I’ve had chance to catch up with Christopher Thomson who is busy throwing himself into the promotion of the new Time Agent. Here he is talking and I’ve typed it up:
So Christopher, you seem to have thrown yourself into your week since we last spoke…
Have I? I suppose so! Since the trailer went up, I’ve been really excited – looks incredible!
It does indeed. I suppose the big question on everybodys mind is – is the Time Agency corrupt???
It would appear so. I can’t give too much away, but in the finale of the previous series, the Earth’s government was completely wiped out during an alien attack. So the whole planet is pretty much vulnerable.
But this 6-part story is set at the origins of the Time Agency, in which Liam and Mortis have travelled back in time for some mission that only those two know of. Something the Time Agency may have done in the future, I really can’t say…
(brb sorry, 5 mins)
(back – sorry about that)
You play the role of the executive who is intent on destorying the world. Whats he like?
The Executive is a ruthless, manipulative, and insane man. He’s absolutely terrifying as a character. He really is! From what I’ve heard from Jaime Carroll and Billy Treacy on set, and from their editing, is that they found: if you look at the Executive, you are chilled to the bone! They were scared of me on set when I’d do apparently one of the most psychotic laughs they’ve ever heard, and wide-eyed staring into their souls. It’s hilarious to think I’ve scared them to that degree.
He is by far the most dangerous villain that the Time Agent series have seen. If anything scared them before, they haven’t seen anything yet. I am so pleased to have been cast as him, and I hope Jaime and Billy’s pleased thoughts of my performance is mutual to the audience when it’s released.
If you could be the executive of any company, which would it be?!
Oh that’s a hard one. Maybe an extremely-late version of The Apprentice? I run Amstrad in the later hours while Sir Alan Sugar goes to sleep? He may fire people, but for all we know – the Executive would probably set fire to people!
Now time is obviously a central theme of time agent. what would you say your relationship with time is?
I go nowhere without a watch. Oh I’m always keeping an eye on the time, and like most people – I’d love to go back in time and correct mistakes (even if it’s a paradox that will make any venture impossible). But I always wear a watch, and use it too! I don’t turn to my phone for the time, except if I’m ever in the circumstances where my watch may stop. I’m very old fashioned like that. May be the last person under 21 who uses a watch for the reason it was made for!
In Japan they now turn to watches primarily for encouragement (on job interviews etc) and texting. Do you think that will happen in this country in the end?
Oh goodness me! I had no idea that existed, but in this country I feel it’s already happened. Guys only wear them for appearances, girls I don’t think wear them at all, but any do just for decoration… but they all mainly look at their phones. So in a way, it’s similar to the Japanese. But I’ll be using my watch. Only gadget I wish it had was like a James Bond laser of some description.
Time goes by so slowly, and time can do so much. Thoughts?
Well texting with a watch won’t change that! Haha! Err, on a serious answer (if I can)… oh time goes slowly, I want to see Time Agent Series 3, but nope – 31 days! Well I remember when I was in school, and wondered, will I ever leave this place? It felt like it was going on forever and ever.
How did you eventually get out?
With a pair of pliers. And a courier truck.
Lord cehsterfield once said “Know the true value of time; snatch”. Do you still see your ex Andrea Mallord?
I don’t actually, I haven’t seen her since the Peep Show sketch filming. She did text me a couple of months ago when she heard I was taken into hospital one afternoon to see how I was. I haven’t spoken to her since.
You rang Mallord?
No she texted me.
OK so the time agent trailer has the whole world in the balance. If the fate of the world was in the balance, what would be on the other side of the scales do you think?
The Executive is in charge of Vision-X Industries, a corporation exploiting a world by instigating a new government. He controls the United Kingdom, but that isn’t enough for him – he wants control of the universe and time. So he’s very much taking advantage of the world in the balance, arranging for agents Liam and Mortis to be hunted down. It’s very much a conspiracy thriller, making it a much darker toned version of the already established series.
If it was the end of the world, and all your family and friends had perished and there was nothing left and everything was awful.. but you had one CD. What would it be?
It have to be We Are Family as a cruel irony wouldn’t it? Nope – I’d probably choose Robson & Jerome, as a pleasure only I can enjoy when everyone else is dead. That and if I went crazy from singing Unchained Melody over and over again – I’d probably be will adjusted to my current situation.
Can you give us a sneak preview of the executive in text format? Show us what we can expect to see!
The Executive has a very sinister laugh. It’s actually terrifying according to anyone who has seen the footage or me on set. He is the only villain who becomes an actual threat to Liam and Mortis. His power is greater than any who oppose him, and with his insanity – he is the most dangerous being in the known universe.
The best bit of Series 3 is, as you’re hooked following Liam, Mortis and Robin in their survival in the battling against the Executive, you will never know how it will end. It’s so gripping and you will all be lost for words.
Will you be throwing yourself into your work on any future projects?
I’ll see if any come up after Time Agent’s released, but I’m currently working on the final blocks of filming for Doctor Who – The Ultimate Conflict, and also am reprising my role of Ian Clifford in Today’s Fugitives, which we’ll be working on soon. Other than that, I have absolutely no idea. Just see what happens really.
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