Jimmy Nail Interview
These short interviews with the cast were done for Series 4 of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. Jimmy Nail talks about Series 4 and a short
bit about how Pet changed his life. The following is copyright of the BBC.
Copyright: The following images, articles and text are copyright BBC & awpet.com.
Do you have something to add?
If you have something to add, whether it be pictures, a magazine interview or something else, we would love to have it
on the Fansite! Please use the Contact link above in the navigation bar and Email us.
Auf Wiedersehen, Pet 2020
The new series came to life as the result of a two-minute, last-minute conversation I had with an attaché at
the British embassy in Havana back in January 2002.
"Ian La Frenais had suggested Cuba as a possible location when
we were filming in Arizona and I immediately liked the mental
images it conjured up. It seemed just right for our guys. "We went
out to Havana looking for storyline ideas with a view to setting the
new series there but we didn't come up with anything really
substantial during our allotted time.
"Somewhat despondently we prepared to leave, empty-handed.
Our last port of call, on the day before we were due to fly home,
was the British Embassy, where we were given tea and biscuits by
the Ambassador and his staff but not much in the way of story
inspiration. "On the way out to the car I happened to ask whose
job it was to look after the embassy building's upkeep, as it was in
very good condition, unlike the rest of Havana, and was told about
the O.E.D. This was Overseas Estates Development, a government
department responsible for the upkeep of the Crown's buildings all
over the world. A-ha!"
On our return to the UK we were allowed to go and meet the men from the O.E.D. at their London headquarters and
they were very helpful, explaining how they recruited tradesmen for their far-away postings and the work they would
be expected to carry out. I found it truly fascinating and from this meeting came the storyline for the current series.
"All set for Havana, then. But we were forced to relocate to the Dominican Republic at very short notice and shoot
there. "It proved extremely difficult but I believe, with the aid of a fantastic effort from our design team, we've
managed to pull it off. I'm confident, but in the end, as always, the viewers will decide for themselves. Fingers crossed,
then.
"One of Oz's main themes throughout the new series is the blossoming of his somewhat unlikely relationship with a
beautiful Cuban prima ballerina, Ofelia Ortiz. "On a visit to the Cuban National Ballet, I happened to mention the idea
of Oz having a fling with one of the leading dancers and Dick and Ian picked up on it. It turned into one of the show's
main themes, but thankfully I wasn't required to don pumps.
"The show seems to have developed into a kind of brickies' Whicker's World, where our guys go off to foreign climes
and have their adventures while trying to avoid the many pitfalls of international travel and employment. Thankfully,
in this regard they're almost always doomed to fail.
"There are many reasons why this show is unlike any other, not least the bond that exists between the original cast
members. "But the most important thing, the thing that keeps bringing us all back, time and again, is the script. If they
weren't of the finest quality, none of us would bother. These new scripts are, in my humble opinion, the best the boys
have come up with, and that's saying a great deal. "I just hope we actors have managed to do them justice.
Jimmy Nail Interview
These short interviews with the cast were done for Series 4 of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. Jimmy Nail talks about Series 4 and a short bit about how Pet changed his life. The following is copyright of the BBC. Copyright: The following images, articles and text are copyright BBC & awpet.com.
Auf Wiedersehen, Pet 2015
Do you have something to add?
If you have something to add, whether it be pictures, a magazine interview or something else, we would love to
have it on the Fansite! Please use the Contact link above in the navigation bar and Email us.
The new series came to life as the result of a two-minute, last-minute conversation I had with an attaché at
the British embassy in Havana back in January 2002.
"Ian La Frenais had suggested Cuba as a possible location
when we were filming in Arizona and I immediately liked
the mental images it conjured up. It seemed just right for
our guys. "We went out to Havana looking for storyline
ideas with a view to setting the new series there but we
didn't come up with anything really substantial during
our allotted time.
