola) in Las Vegas it was love at first verse.
Now their families have come together, moved back to the UK and landed the best gig in TV – house band on everyone’s favourite tea-time chat-show, The Totally Annabelle Show, hosted by the nation’s top teen presenter.
In front of the TV screens Annabelle is a darling and adored by all but, once the cameras stop rolling, the Swanns soon discover her real persona – she’s a nightmare!
But with five children/pop stars living, singing and schooling under one roof, viewers can expect tears, tantrums – and the occasional spontaneous musical number!
First there are Gary’s two children: 16-year-old self-styled bad boy of rock and secret softie Hadley (Angus Harrison); and 15-year-old quick-witted, musical genius Toyah (Naomi Battrick).
Then there are Sholandra’s children: 15-year-old fame hungry diva-in-the-making Aretha (Dominique Moore); and 14-year-old family joker Isaac (Matt Morgan).
Completing the family is Gary and Sholandra’s cheeky, entrepreneur in the making, eight-year-old Martha (Rachel Brady), who is deaf.
“It’s a big melodious comedy with a huge heart,” reveals series producer Paul McKenzie.
“The Swann family are almost famous but the parents are determined to keep the kids grounded – which is pretty difficult when they’ve got five million viewers watching them every week.”
My Almost Famous Family follows the very funny ups and downs of life in a big, raucous family and the craziness that comes with fame. From stolen pigs and rock star grandads to make-or-break maths tests and crazy teen TV presenters, life with the Swanns may look glamorous on the surface, but there’s a lot of frantic paddling going on underneath!
The series is a CBBC production produced by Paul McKenzie with Steven Andrew as executive producer.
Before the series begins, viewers can get an early taster in Backstage, a new series that goes behind the scenes of up-and-coming CBBC shows. Each glossy, bespoke, making-of half-hour combines key interviews from the main cast and crew, with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and clips from the main show.
The programme introduces viewers to the story of My Almost Famous Family, setting up the main characters and exploring how the series has been made – from building the sets to creating the music and filming a food fight.
Backstage airs on Bank Holiday Monday 31 August 2009 on CBBC. My Almost Famous Family starts on Saturday 12 September on BBC Two.
Andrew Clover is dad Gary Swann
Aug 21, 2009 Author: admin | Filed under: Cast
For actor, comedian and writer Andrew Clover, playing Gary, dad of the Swann family, changed his life.
“One of the things I’ve got from the show is the excitement of music. It’s made me start having piano lessons and take a lot more interest,” reveals Andrew.
“Whenever I hear music I’m listening very carefully to what they’re doing with their guitar, what the rhythms are, when the music fades in and out and what the beat is. The show’s all about the love of music and I’ve got that from being in it.”
What does Andrew think of Gary?
“He’s essentially a loveable, intelligent and musical father. However, he’s also prone to getting extremely worried about the family being late or things going wrong,” he says.
“He’s the son of a famous rock star so his childhood was spent watching heavy metal freaks throwing TVs out of hotel room windows and being left behind in Germany halfway through a European tour!
“So he’s developed an absolute obsession with wanting to keep his family together. His family is everything.”
Is Andrew, who writes a column called Dad Rules in the Sunday Times Style Magazine, anything like Gary?
“I’m not at all a pushy parent but the one thing I do want my daughters to do is learn music. It’s so amazing when you watch someone playing, it’s like they’re fluent in a whole different language. They’re learning piano at the moment.”
Having three daughters, Andrew was also really excited about the prospect of having a ’son’ in the show:
“I was interested in the idea of having a fictional family, particularly one including teenagers, step-children and a son,” he reveals.
“I’ve always wanted to have a son and it was very exciting to think that a casting director had scoured England to find someone who’s suitable. And there was Angus – he exceeded all my expectations and he’s a very plausible son.”
How did Andrew get on with the young cast?
“They were lovely. It’s strange how quickly we began to treat each other like a real family. I adored them all in different ways.
