Casualty Spoilers 1st November 2014

'Entrenched'

On local derby day Cal treats a woman with relationship trouble, Ash can’t function at work and a pre-match fight ends with tragic consequences.

After Briony (Georgia Moffatt) is injured at the local derby game, it soon becomes apparent that she hiding something from her fiancé Matthew (Antony Costa).

Some raucous footballs fans find themselves in the ED after a fight gets out of hand, leaving Big Mac, Lofty and Charlie to try and control the chaos. But will they be able to prevent any more damage?

Meanwhile Ash struggles under the pressure at work, and Dixie continues to grieve for Jeff.

Blue singer Antony Costa will feature in Casualty this weekend for a guest stint as burns patient Matthew.

Matthew will suffer serious burn injuries after he plays the hero when a flame gets thrown during a fight between football hooligans.

Due to the severity of the burns, Matthew gets transferred to a specialist unit, meaning the character will also feature in Holby City.

Here Antony chats about what fans can expect from his stint, wanting to appear in EastEnders and making the transition from a singer to an actor.
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Antony Costa as Matthew in Casualty
© BBC
Antony Costa as Matthew in Casualty

What can you tell us about your character Matthew?
"Matthew is a lovely guy. He's an 'Average Joe', works for a living, he's got his wife-to-be who he adores and loves, and then this bad luck happens to him. He becomes a bit of a hero on the day and ends up with his face being burnt to shreds. It was a great storyline to develop as he went from being this loveable character, who was into the whole idea of being married and having kids, and then his life just falls apart overnight."

How does his story develop?
"It is set in a football match. There are two rival teams - football hooligans - and there is a massive fight. There is some rivalry between a few of the guys and one of the lads throws a flame and Matthew jumps to save a young boy from dying.

"In the aftermath, it is then the predicament of does the woman stay with him because she loves him? Or does she stay because she feels sorry for him? What I liked about the character was that it is very easy to play on the sympathy, but I wanted him to change a little bit. I think deep down he always knew that she doesn't love him as much as he loves her and the story unfolds that she has been seeing one of the lads at this football hooligan game. He is really devastated.

"When he sees himself the way he is now, he knows she shouldn't be with him and he tells her to move on. It is then down to her whether she stays with him or not, and that is the story. You see how my character unfolds and the story unfolds and whether they end up together or not."

Did you have to do a stunt?
"Yeah, it was wicked. They asked me if I was alright to do it and I was. I loved it, it was so cool!"

How did the part come about?
"I just went for an audition. My agent phoned me up, I went for it and then got it. I was so interested in the character straight away. I literally sat and chatted to Matthew the director for about 45 minutes about the role, and I felt that I knew the character before I even started reading the script. I think they knew this, and I think it held me in good stead.

"I wanted to audition properly and that was important. For me, going from what I have done in the past, it is really important that I work my craft and if things get given to me then great, but if they don't, I like to work for it. I am a perfectionist and I want to learn. I want to learn from everyone."
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Antony Costa behind-the-scenes with Georgia Moffett.
© BBC
Antony Costa behind-the-scenes with Georgia Moffet

Did you do any research for the role?
"I did a little bit of research, but didn't want to do much. I wanted to be my own character and play it the best way I think it should be played. I think if you go down the road of doing too much research, you can become another person that you don't want to be.

"As I said, with Matthew, you do sympathise with him, but there are points where you think he does need to get on with his life now. That is what I wanted to get across, but at the same time I still wanted him to be a nice guy. I really worked and the directors seemed happy - if they are happy, then I am happy."

Georgia Moffett plays Matthew's fiancée - what was it like working with her?
"She was brilliant to work with – she was so good. I learned so much from her. She was really easy-going, nothing fazed her and I think it really shows on screen how close we became during the filming. It made it real and true to the characters and this is what the director wanted. He didn't want us to meet before so we only met on the set date, but we got on like a house on fire. She was great."

Your character Matthew obviously suffers terrible burn injuries. Did they use special prosthetic make-up?
"The make-up was wicked! But it was quite frightening. At Casualty, they have it down to a fine art. I was getting into make-up at 6 or 7 and I would be out by 8. Within an hour, I was completely transformed.

"It was incredible and something I will cherish forever, because being a part of such a massive TV show that has been around for 28 years... it is great that someone has been in it, and really made a stamp. My character goes from Casualty to Holby City, which is really rare and hasn't been done before."

