Backstage With… David Tennant and Michael Sheen on nerve curves, Good Omens, and Doctor Who
David Tennant has admitted he didn’t really know what he was getting into when he signed up to play the demon Crowley in Good Omens, a series based on the cult favourite book by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.
As it’s a novel beloved by its fans, there was a certain amount of pressure that came with the part, though Tennant told Sky News’ Backstage podcast he hadn’t quite realised that when he got the gig.
The Doctor Who actor stars in the series alongside Michael Sheen, Jon Hamm and Miranda Richardson.
Miranda Richardson and Tennant in Good Omens. Pic: Amazon Studios/ Prime Video
“My nerve curve was pretty exponential because I wasn’t – unlike Michael – I didn’t really know the world of, the fandom of the book, somehow it had passed me by,” he said, in an interview alongside Sheen before the actors’ strike was announced.
“Then I was doing the show and it was thrilling and then I would keep meeting people, some of whom were in the cast, who would go: ‘This book I’ve read every year of my life, it’s the most important story to me’.
“And then of course, you start realising this precious thing that you carry and the responsibility and so yes, then it was alarmingly scary that you might break some dreams.”
Sheen interjects, asking his co-star: “And how’s your nerve curve now?”
“I’m pretty chill,” says Tennant.
“I saw it the other day, it looks marvellous,” Sheen replies.
This kind of light teasing is typical of the pair, who also worked together on the comedy Staged, in which they play fictionalised versions of themselves, and share a genuine friendship.
This is replicated in Good Omens, with Tennant’s demon Crowley the unlikely best pal of Sheen’s angel Aziraphale.
Tennant and Sheen. Pic: Amazon Studios/ Prime Video
Sheen says their relationship is at the heart of what he loves about being on the show.
“You can have a character that you enjoy playing and that you really love, but it’s kind of rare that you have a dynamic between two characters that just is the thing that works so well,” he said.
“That then makes the whole process very enjoyable because you don’t feel like you’re having to generate stuff yourself all the time, it just happens… as we’re in scenes together it just happens – because it’s written so brilliantly as well, obviously, that’s the main thing.”
“They only really exist as a unit,” Tennant adds. “That’s when they come to life, and that’s really fun to play.”
Pic: Amazon Studios/ Prime Video
While an angel and a demon might sound like opposites, Good Omens looks at the grey areas – the fact that Crowley is more well-intentioned than you might expect from a demon, and vice versa for Aziraphale.
Human behaviour is also up for inspection – in the first episode of the second series, Crowley admits he doesn’t have to work too hard to cause trouble as humanity messes things up well enough.
“There’s a lot of great things to celebrate in humankind aren’t there, but we don’t get it all right, and Crowley likes to take credit for a lot of the things that we get wrong,” says Tennant.
“But I think that’s one of the things about this story. It’s sort of celebrating – I mean, these are two supernatural beings, but they’re more human than the humans – and it’s celebrating the kind of diversity of that, it’s looking for common ground between us.”
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Tennant on Good Omens ‘nerve curve’
Sheen agrees: “Our greatest frustration as a species is also our saving grace, which is that we are flawed. And it’s only when we like to pretend that we’re not that we get into trouble, I think it’s when we deal in absolutes and black-and-white that we get into trouble.
“When we are able to accept our flaws and our messiness, then that always leads to reaching out and being inclusive and connecting.”
Good Omens isn’t the only fan-favourite property Tennant is involved with at the moment. He’s the first actor to return to the role of Doctor Who, playing the time traveller for three episodes and a festive special later this year before Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa takes over.
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Tennant returns along with writer and executive producer Russell T Davies, with expectations high for the new era of the long-standing sci-fi.
“Oh, it’s lovely, lovely,” Tennant says of his return. “And very exciting for where that show’s going, Russell T Davies back in and Ncuti Gatwa who is just a sort of force of nature.
“And it’s very nice to have a little revisit for myself in amongst all that excitement and great future that that show’s got – it just keeps reinventing itself.”
Good Omens series 2 is out on Prime Video – hear our review in the latest episode of Backstage, the film and TV podcast from Sky News
Creative control of the long-running James Bond franchise has been handed to Amazon MGM Studios, in a joint venture with the current owners.
Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson – who are the daughter and stepson of film producer Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, the man responsible for developing the Bond franchise into the success it is today – will remain co-owners of 007 intellectual property rights.
The pair own EON Productions, the company behind Bond films including Skyfall and Spectre. It has produced 25 films since 1962.
Craig played Bond for a fifth and final time in No Time To Die. Pic: MGM
The deal follows speculation over when the next Bond movie – and indeed the next Bond – will be announced.
The last film, No Time To Die, was delivered four years ago to rave reviews and box office success. It was the swansong for Daniel Craig in his performance of the lady-loving spy.
Details of the 26th official Bond film – and its new star – are yet to be revealed.
In a statement on EON Productions website, Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios said they were “honoured to continue this treasured heritage” and looked forward to “ushering in the next phase of the legendary 007 for audiences around the world”.
Wilson said that after 60 years spent working across the franchise, he would now be focusing on “art and charitable projects”.
Brian Cox and Barbara Broccoli on the 007: Road To A Million red carpet. Pic: Ian West
Barbara Broccoli said: “My life has been dedicated to maintaining and building upon the extraordinary legacy that was handed to Michael and me by our father, producer Cubby Broccoli.
“I have had the honour of working closely with four of the tremendously talented actors who have played 007 and thousands of wonderful artists within the industry. With the conclusion of No Time To Die and Michael retiring from the films, I feel it is time to focus on my other projects.”
In 2022, Amazon bought MGM Studios, which distributes Bond, for $8.45bn (£6.79bn).
Since the acquisition, the streamer has held the rights to distribute all the Bond movies.
Cox as The Controller in 007’s Road To A Million. Pic: Amazon Prime Video
In the spring of 2023, Amazon Prime Video launched Bond-themed reality show, 007 Road To A Million.
Hosted by Succession star Brian Cox, it offered nine pairs of contestants the chance to win £1m as they travelled through global locations associated with the franchise.
While no one took home the full £1m jackpot, brothers James and Joey did take £150,000. The show was met with a mixed critical reception but was given the green light for a second season.
Manslaughter charges over the death of Liam Payne have been dropped for his friend Roger Nores and two hotel workers.
Rogelio “Roger” Nores, hotel operator Gilda Martin, and head of reception Esteban Grassi were charged in December, two months after the One Direction star’s death at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
At the same time, hotel employee Ezequiel Pereyra and waiter Braian Paiz were charged with supplying cocaine to Payne.
Payne (second left) rose to fame in One Direction. Pic: Ken McKay/Shutterstock
Following an appeal, the manslaughter charges against Nores, Martin and Grassi have now been dropped, court documents show.
The charges against Pereyra and Paiz still stand and they remain in prison awaiting a trial.
Speaking after the ruling, Nores told Rolling Stone: “Glad this is finally over. I’m happy I’m now going to be able to travel to the UK and say goodbye to my friend.”
Nores, Martin and Grassi would have faced up to five years in prison had they been convicted.
Supplying drugs in Argentina carries a sentence of up to 15 years.
The latest court document states that Payne fell from the balcony of his room on the third floor of the hotel at about 5.10pm on 16 October.
In the hours beforehand, the singer had been involved in an argument with two women in the hotel lobby, the court document states, and cleaning staff later reported the television in his hotel room was broken.
Toxicology tests revealed that before his death, he had traces of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his body.
His cause of death was “polytrauma” from multiple injuries and internal and external bleeding, a postmortem found.
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