Newark, Newark writer Nathan Foad talks exclusively about new Gold TV comedy sitcom filmed in town of same name
It’s a wrap! Filming of the sitcom Newark, Newark — filmed in the town of the same name, and destined for the small screen nationally — has ended.
And the writer of the gritty working class comedy says there’s plenty to recognise about the place where he grew up, whether it's visually or in his interpretation of Newark life.
In an exclusive interview, Nathan Foad said filming the semi-autobiographical work was daunting and exciting.
Nathan said: “I have a funny, complicated, relationship with the town. I possibly wasn’t a typical Newark lad — loud, creative and annoying.
“But I loved growing up in Newark. As I have grown older I appreciate the town more.
“It is easy to forget that you grew up somewhere. That’s why I have always been inspired to return to do this. It’s a dream come true. It’s something I’ve always been inspired to do — I always knew that I’d come home.”
Newark, Newark follows quarrelsome chip shop manager and exhausted matriarch Maxine as she tries to ride out her divorce, despite dullard ex-husband Terry trying to win her back.
It stars Gavin & Stacey’s Mathew Horne, from Lowdham, a role that Nathan said he fully embraced, was brilliant, and at his funniest.
It also features Morgana Robinson, who played Pippa Middleton in The Windsors; Coronation Street’s Beverley Callard, EastEnders’ Nina Wadia and Jai Hollis from Green Fingers.
Nathan, 28, educated at Bowbridge primary, Magnus and then Tuxford schools, said: “I grew up in Newark and my family are still here.
“There’s a big element of people trying to recognise characters based on them when you are filming in your home town.
“It’s largely based around the relationship that I have with my mum and both my parents are so happy that’s it’s being made and very excited. Plus, my mum loves Beverley Callard.”
Nathan admitted it was rare for a place to be so relevant to the plot that the production took its name, adding that Newark had a story to tell and viewers locally would recognise not just many of its iconic settings, such as the market place, but its characteristics, language and demeanour too.
He said if Newark, Newark put the town on the map, it wasn’t his original ambition, but he would be happy with that.
“Newark is ripe with potential. It’s one of those places that previously a great deal of people won’t have known about, but now they will,” he said.
“Hopefully, I have painted as true a picture as possible. I’ve used local people as extras wherever possible, even my auntie was an extra.
“It has been a fun show to make and hopefully people will enjoy watching it.
“We’ve had our sprint to the finish line with the filming. What I hope people will see in Newark, Newark is a very funny real story based on a unique family living in a special town.”
Newark, Newark will be screened on Gold TV as a three-part series early in the new year.
