Interview copyright © Damian Michael Barcroft 2023

Little acorns and strange bedfellows

An exclusive Endeavour interview with Sean Rigby

DAMIAN: There was both good and bad news back in 2012. The bad news was that you didn’t get a part in Lewis, but the good news was that you did get a part in Endeavour. Thinking back to when you first received that telephone call from your agent saying that you had landed the role of Jim Strange and you performed an impromptu Irish jig on the Barons Court tube station platform, did you ever think that you’d still be playing him a decade later?

SEAN: I can honestly say I hadn’t a clue as to just how long I’d be playing Jim Strange, and what a hugely important part of my life it would become. 

DAMIAN: But did you have any idea – or at least your own personal hopes – of how long the show would continue for?

SEAN: With it being my first job, I didn’t have a clue about how the industry worked from a production standpoint, or the criteria it would have to meet in order to be longstanding and successful. I hoped at the time it would at least run for a few years. 

DAMIAN: And how did you feel when it was confirmed that this would be the final series?

SEAN: It was bittersweet. It could never last forever and it seemed like a good moment for it to stop. The overwhelming feeling was one of gratitude to have been part of something so loved.

DAMIAN: In our original interview, you described Strange as having something of the Auguste clown about him and I wondered – as the series has gradually become frequently darker and Strange more serious – if you missed playing the more obvious comedic aspects to the character?

SEAN: I would argue that a lightness persists in Strange, even in the dark times. If anything, it’s been nice to have more of the serious stuff to do to counterbalance that. 

DAMIAN: Although, wasn’t it amusing to see poor Strange not knowing where to put his face during the scenes at the nudist hotel last series?

SEAN: Certainly was! I didn’t know where to look either. And it was bloody cold that day, so fair play to the supporting artists and cast.

DAMIAN: Even though I still miss his legendary tank tops of yesteryear, I’m mostly hoping that we’ll get to see Strange play the trombone one last time or does he still just keep the instrument under his desk for emergencies only?

SEAN: Yes, in a glass box with a tiny hammer. I’d like to think the trombone is heavily implied throughout all scenes in CID.

DAMIAN: And in RAGA (S7:E2) we are treated to the unexpected sight of Strange wearing a pinny, holding a cookbook and learning the culinary arts! Were we ever to be invited to dine with Strange, what specialty might he prepare for us?

SEAN: Funnily enough I enjoy cooking myself and love collecting cookbooks. I have an original Galloping Gourmet cookbook, published in 1972. Leafing through that, and this is a genuine recipe, I think he might have a bash at ‘Fairfield flounder fillets and legal sauce’.

DAMIAN: Discussing the character development of Strange over the years, you told me before that in the 60s he was ‘very much trying to find himself [and that] he is very sure of where he wants to go in the world but is still unsure of his footing within it’ and in our last interview regarding the 70s, you said he was ‘Harder. Tougher. Self-assured. He’s his own man now.’ What effect do you think Joan Thursday has had on this harder, tougher and more self-assured Strange?

SEAN: I think if anything she has galvanised his determination and ambition. It’s all about looking after Joanie, who is also very supportive of him. 

DAMIAN: I know from reading various drafts of the scripts over the years that many scenes were cut and some of these involved Strange and Joan. One particular scene that I remember reading years ago was where she kisses him on the cheek as they say goodnight – in the version that made it to the screen it was after their date at the Masonic ball at the Lodge in SCHERZO (S8:E2) and Strange says, ‘Blimey, I won’t wash my face for a week now’. Therefore, Russ has obviously been planting these little acorns for a long time but when were you first made aware that this was one of the directions your character would be taking and what was your initial reaction to having the opportunity of exploring the less serious side of him again?

SEAN: I think it was as early as series two that somebody in production said to me ‘oh of course, Strange gets together with Joan.’ I thought ‘Really?’ – I don’t think we’d even had a scene together at the time, and had only met Sara at read-throughs. It became apparent over the last couple of series, the direction their relationship was taking, and it was exciting to get to work with Sara on some great scenes. 

DAMIAN: Endeavour and Strange went on a double date way back in 1966 during the episode NOCTURNE (S2:E2) – and let’s not forget that one of the girls was Joan. I asked you in a previous interview why Strange had never been out with a girl since then and you said that he was ‘Too busy for dates.’ What changed Strange’s mind?

SEAN: I don’t think anything changed his mind particularly. I think it was just fate, or happenstance. He had a spare ticket to the masonic ball, and there she was.

