MEET THE CAST: Jane Horrocks as Gran

Gran gives Dave her old rubbish coat. Have you ever been given any hand-me downs that you had to wear?

I used to wear my dad’s old over coat when I was young and trendy, in my new romantic days so that’s the only thing I’ve worn that has belonged to anybody else, I bought second hand stuff during that time but that wasn’t a hand me down.

Grans motto is – ‘do it with gusto’. What does that mean to you?

Well I think if you are going to do something do it with aplomb, you know don’t pussy foot around. Do it in a big way rather than a mealy mouthed shy way, I think that’s’ what she means.

What do you think kids will love about the new series?

They will love it because it’s kind of surreal in places, so like in the episode when they go down into the sea (episode 1 called A Starfish Called Gareth) and nothing makes sense. I just love that surreal element of when Dave puts a fish bowl over his head and goes to the rescue in the sea. He puts a plant in the fish bowl for his oxygen so it’s giving little bits of education but in a really fun way, in an anarchic way, I think that’s what I like about it, it’s quite anarchic.

It’s a bit like the animated version of the Royal Family, you know going on holiday and having to have the television in the caravan, you know I like that they have to go everywhere with the telly.   

It’s great that it is all Northern voices, they are all such character voices which is what’s so brilliant about the show I think, that every voice is very distinctive.

Tell us about Gran.

Gran is the anarchist of the family, she just does whatever she wants, says whatever she wants and doesn’t mind about upsetting people. She is the fun character that doesn’t care.  

What is the relationship like with the rest of the family?

She is one of those Grans that say the most terrible things, she is a bit like the dad in the Royal Family as she isn’t kind to anybody but they love her all the same for her quirky rudeness. She always has to top everybody with her vulgarity.

What children’s shows did you enjoy when growing up?

The Clangers and the Magic Roundabout I used to love that and that had an adult element to it. I think animation should have a little bit of an adult element to them so that adults are able to watch them as well. So it’s not just wallpaper, it’s not just something that you put on and shove the kids in front of its something that adults can enjoy as well. I think Dave Spud is very much one of those types of animations.