Derek. Image shows from L to R: Dougie (Karl Pilkington), Derek (Ricky Gervais). Copyright: Derek Productions
Derek

Derek

  • TV sitcom
  • Channel 4
  • 2012 - 2014
  • 14 episodes (2 series)

Bittersweet comedy drama written by and starring Ricky Gervais as a worker in a retirement home. Also features Kerry Godliman, David Earl, Holli Dempsey, Brett Goldstein, Karl Pilkington and more.

Holli Dempsey interview

Derek. Image shows from L to R: Hannah (Kerry Godliman), Derek (Ricky Gervais). Copyright: Derek Productions
Derek. Vicky (Holli Dempsey). Copyright: Derek Productions

Holli Dempsey returns for Series 2 of Derek with her character Vicky in a more prominent role this time round. Here she talks to BCG about developing Vicky, and how fans of Derek have yet to recognise her in the street...

Hi Holli. We read that, when you met Ricky Gervais to audition for the role of Vicky, you acted all surly and unimpressed? Sounds a brave move, but it worked!

There's loads of things I could have done but, just before I went in, I thought 'no, it's Ricky Gervais'. Knowing his work from before, I kept it right back. I basically just tried to be 15 again. Rather than play a girl that's a 'rude girl', or whatever you want to call her, I played someone who was under-confident.

I think that's often the problem [with young people]... it's not someone being surly or rude or un-impressed, they're just quite nervous, especially around older people. In a job interview or other such situation with professionals around, someone like Vicky wouldn't know how to handle herself necessarily. So I played it like that, and gave 'nothing'.

You portray that vulnerability brilliantly. On the surface she appears to be confident, but we viewers do get to glimpse that it's a false façade she's putting up.

It could be quite easy to caricature someone like Vicky, which I'd hate to see on telly because I hope I'm depicting the truthfulness of a young person and not just trying to play a 'chav' or 'tart' or any of the other things that people might want to categorise her as. She is just a young girl going through the motions.

The character breakdown Ricky wrote did help, but it was quite open as well - I think he just liked what I did in the audition. I think he wants to meet the person he wants to see on screen... so I tried my best to let him meet her. It worked obviously.

Derek. Image shows from L to R: Edna (Margaret Towner), Vicky (Holli Dempsey). Copyright: Derek Productions

It really did, because Vicky takes a more prominent role in this second series. You were presumably happy to be able to take on extra scenes?

Oh, yeah, definitely. It's incredible. As far as I know Vicky was only going to be in one scene in the first series originally, so I think - hopefully - it's got something to do with my performance, but also I think Ricky has seen it as a really good opportunity to show 'old' and 'young' together. Because obviously it's set in an old people's home, but there's no better way to bring in things like Twitter and dating websites and modern things than via a young person; so I think he's definitely seen my character as a great way to look at the programme and really compare old and young.

It raises questions about what retirement homes are going to look like when we're in them. Can you imagine? It's not going to be knitting; it's going to be iPads - it's a scary thought but, yeah, we're not that different when we sit down, me and Sheila or Margaret. We're not that different and yet, in the last 10 years, technology has accelerated, so it is a different world. It's nice that I can bring them into it, and they can bring me into their world.

Vicky seems to be in a happy place when we join her at the start of Series 2...

Yeah, I think Vicky is definitely grown a lot. At her age, I think you do sort of accelerate and grow quite quickly.

I think the Vicky we saw in the first series could have gone down any path, like any young person can, but because she found her place in Broad Hill she's got a bit more of a drive and a direction. She now knows, in a way, where her worth is, and that people respect her and like her.

Derek. Image shows from L to R: Vicky (Holli Dempsey), Derek (Ricky Gervais). Copyright: Derek Productions

It is all the little things that make you a part of this world, and why we're in it, and I don't think she'd found that before - she was having a string of bad boyfriends, and didn't have much support at home or in school. I think she found that with Hannah and Derek, so she definitely is coming out of her shell a bit more and she's very much a part of Broad Hill now... she's no longer nervous and treading carefully, because she's there every day now and people love her.

That said, her choice in boyfriends hasn't got much better - we'll see a bit of that throughout the series - bless her - but then I think a lot of women can relate to that growing up. The boyfriends she chooses are pretty hilarious, not all of them made it into the series unfortunately but maybe there'll be a spin-off show for Vicky's boyfriends! Ha ha.

You will see a change in her, but we still want to keep the brash and stand-up-for-yourself Vicky, because that's what people liked in the first place. Things don't change overnight, so she's the same girl you remember... but she has grown a bit.

In real life you don't come across as being like Vicky. Do you share any DNA with her?

I think she's someone that is close to me, as much as I am different from her.

Some jobs you really have to dig deep and find the character and do a lot of research; but Ricky slips into Derek seamlessly, David into Kev, etc... I think it can't be too much of a struggle to slip into your character, particularly for something with a documentary style, because I think you'd then see the seams.

It's lovely when you know your character. With the second series you can then suddenly play around - if Vicky is in a certain situation, she's react differently to Derek, and visa versa.

Holli Dempsey

You don't look or dress the same as Vicky. Have you ever been recognised in the street?

Not once. Literally, not once! I've done an episode of Tracey Beaker - years ago - and that gets lots of recognition, and I was in Ice Cream Girls as well...

Vicky has got such a style and a look to her, and also I think the attitude... so if you don't have all of that going on, then people just won't make the same association. I don't think people are expecting to see people off the telly in the street so it hasn't happened. I've had people tell me to watch Derek because they loved it so much...

What, not realising you're actually in it?!?

Yeah. At a pub once - it was quite hilarious - this guy went "I watched this brilliant programme called Derek - do you know Ricky Gervais? Well, you should watch it..." And I was like "I was in that!". He just looked really embarrassed, because he obviously thought he'd not noticed me... and then he looked me up and down and said "Nah, it's not you! She was taller in that!".

It's amazing how well known it is, and yet I don't think I'll ever be recognised for it.

Wow, that's interesting. How have you found delivering the comedy element of the show?

I've loved it. This is my first proper foot in the door with comedy, although I wouldn't say it is necessarily a straight comedy show either... I'm still sort of acting, rather than playing a comedy role.

But, yeah, I've loved it and it's really great to have done a show like this to get an insight into comedy - Kerry, David, Brett... they all do the circuit. I'm not saying I'm going to be a stand-up any time soon, but I've loved hearing about it.

Derek. Image shows from L to R: Vicky (Holli Dempsey), Hannah (Kerry Godliman), Kev (David Earl). Copyright: Derek Productions

I've always wanted to do everything - I love doing dramas, I've loved doing comedy... I want to do films, I want to do theatre... so I've no plans to limit myself to any one thing, but I've had a few great comedy auditions lately, so we'll see. I'm in the pilot of The Delivery Man, which is about a male midwife. Kerry's actually in that as well, so that'll be interesting when that comes out...

So no plans to take a live show to, say, the Edinburgh Festival, like your other cast mates have?

Mmm... Brett has asked me before about that. I think character comedy is something that would appeal to me more than straight stand-up. I take my hat off to them all day long, because it's a terrifying thing to stand up there. I think, when you're in character... maybe. Vicky could do half an hour of stand-up? Whether it'd be funny or not, I'm not sure... but it would be interesting!

Series 2 of Derek is on Channel 4 on Wednesday nights at 10pm.

Published: Tuesday 22nd April 2014

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