“Rachel is mischievous; Matt is an incredibly cool character; and Angus was probably my best mate on set.
“I was a bit scared of Dominique at first as she plays her character so brilliantly and I thought maybe she’d have that diva-esque quality of Aretha, but she doesn’t at all. She was the one who noticed I’d be working on Father’s Day and asked what we could do to celebrate. I told her a song would do it. It was just banter but two-and-a-half weeks later, on Father’s Day, she came up and sang a song she’d made up just for me. It slightly broke my heart.”
Angus Harrison is Hadley
Aug 21, 2009 Author: admin | Filed under: Cast
After appearing in M.I. High, Skins and Genie In The House, Angus Harrison, 17, powerslides onto our screens as singer Hadley Swann.
“Hadley would like to think that he is the bad boy of rock and that he’s the hardest celebrity there is, but in reality he’s so far from it,” explains Angus.
“He’s incredibly paranoid and is always checking himself in the mirror. His mum’s constantly looking after him and his dad tucks him into bed each night.
“He’s got far too much going on his head at once. He’s trying to keep up with this celebrity persona, when all he really wants to do is sit in his room and fold up his socks!”
It must have been challenging to play such a complicated, comedy character?
“He’s been great fun to play. He’s one of those teenagers that’s ridiculously complex,” reveals Angus.
“In terms of his panicking around girls, it was just a case of drawing on my own experience of embarrassing encounters around girls when I was younger. I’ve managed to relax a little bit now though!”
Viewers could soon see Angus heading up the charts himself one day.
“I’m in a band called New York Minute with my mates,” he says.
“We’re only just getting off of the ground – this is our summer of dipping our toes in the water, so we’re playing acoustic gigs in pubs. I’m not sure about being a pop star though!”
What has been Angus’s favourite moment from filming?
“If I’m being really slushy I’d say the cast and crew. I’ve never come out of a shoot with so many friends before,” reveals Angus.
“On most shoots there’s a lot of nice people but there will be the odd person you think is grumpy, but on this shoot we genuinely can’t name a single person we haven’t liked.”
What about his favourite musical number?
“I hate to be egotistical but it’s my rap,” laughs Angus.
“I’m six foot two, quite skinny and ginger, so I’m not the archetypal rapper. When I had to record it, I asked if they were sure about me rapping but they told me to go for it – so I literally went absolutely berserk! I think it’s pretty intense.”
Matt Morgan is Isaac
Aug 21, 2009 Author: admin | Filed under: Cast
Newcomer Matt Morgan, 15, makes his on-screen debut as joker Isaac but he had to make a pretty big sacrifice in order to film the show.
“I was meant to be going on a skiing trip to California with school when filming was starting,” reveals Matt. “We’d started paying for it two years ago and all my friends were going, but when I found out I’d got the part we cancelled it. It was totally worth it though.”
So what exactly is Isaac like?
“Well he’s not slow but the world sort of goes on around him and he’s not really tuned in, to be honest,” he explains.
“He’s sort of like the ‘Joey from Friends’ of the programme, he eats quite a lot and he’s the one that’s a bit behind everyone else. I hope I’m not like him at all!”
Isaac’s the drummer in the band, so was Matt able to play the drums before the show?
“When I heard about the audition I got myself a book about learning to play the drums,” explains Matt, “and every day at lunchtime I’d go into the music room and practice. Then when I started filming I had a few proper lessons.”
Matt is still at school, so how did he find balancing filming and his schoolwork?
“I had three exams during filming – in maths and science, my least favourite subjects!” says Matt. “But I had a tutor so, whenever I wasn’t on set, I was off working. It wasn’t actually that bad. I was expecting it to be really hard but I just got down to the work.”
So what’s Matt’s favourite storyline in the show?
“I steal a pig in one of the episodes,” laughs Matt. “Annabelle says she’s going to kill it so Isaac decides to save it. Isaac and Hadley even do a song about the pig and how much they love it.