DAMIAN: I must say that the scenes with Strange and Joan last series were amongst my personal highlights of the three episodes. The two really do have an extraordinary – if somewhat unexpected – chemistry together, don’t they?

SEAN: That’s very kind of you to say. I can only doff my cap to Sara for being such an excellent, generous scene partner, and to Russ, for giving us such lovely scenes to work with. 

DAMIAN: Which of the following would you say have contributed most to the man Strange is today: the tragic events at Blenheim Vale in NEVERLAND (S2:E4), the death of George Fancy in ICARUS (S5:E6), the influence of his friends at the Lodge, getting seriously injured by the stabbing in ZENANA (S7:E3), his relationship to Joan Thursday or simply his own determination to climb to the top?

SEAN: I know it’s a cop out, but, all of them. These are the events in life, good and bad, that make a person. He is the sum of his experience.

DAMIAN: I thought the scene in ZENANA was interesting where Strange and Max almost take on the shared role of parents when Endeavour and Thursday are squabbling by the canal at the Towpath Killer scene of the crime and Strange says: ‘That’s the face we want to show the world now, is it? Washing out our dirty smalls in front of respected friends and colleagues. God almighty, what’s the matter with you? Well… I hope you’re both pleased with yourselves.’ Strange wouldn’t have dared to raise his voice and say these words before?

SEAN: I don’t think he’d ever been given cause to. We deal with a lot of dead bodies, so it would be easy for us as an audience to forget the solemnity of standing over the deceased. Their squabbling was unacceptable and they rightly got a bollocking from Max and Strange.

DAMIAN: If Strange met Endeavour in 1965 and the last Inspector Morse episode was in 2000, that means they will have known each other for 35 years which must be their longest continuous friendship. However, now you’re able to look back on their complicated relationship from 1965 to 1972, how do you think it has evolved across those first seven years?

SEAN: If it’s possible, they’ve simultaneously grown closer and further apart.

DAMIAN: In terms of bringing closure to your interpretation and portrayal of the character at least, what were you hoping to find in the last three scripts and how does the Strange at the final stages of Endeavour compare to James Grout’s introduction in Inspector Morse?

SEAN: I was hoping for there to be a happy ending for Jim, I thought he deserved it. In terms of bridging the gap, I think we see Strange well on his way up the ladder.

DAMIAN: Referencing the older Strange of the novels, I mentioned chocolate biscuits in our first interview, and you told me that your personal favourite was the Garibaldi. Now, in SCHERZO, Strange says the following: ‘I’ve conducted some odd interviews in my time, matey. But stone me, this morning’s go takes the Garibaldi.’ Art imitating life, perhaps?

SEAN: Given that Russell might have the broadest range of reference I think I’ve ever encountered, it doesn’t seem too unlikely that the contents of these interviews might make their way into the script somehow. 

DAMIAN: In comparison to Endeavour or Thursday, Russ once told me that in Riggers’ hands, Strange is ‘a wonderful everyman.’ Do you think this might be why so many of the men in the audience relate to Strange more than other male lead characters in the show?

SEAN: If they do then that could possibly be why. I think characters like Strange are important, not everyone is incredibly witty or brave or brilliant. I think if we’re honest with ourselves, given the situations that Oxford’s Finest find themselves in, most of us would be stood scratching our head, brows furrowed. 

DAMIAN: Do you have a favourite episode of Endeavour or is there a scene that you think perfectly sums up Strange as a character?

SEAN: I think the scene from a few series back where Strange pops round to Morse’s house, interrupting his evening with Ludo, is fairly illustrative of the type of person Jim Strange is. Even though he’s come round to give Morse a ticking off, he’s decent enough not to do it in front of his friend, going so far as to make small talk with the rather aloof character that is Ludo.

DAMIAN: Can you tell me about filming your final scene as Strange and what it was like saying goodbye to a cast and crew that you’ve worked with over the last decade?

SEAN: Truth be told, all I can remember was that it was in CID. Everything else is a bit of a blur. I wouldn’t count myself as a particularly sentimental person, indeed I didn’t shed a tear on the day, but rather like I said earlier, I’ve felt an enormous sense of gratitude and kinship with all involved. It’s been a real honour. 

DAMIAN: Brother Rigby, it has been my honour to do these interviews with you over the years so thank you very much indeed. I wish you all the very best and hope that all your future roles will inspire more impromptu Irish jigs – Cheers, matey!

SEAN: Thanks Damian, your support throughout has been greatly appreciated. Mind how you go. 

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Interview copyright © Damian Michael Barcroft 2023