The Casual Vacancy's Julia McKenzie: 'Michael Gambon is a pleasure work with'

With its cluster of cute cottages, cobblestone market square and ancient abbey, Pagford is a seemingly idyllic rural village. 

But beneath the chocolate-box exterior, all is not as it seems. Factions and rivalries lurk just beneath the surface, with wealthy locals at war with the poor, families at war with their children and teachers at war with pupils.

This is the premise for new drama The Casual Vacancy, based on JK Rowling’s best-selling novel of the same name. 

Adapted for the small screen by Sarah Phelps, who has also masterminded TV versions of Great Expectations, Oliver Twist and The Crimson Field, the BBC1 three-parter is a tale of human nature and small-town politics – and shows the devastating truths that lie behind social niceties.

BAFTA-Award winning actor Michael Gambon (Harry Potter), Julia McKenzie (Agatha Christie’s Marple) and Keeley Hawes (Line Of Duty) head up the all-star cast, bringing to life the colourful characters that made Rowling’s book – her first for an adult audience – a smash hit when it was published in 2012.

“Sarah has crafted the script so beautifully,” says Keeley, who plays Pagford local Samantha Mollison, a frustrated housewife and the source of much of the series’ comedy. “It’s a bit like curtain-twitching on the telly.” 

In episode one, the locals are left reeling by the sudden death of parish councillor Barry Fairbrother – whose passing is the catalyst for everyone else’s story, as vicious fighting to fill his vacant position ensues.

Three candidates are soon lined up: Barry’s friend, Colin Wall (Simon McBurney), Barry’s devious half-brother, Simon Price (Richard Glover) and Samantha’s husband, Miles Mollison (Rufus Jones).

None of the candidates appear particularly suitable for the job, particularly Miles who has been coerced into running for the post by his pushy parents. And Samantha has made very clear that she will not be supporting his election campaign. 

“Miles and Samantha are not in a great place when we meet them. Their marriage is in a very bad way and that’s really down to his relationship with his mother and father,” explains Keeley. “He is a mummy’s boy, but he’s gone too far and now they are using him, pushing him forward in this election. Miles is like a giant baby, he wouldn’t last two minutes.”

The role of Samantha is a completely different kettle of fish for Keeley, 39, who has been used to playing dark and haunted detective Lindsay Denton in the BBC drama Line Of Duty, which returns later this year. 

“Samantha loves her husband and their marriage is still something worth saving,” says Keeley. “It’s not a total loss. But she’s being railroaded at every turn by these very strong characters and has been bringing up her two children under the shadow of her in-laws for so long.”

Miles’ parents, Howard and Shirley, are played to perfection by Michael Gambon and respected theatre, film and television actress Julia McKenzie, who admits they got along famously during filming.

“The trouble with Michael is that he just makes me laugh so much,” says Julia. “When he said he’d be playing Howard, I said, well I’ll do it then! He’s a pleasure to be with and makes such a lovely atmosphere on set.”

The calibre of acting talent in The Casual Vacancy is in no small way due to JK Rowling’s reputation as a master storyteller. However, the drama doesn’t follow her book to the letter. Scriptwriter Sarah Phelps made several bold decisions, leaving out some elements of the novel and introducing new ones entirely. 

Keeley has nothing but praise for the way that the book has translated on screen.

“All the tiny details of these people’s lives are in there, a tapestry of thoughts and memories created by some wonderful scenes. And underneath it all there are all these emotions and other relationships going on – which is just how life is.”