“I loved working with that pig!”
Naomi Battrick is Toyah
Aug 21, 2009 Author: admin | Filed under: Cast
Naomi Battrick plays musical genius and obsessive-compulsive Toyah.
“This is my first big television part,” reveals Naomi Battrick, 18.
“It was ridiculous how talented she is – she’s a Grade A in absolutely everything. I actually can’t play any instruments. I used to play the piano and recorder when I was little but when I became a teenager I thought it was uncool so stopped!”
So what does Naomi think of Toyah?
“She’s a 15-year-old with OCD [obsessive-compulsive disorder], a perfectionist and a musician. I think her OCD was probably because her mother died when she was very young and it’s her way of having control over that situation,” explains Naomi.
“She’s very controlled and quite geeky. She’s new to boys and she has no idea what to do when handling crushes.”
Is there anything of Naomi in Toyah?
“Well, I think everyone has a little OCD inside them. I related with that. Also her family life is quite weird – she’s from two different families which, in some ways, is what my life is like. My mum re-married and had two more children, so I was able to relate to that.”
Naomi had to totally transform herself by dyeing her blonde hair red for the part.
“When I got the part I went for a costume and wardrobe test and they told me they had a couple of ideas to dye my hair. They put an auburn wig on me and I quite liked it so we went for it,” reveals Naomi.
“I thought it looked good and it was quite nice to know that if I ever did want to dye my hair when I’m older, it won’t look like I’m wearing a wig. I got used to it after a month and everyone started saying to me, ‘Gosh, I couldn’t imagine you blonde!’”
What’s been Naomi’s favourite storyline?
“It has to be the food fight!” laughs Naomi.
“Gary and Sholondra go away and trust us, stupidly, to be alone at the house. Aretha flicks a pickle into Toyah’s face during an argument – she goes ballistic and we end up having a humungous food fight in the kitchen. It’s so funny.”
Dominique Moore is Aretha
Aug 21, 2009 Author: admin | Filed under: Cast
In the BBC documentary Paddington Green, a little girl sang and danced her heart out to win the one and only scholarship to Sylvia Young Theatre School.
Well, now, Dominique Moore’s all grown up and playing the eldest daughter – and diva – Aretha, in My Almost Famous Family.
“Training at Syvia Young Theatre School was amazing,” she says.
“It was like a dream come true for me. Ever since I was little I always told my mum I would love to act and be on TV. I worked really hard, though, as I was the only one there on a scholarship and everyone else was paying to go. I felt I had to prove I deserved to be there.”
Did Dominique have any famous classmates?
“Loads. Vanessa from The Saturdays, Louisa Lytton, Tom from McFly, Amy Winehouse..,” she reveals. “But to me they’re just my school friends.”
What does Dominique think of her character, Aretha?
“She is one of the most ambitious teenagers you’ll ever meet,” she says. “Aretha’s decided she’s going to be a massive singer and performer, like a mini-Beyoncé. She’s a diva and nothing will get in her way.”
There is, however, one similarity between Dominique and Aretha. “Aretha’s very determined, which is very much like me – if I say I’m going to do something, I’ll do it,” reveals Dominique.
“When I was 18, I told my mum I was going to start my own business. So I went on loads of business courses, joined the Prince’s Trust, who helped me out loads, and started my own clothing line. Now I’ve got a website and celebrities wear my designs.”
What’s been Dominique’s favourite storyline?
“There’s so many. I did like the one where Aretha decides to do the advert without telling her family,” she explains. “I’m really interested to see how it comes out as I’m literally dressed as a Dalmatian in a nappy. It was very embarrassing!”
Rachel Brady is Martha
Aug 21, 2009 Author: admin | Filed under: Cast
Rachel Brady, eight, makes her acting debut as baby of the family Martha.
