Living in Hope - Meet The Cast

Paul Foster (Footsie) on Living in Hope

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I found out that I'd got the part of Footsie in a lay-by near Stonehenge, so I remember phoning to tell my family standing on a stile next to this massive symbol of fertility.

The six and a half weeks we spent shooting Living in Hope were never less than eventful, and more often than not, really exciting. Although by the end of it I was so sick of Clifton Suspension Bridge I was itching for dynamite!

I was thrilled to play the part because I thought that my character was so quirky and the journey he takes through the film is not the one you might think at the start. I liked the fact that it was an ensemble piece for young actors which is a rare thing, and I'd never been to Bristol before, so getting to grips with a new city was also a bonus.

John and Guy were just the right combination of minds and moods to be in charge, putting everyone at ease from the auditions onwards and in fact the whole crew bonded so well that we managed to have precious few tantrums despite some hair-raising times. We all used to eat on a double-decker bus which Guy had blagged off somebody and Mills (our chef) dished up loads of tasty variations on mashed potato, mugs of Ribena and more-ish cakes whilst we all caught up - the production people begging into mobiles as we scanned the tabloids for goss.

One of the recurring jokes on set concerned Footsie's appalling dress sense, and I used to be really jealous of the other lads togged up in trendy gear whilst Claire always seemed to be handing me Fruit of the Loom sweaters from 1993, Arran charity shop jumpers and half-mast chinos; and they were for the scenes when he was getting cooler! My least favourite bit happened when Guy insisted we all bomb down the motorway in Posh's open top car as they filmed us from a plane. This was October in Somerset, lasted over an hour, and of course, Footsie had to match the continuity from the previous scene where he gets into the car holding the crappy anorak across his front. Cue hypothermia and later, bitterness when the finished version reveals that you can't even make us out because it's in long-shot.

I was a student in Leeds in the mid to late 90s and filming in those poky first year flats and awful kitchens brought it all back, authentic down to the Loaded posters and Pot Noodles. Luckily those scenes were shot the week before the real students came so Footsie's room went to some unsuspecting Clifton fresher who hopefully found more night time use for it.

I had a scene in the halls where I had to be upset on the phone to my Mum which got a bit galling after the pneumatic drilling outside forced us to try for Take Nine! Overall I remember the whole experience as a fantastic challenge and the fact that I made firm friendships from it just like the characters in the film is a great reminder of that autumn in Bristol and I'd do a sequel like a shot. We had a riot. I only wish we had commission on the money we put behind the bars of the Richmond Springs and the Clifton Wine Cellar - then we wouldn't have to live in hope!

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