It’s 1992 and the Queen isn’t the only one having an annus horribilis. In Stockport, Kath, Martin and Diane are all trying their best to get along. Martin (Conleth Hill) is down on his luck, Diane is running Parker’s with Sandy Copper (Steve Pemberton) and Kath just wants everyone to be happy. But Kath’s constant interfering changes all of their lives forever. They’ll need to depend on each other now more than ever, but who do they trust?
The Power of Parker, Fridays from 30th May, 9:30pm, BBC One/iPlayer
Interview with Sian Gibson (Kath)
Tell us where we pick up with Kath in Series 2?
The series is set two years later in 1992 and Kath thinks she has exactly what she always wanted in life. She’s living with Martin and finally has her man to herself, and she’s also rekindled her relationship with her sister, Diane. She should be living the dream, but instead she’s worried that Martin has “lost his sparkle” now he’s not the boss of his own electrical store, and she is still feeling guilty for betraying Diane. There’s a power shift between Martin and Diane, and Kath feels stuck in the middle of them both. Kath thinks if she can sort out Martin and Diane's problems then everyone will be happy, and they can all live happily ever after. Unfortunately, her interfering doesn't go to plan and she manages to make everything worse, throwing them all into chaos.
How has Kath’s relationship with Martin and Diane changed since Series 1?
Kath and Diane have put their differences behind them and are getting to know each other again and actually getting on! Kath wants to make it up to Diane for having an affair with her husband. (So yeah, she has a lot of making up to do! ) Kath has never really stood up for herself but she won’t let anyone hurt her sister and will happily stand up for Diane whatever the cost.
This is all much to the annoyance of Martin who hates his girlfriend being mates with his ex wife, meaning Kath is having to sneak around behind his back to see Diane. Kath and Martin are scraping a living on Kath’s wage, but Kath has never been money motivated and loves that she now has Martin all to herself with their relationship now out in the open. Kath senses that Martin isn't happy with his new arrangement and does what she can to try and make him happy.
Kath has always been the eternal optimist and just wants her happy ending, but the cracks are starting to show now and she is questioning her life choices and who she can trust.
Do you have a favourite moment from filming?
This is a massive cliche, but we have such an amazing cast, crew and production team that every day was such a laugh. I feel very lucky to work with such lovely people - I can’t really call it work!
What can we expect from Kath in this series?
It’s a rollercoaster for Kath in this series, she's all over the place. In her quest to put everything right for everyone else, she has a fight at a party, gets into trouble with her dad, leans on her old friends for advice and meets a blast from her past. She’s got a lot going on this series!
How was the writing process for this series? Did you always know you wanted to take the characters in a new direction?
Paul and I love writing this series, we know each other so well and know what will make each other laugh which is usually spending our days stuck down a YouTube rabbit hole watching early 90s Top Of the Pops episodes. Knowing the characters more this time really helped, and we knew we had to raise the stakes for the characters and increase the jeopardy. We’ve also added some new characters, Mic and Ash, played by Diane Morgan and Navin Chowdhry who are both fabulous and take the series in a completely new direction.
Do you have a favourite outfit from Series 2?
Our costume team were fantastic, and all the costumes and accessories were vintage from 1992 and earlier. Kath wears a particularly fabulous red dress in one episode but let’s just say there’s a lot of lycra and a lot of Spanx were used in the making of this series.
What were you doing in 1992?
I was starting my A-Levels in 1992. The world was my oyster. I was a wannabe goth, with dyed cherry red hair, Doc Martens and an array of band t-shirts like The Cure, The Smiths and Pearl Jam. I was using fake ID to go to Indie Nights at the local nightclub but in reality, I liked nothing better than wearing sequins and dancing to show tunes in my bedroom.
What’s one thing from 1992 you’d like to bring to the present day?
I can’t name just one thing. T'Pau, Quantum Leap, Body Shop’s Dewberry Oil.. I loved the 90s. Take me back.
Pictures: Boffola Pictures