"Somewhat despondently we prepared to leave, empty-
handed. Our last port of call, on the day before we were
due to fly home, was the British Embassy, where we were
given tea and biscuits by the Ambassador and his staff
but not much in the way of story inspiration. "On the way
out to the car I happened to ask whose job it was to look
after the embassy building's upkeep, as it was in very
good condition, unlike the rest of Havana, and was told
about the O.E.D. This was Overseas Estates Development,
a government department responsible for the upkeep of
the Crown's buildings all over the world. A-ha!"
On our return to the UK we were allowed to go and meet the men from the O.E.D. at their London headquarters and
they were very helpful, explaining how they recruited tradesmen for their far-away postings and the work they would
be expected to carry out. I found it truly fascinating and from this meeting came the storyline for the current series.
"All set for Havana, then. But we were forced to relocate to the Dominican Republic at very short notice and shoot
there. "It proved extremely difficult but I believe, with the aid of a fantastic effort from our design team, we've
managed to pull it off. I'm confident, but in the end, as always, the viewers will decide for themselves. Fingers
crossed, then.
"One of Oz's main themes throughout the new series is the blossoming of his somewhat unlikely relationship with a
beautiful Cuban prima ballerina, Ofelia Ortiz. "On a visit to the Cuban National Ballet, I happened to mention the
idea of Oz having a fling with one of the leading dancers and Dick and Ian picked up on it. It turned into one of the
show's main themes, but thankfully I wasn't required to don pumps.
"The show seems to have developed into a kind of brickies' Whicker's World, where our guys go off to foreign climes
and have their adventures while trying to avoid the many pitfalls of international travel and employment. Thankfully,
in this regard they're almost always doomed to fail.
"There are many reasons why this show is unlike any other, not least the bond that exists between the original cast
members. "But the most important thing, the thing that keeps bringing us all back, time and again, is the script. If
they weren't of the finest quality, none of us would bother. These new scripts are, in my humble opinion, the best
the boys have come up with, and that's saying a great deal. "I just hope we actors have managed to do them justice.
ideas with a view to setting the new series there but we
didn't come up with anything really substantial during
our allotted time.
"Somewhat despondently we prepared to leave, empty-
handed. Our last port of call, on the day before we were
due to fly home, was the British Embassy, where we were
given tea and biscuits by the Ambassador and his staff
but not much in the way of story inspiration. "On the way
out to the car I happened to ask whose job it was to look
after the embassy building's upkeep, as it was in very
good condition, unlike the rest of Havana, and was told
about the O.E.D. This was Overseas Estates Development,
a government department responsible for the upkeep of
the Crown's buildings all over the world. A-ha!"
On our return to the UK we were allowed to go and meet the men from the O.E.D. at their London headquarters and
they were very helpful, explaining how they recruited tradesmen for their far-away postings and the work they would
be expected to carry out. I found it truly fascinating and from this meeting came the storyline for the current series.
"All set for Havana, then. But we were forced to relocate to the Dominican Republic at very short notice and shoot
there. "It proved extremely difficult but I believe, with the aid of a fantastic effort from our design team, we've
managed to pull it off. I'm confident, but in the end, as always, the viewers will decide for themselves. Fingers
crossed, then.
"One of Oz's main themes throughout the new series is the blossoming of his somewhat unlikely relationship with a
beautiful Cuban prima ballerina, Ofelia Ortiz. "On a visit to the Cuban National Ballet, I happened to mention the
idea of Oz having a fling with one of the leading dancers and Dick and Ian picked up on it. It turned into one of the
show's main themes, but thankfully I wasn't required to don pumps.
"The show seems to have developed into a kind of brickies' Whicker's World, where our guys go off to foreign climes
and have their adventures while trying to avoid the many pitfalls of international travel and employment. Thankfully,
in this regard they're almost always doomed to fail.
"There are many reasons why this show is unlike any other, not least the bond that exists between the original cast
members. "But the most important thing, the thing that keeps bringing us all back, time and again, is the script. If
they weren't of the finest quality, none of us would bother. These new scripts are, in my humble opinion, the best
the boys have come up with, and that's saying a great deal. "I just hope we actors have managed to do them justice.
