Page 42 - Real Rochdale Issue 22 Summer 2024
P. 42

BBC show produced by Rockerdale Studios                                                                                                                                                      He said: “We wanted edginess
                                                                                                                                                                                                      in the show, provocativeness,
                     sees Michael Sheen grilled by 35                                                                                                                                                 but that question [about the
                                                                                                                                                                                                      age of Michael’s partner] was
                           neurodivergent interviewers                                                                                                                                                very early on in the shoot.


                                                                                                                                                                                                      “We were watching in the
                                                                                                                                                                                                      gallery and thought, ‘what if
                                                                                                                                                                                                      he walks off, what if he hates
                                                                                                                                                                                                      that question’. That was
                                                                                                                                                                                                      terrifying. Anna was actually
                                                                                                                                                                                                      there in a different room, so it
                                                                                                                                 Photo: BBC/Rockerdale Studios                                        was double the nerves
                                                                                                                                                                                                      because we didn’t know how
                                                                                                                                Speaking before the show’s         groups around the UK - and         she would take it as well.
                                                                                                                                airing, he added: “I was quite     with “three superb
                                                                                                                                moved at times by seeing how       organisations” in particular to    “It resulted in a profound and
                                                                                                                                much people had to struggle        select their cast.                 emotional answer.”
                                                                                                                                to overcome certain things
                                                                                                                                they were dealing with in          They said: “Building trust was     When asked about the
                                                                                                                                order to ask questions at          essential and it was important     feedback received from the
                                                                                                                                times. That was uplifting. I       to have the time for this to       show, Stu said: “We’ve had a
                                                                                                                                don’t know what people will        happen. It was satisfying to       lot of neurodivergent people
                                                                                                                                learn about me... but it’s not     have built such a diverse team,    say, ‘Finally, a portrayal that
                                                                                                                                about me, it’s about that          too: many of our off-camera        is representative of all of the
                                                                                                                                fantastic group of people, but     team self-identify as disabled     many sides’ [of
           Photo: BBC/Rockerdale Studios                                                                                        I certainly got a huge amount      or neurodivergent.”                neurodivergent people].
                                                                                                                                out of it too and I hope an
          Neurodivergent interviewers grilled A-list           him cry, his opinion of the British Royal Family.                audience will as well.”            Stu added: “We wanted a big        “We’ve also had responses

          celebrity Michael Sheen in a special BBC             However, the Welsh actor was also asked some                                                        name [for the interview] and       from parents of neuro kids,
          One interview by Rockerdale Studios, an              easier questions about his height, his favourite                 Rockerdale Studios, a              their personality was also         because they’re used to seeing
          independent production company                       Disney film and his first-ever crush.                            disabled-led company that          important. You need charisma       quite sad stuff, gentle piano
          co-founded by Rochdale’s Stu Richards.               Mr Sheen said he was “very excited” before the                   puts on- and off-screen            to draw people in and be able      music, so the response has
                                                                                                                                                                   to deal with the edgier
                                                                                                                                disabled talent at the heart
                                                                                                                                                                                                      been really positive.”
                                                               show because he “really had no idea” what he                     of its work, was founded in        questions. Michael Sheen was
          Airing to celebrate Autism Acceptance Week,          was going to be asked.                                           2017 by CEO Stu Richards           that funny, intelligent, honest    ‘The Assembly’ is available to
          ‘The Assembly’ saw a cast of 35 people aged                                                                           and COO Michelle Singer, who       bloke who we felt would be         watch on BBC iPlayer until
          18-77 who are autistic, neurodivergent or            He said: “I said yes to being a part of The                      have made a name for               the perfect guy.”                  March 2025.
          learning disabled, question                          Assembly because it was just such an                             themselves with their unique
          multi-award-winning actor and director,              extraordinary and interesting idea. Reading                      brand of mischievous and
          Michael Sheen.                                       about the original French series, it just sounded                provocative comedy content.
                                                               so extraordinary, different and potentially a
          The format is an adaptation of French show           very revealing way to approach the tried and                     Stu is also known for co-creat-
          ‘Les Rencontres Du Papotin’, which saw the           tested interview process, but obviously it is a                  ing and writing the BBC Three
          likes of Emmanuel Macron and Camille Cotin           lot more than just being an interview.                           comedy, Jerk, and Rockerdale
          (Call My Agent) face the neurodivergent                                                                               is best known for Channel 4’s
          journalists of the Papotin.                          “The interview part of it is just one aspect of                  Mission: Accessible.
                                                               the project and I think there is still a lot of
          With no topic off the table, the Good Omens          confusion, ignorance and fear around people                      Working closely with the
          star, 55, answered tough questions from              with any kind of difference. I think being able                  BBC’s Creative Diversity
          musicians, artists, writers and students, such       to be involved in a project like this could maybe                Team, Rockerdale Studios
          as the age gap between himself and his partner,      break down some of those barriers.”                              spent “a long time”
          30-year-old actor Anna Lundberg, what makes                                                                           working with a number of            Michelle Singer and Stu Richards

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