Tessa Peake-Jones on Grantchester, Only Fools And Horses and comfort TV
You might recognise Tessa Peake-Jones as the iconic Raquel Turner in cult classic British TV show, Only Fools and Horses. Starring as Del Boy's partner, the actress shot to fame in the 1980s and has been a warm, familiar face on our screens for over 40 years. But, for the last decade, she’s been a TV staple in ITV's hit period drama, Grantchester.
You may know her as the vicarage housekeeper Sylvia Maguire – now, Sylvia Chapman – in the long-running series, which returned to screens for its ninth season this January. In the lead up to the new series, Tessa told Prima about reprising her role, what it was like working with David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst and what's next for her career.
Where do we find Mrs Chapman in the new season?
Mrs C is feeling pretty good about life but is thrown when vicar Will (Tom Brittney) announces he’s leaving Grantchester. Then, she must get to know the new vicar, Alphy Kottaram (Rishi Nair). She finds it challenging because she was very fond of Will, as he’d become like a son to her.
What are you most excited for fans to see in the new season?
Rishi! It will be lovely to see how he goes down with the public and I’m sure fans will take him into their hearts. Every actor that comes in and plays the vicar has their own personality, and Rishi brings in a new energy.
Grantchester is a series that helps different generations of women to feel seen. How important is that theme to you?
It’s a period piece set in the 1950s and 1960s and things were quite different then. It’s amazing how quickly things have changed for women and gender equality – we’re not quite there yet, but we’re a lot closer than we were then. It’s been lovely to watch women be shown as more than just the housekeeper or wife. It’s important that we acknowledge how different things were for women back then, but, in Grantchester, women are given a bit more say.
Your character has some great dialogue. What are some of your favourite lines?
My favourite line is Mrs C’s catchphrase, ‘What the Dickens?’. It’s in reference to the beautiful black labrador that appears on the series. What people might not know is that he was specifically bred to be on the show and his name is Dickens in real life. When he’s not filming, he lives with a family by the beautiful seaside, which I think is lovely.
What’s it like working with the cast of Grantchester?
This job has been special since our first day 10 years ago. We call each other the Grantchester family. Working together for a decade, you get to know one another well and we have respect for one another as actors. Robson Green is a good example of how to treat everyone on set – he treats everyone as equal and knows everyone’s names before starting a job.
You gained so many fans from your time as Raquel on Only Fools And Horses. What are your memories of filming the show?
Like Grantchester, it felt like a family and I learned an enormous amount from David [Jason] and Nicholas [Lyndhurst]. I still feel grateful to have the experience of working with such legends, especially the writer John Sullivan who gave us such amazing scripts.
What’s your favourite episode of Only Fools And Horses?
I genuinely love them all, but the one when my character, Raquel, gives birth is one of my favourites. At that point in my life, I hadn’t had my own children, so it was an exciting challenge to play. Our writer, John, also drew on his own experiences of his wife giving birth, so I thought the episode was brilliantly written.
Only Fools And Horses remains a comfort watch for many people. What are your favourite shows and films?
I love Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing because it’s so relaxing – it’s just, as they’d describe themselves, two old geezers talking about anything and everything. I also enjoy American hospital dramas, particularly Grey’s Anatomy.
Is there anything you’d like to take on in the future?
I’d love to do more theatre. I haven’t done as much this year as I was working on a series coming to Channel 5 called The Feud, so I’m hoping to get back on stage soon.
Grantchester series 9 is available to watch on ITV and ITVX now.
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