THE CATFLAP CHINWAG WITH...

Mathew horne

 

Are you one of those Spurs fans who loathes Arsenal even more than you love Tottenham?

I don't really get involved in all that kind of stuff, because I think it's incredibly unhealthy. I think it's incredibly unhealthy for the game, for one's own personality and those around you really - to get wound up in that manner, about any aspect of the game, really. If we lose at White Hart Lane, I forget it within ten minutes. I get on with my life. Because I think it can really, really start to drag you down. All that sort of hatred with Arsenal and West Ham! All that does for me is it makes those games much more exciting, because the atmosphere's much more exciting, but in terms of getting angry and wound-up and aggressive, no, I don't really get involved in all that.

 

The character of Gavin was a Spurs fan. Did you have that written into the show?

Not really. There are certain artistic elements of the show that are often discussed with the actor, such as costume and props, set-dressing and things like that. And it was perfectly natural for Gavin to be a Spurs fan, because he's from Billericay, and that would be one of the teams that someone who was born and raised there would support. So it wasn't like I was just shoe-horning it in. But yeah, I did speak to costumes to ask if I could have the shirt. And they bedecked Gavin's office and bedroom with Spurs stuff. I think they went slightly overboard, to be honest, I think they spent about £1,000 in the club shop. But this series, we see Smiffy's house, and his is all decked in West Ham stuff. Jim [James Corden] is a West Ham fan.

 

Are there any players that you really dislike?

No, not really. There are certain players that I don't really believe should be playing for Tottenham, but I wouldn't like to say who they are. I think that would ruin my relationship with the club.

 

What do you make of England's failure to qualify for Euro 2008?

It's unthinkable, really. I think it's a total and utter disgrace. It's a shambles. The notion that England aren't in a European Championship is just ridiculous.

 

Who do you think is to blame for that?
I would say that is probably Steve McClaren.