Did it scare you looking in the mirror with the make-up on?
"It was really scary, and it really goes to show how different people look at you. I remember going for lunch at the BBC in Elstree with all my make-up on, and everyone found it weird and they couldn't look at me. It really goes to show how much people can judge - it was interesting to see!"
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Antony Costa in Holby City.
© BBC
Antony Costa in Holby City

Does Matthew get transferred into a special burns unit?
"Yes. He gets transferred to a burns unit because there is nothing more that the doctors in Casualty can do. Hence, going into Holby, where the staff are a bit more professional."

What is like making the transition to Holby City? How are the two shows different?
"I was at Casualty for so long and I got to know everyone really well. With Holby, I was only there for three days because it was just the finishing of the storyline. The transition was quite weird, though, and you do feel like a new kid at school, although no-one made me feel unwelcome.

"I knew Alex Walkinshaw (Fletch) from back in the day so he welcomed me, and Hari Dhillon (Michael) is hilarious. He made me laugh when I was unconscious on the bed. It was very different, but aspects of it are very similar."

What is like jumping on board with two shows that film week after week? How did you find your feet?
"I found my feet quite quickly. I am quite outgoing as it is and I did Casualty about five years ago and some of the cast remembered me such as Sunetra (Sarker) and Derek (Thompson). The whole cast, crew, and the director Matthew were really fantastic and really made me feel part of the team.

"It was a shame that I left after two weeks because you want it to go home, and I was hinting to Matthew about revisiting it next year to see how he is getting on. But I took it like a duck to water - you need to throw yourself in. If you act nervous or shy, then it shows on the day. I had nothing to lose, so I just went in and was myself and thought, 'If people like me then that's great, and if they don't, then never mind'."

Is acting your passion?
"Yes, deep down. I do love being back with the boys – we have a new album coming out at the end of the year, and we are starting the tour with the Big Reunion. It's fantastic, but it is due to the band that I am able to do this interview, so I can't take Blue away. It will be part of me for the rest of my life. But, if opportunities happen along the way that can coincide with it, then great.

"It is more acceptable now - Keith from Boyzone was in Coronation Street, and the Americans do it all the time. If a part is right for you, then you have got to take it.

"The other boys understand and respect our decisions. Simon is obviously doing Strictly Come Dancing at the moment, and fair play to him. He is loving it and he is really enjoying it. We are so supportive of each other, and that is the main thing."
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'This Morning' TV Programme, London, Britain - 29 Jan 2014Lee Ryan, Duncan James, Simon Webbe and Antony Costa
29 Jan 2014
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Antony Costa with the other members of Blue

Do you want to do more acting work after this?
"I would love to! Like I said, I am still doing stuff with the boys but if an acting job comes up - like a BBC drama or something to get my teeth into - then that would be great."

You have previously mentioned you would like a part in EastEnders. Is there anything else you would want to do?
"Yes, EastEnders all day long [laughs]. I could be a Carter, or something to do with the Brannings. I would love to do a BBC drama also. I thought The Driver was brilliant recently. I don't think we see enough dramas anymore, and no one does them better than BBC or ITV. Downton Abbey is also amazing. I would love to do something like that.

Is it strange having to deal with nerves now following your success in Blue?
"I will be honest with you – yes it is! With the band, there is four of us – waking up, singing songs, doing interviews with the lads, doing photo shoots – it all becomes second nature. Now I am out of my comfort zone, but in a comfort zone that I really love and it is my passion.

"I am nervous because I don't want to be judged from what I have done in the past. I want to be judged on the episode and if people like it, then brilliant. For me, it is all about making a good impression. I thought I knew the world when I was in Blue, but then you come out of it and the world has changed and the music business has changed. We have had to think as a new band and go back to basics."

Do you worry about being taken seriously as an actor when you are known as a singer?
"All the time! I worried everyday when I was in Blood Brothers. I still have people coming up to me now telling me they saw me in it and how impressed they were. Jacqueline Jossa, who plays Lauren Branning, told me a couple of months ago that she came to see me while she was doing her GCSEs and said how they forgot I was the guy in Blue. That to me is great, and it's a great compliment."

Have you seen the episodes you feature in already, or will you be watching it when it airs?
"I haven't! I just want to watch it in my own house. I would be too embarrassed watching it with anyone else. If another opportunity comes from this such as a BBC drama or an ITV drama, then that would be great."

Antony Costa will appear in Casualty on Saturday, November 1 at 21.20 on BBC One.