May 21 - Interview with Art Malik who plays Sir Lincoln Aubrey in The Famous Five The Eye Of The Sunrise

Tell us a little bit about Sir Lincoln Aubrey?

He has set up an institute to deal with mental illness. The story is around one of our patients escaping and there seems to be a question mark, as far as the Famous Five are concerned, about whether he should be in this institute or not. Their instincts are right, that’s all I’m going to say.

Tell us about Aubrey’s relationship with Dr Graves?

Aubrey’s not in any way a therapist or a medical person. He’s just a very rich businessman whose son died and he decided that after the First World War, there was so much trauma that had existed amongst the soldiers who came back, he wanted to create a safe haven for them. Dr Graves was introduced to him and she’s one of the best.

Do you think Aubrey and Dr Graves have met their match with the Famous Five?

I think anybody who tries to take on the Famous Five – if you’re trying to do something which is a little bit wrong – and the Famous Five are around the corner, it’s never going to work. They’re just brilliant and they’ve got a dog! There’s nothing you can do against four children and a dog.

This episode mixes light and dark, is that something you’ve thought about?

The reason I’m doing this is because I’ve got children and grandchildren. I loved knowing that my grandchildren could see something that I’ve done. Being involved in a story which comes from a children’s book and from such an acclaimed children’s writer as Enid Blyton, it’s a no brainer. We can take on these books from the past, take ownership of them, make them modern and make them accessible to all children, which I hope we are doing.

How do you think they’re being made fresh?

The scripts are very modern, very contemporary and they’re set in the landscape we all know and love which is the South West, but we’re also reinventing the period for the audience of today.

If you were going to be one of the five, who would that be?

I’d be Timmy the dog because everybody adores him and who doesn’t want to be adored?

Are there any scenes which stood out to you?

I’d loved to have been involved in the scenes at the circus, that would have been a wonderful place to shoot. Unfortunately I’m not in those, though I am in some brilliant scenes.

What’s it like working with the young cast?

They’re extraordinary aren’t they? The joy of being an actor, and I’ve been doing it for nearly 50 years, is you have an instant relationship with another actor which suddenly comes from nowhere. You’re supposed to be friends and you’ve never met them, but by the end of the day you’ve created a little family of actors. I’m constantly delighted.

Do you think there is something for everyone in this show?

Of course there is. If your children put this on, sit with them and watch it. If you’re watching it, get the kids in.