“I hadn’t done any acting before, this was my very first time,” reveals Rachel, who loves English and science at school. “I’d always wanted to act.”
So how did Rachel get the part of Martha, who is deaf?
“My sign language teacher told me about it, so I sent off a DVD audition – and they chose me,” explains Rachel. “Then I went and did an audition, which was quite scary, and they chose me again!”
So what’s Martha like?
“Martha is the one who sorts out all the problems,” giggles Rachel.
“She’s funny and sometimes bosses the others around. I would like to be like her as she’s fantastic! I got to wear very nice clothes as Martha – if there’s a party she has to wear something pink and purple. I got to keep some of the clothes too!”
Martha is deaf and Rachel has been able to sign for years as both her parents are deaf, and she attends a school which has a unit for a number of deaf children who are integrated into the school.
“I learnt to do sign language when I was very little. It was quite hard at first, but then it got easier,” she reveals. “In the end me and the signing teacher had to teach all of the cast how to sign.”
As the youngest member of the cast was Rachel seen as the baby on set?
“The other cast members looked after me – I can’t really choose a favourite cast member as all of them are my best, best friends. Even the boys are really nice.”
What was Rachel’s favourite thing about being in a TV show?
“The best thing I’d have to say is getting to meet new people,” says Rachel.”My favourite storyline would be when I had to do karate. Hadley thinks he’s stronger than Martha so I had to learn it and karate chop him!”
Alice Henley is Annabelle
Aug 21, 2009 Author: admin | Filed under: Cast
“I feel sorry for her,” explains Alice Henley of her character, the bitchy Annabelle.
“She’s misunderstood. Annabelle hasn’t really had a typical upbringing, she’s been in the spotlight from a very young age and the relationship she has with her mother is more professional than personal.
“So she hasn’t got a solid grounding – she’s not used to genuine love or friendship.
“She comes across as a tough cookie, you definitely don’t mess with Annabelle, but I think beneath all that hard exterior is actually someone who wants to be loved. She has some nasty moments but it’s all a defence mechanism.
“I think she’s going to be a character you love to hate.”
Was it fun for Alice to play the mean girl?
“It was so much fun. For one of my scenes I actually got to trash my dressing room!” reveals Alice.
“We broke vases, I swept everything off of the dressing table – it’s things that you could never, ever do in real life, but you can do as a baddie. Annabelle’s one of my favourite characters I’ve ever played as she’s so ridiculous.”
What about Annabelle’s outfits – how did Alice feel about wearing her crazy clothes?
“Everything’s pink! She just never quite gets it right and proves money can’t buy taste. Sometimes she looks like a Barbie doll has thrown up on her,” laughs Alice. “It was very funny to wear though.”
Annabelle hosts her own TV show, The Totally Annabelle Show, so what’s that all about?
“Well, it reminds me of a Jonathan Ross kind of set up,” explains Alice.
“We have guests on the show and at the end there’s a song which the Swann family perform. The set is fabulous – Annabelle has a big pink chair, which we call the throne. She’s had David Beckham on the show, so it’s very popular.”
Will we be hearing Alice sing in the show?
“There is one episode where Annabelle sings and I’m not going to comment on it! In real life I never, ever sing, for reasons you’ll see when the episode comes out,” reveals Alice.
“Let’s just say I’m well aware of my musical limitations!”
Gary’s rock star dad Terry is played by Alan Ford
Aug 21, 2009 Author: admin | Filed under: CastAlan Ford (Snatch, Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels) is Terry, an old rocker who used to be in a band called Glamasaurus. With long flowing locks he’s a big kid himself who’s always trying to prove his youthfulness – whether it’s by playing a hugely-amplified guitar while doing scissor jumps off the dining table or muscling in on the kids’ rehearsal time with his ear-splitting rebel yell. The family lives in Terry’s house but he spends most of his time in a tour van on the road where he’s been working on his rock-opera comeback album for the past 30 years. Just don’t call him grandad…
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