Danny Sapani - A good man goes to war interview

Can you tell us a bit about your character in 'A Good Man Goes To War'?

"Manton is a powerful leader, a scary man and a fearsome soldier. He understands and respects the religious, but is more interested in power. He is obsessed with killing the Doctor."

What was it like working with Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill?

"It was great working with the guys on the show. Matt and I met before at the Royal Court just before he started working on the show. My stuff was mainly with him. I am a great admirer of him and his work."

Were you a fan of the show before filming the role?

"My kids love the show. So I have been watching it with them for about 3 years now and I used to watch it when I was a boy. Tom Baker was my favourite back then. I think the show has come along way, though, since then. Really pushing the boundaries of sci-fi, characterisation and our imaginations."

Did the episode meet your expectations of Doctor Who?

"It exceeded my expectations in everyway. I am so exited to be involved."

Did your character get to interact with any of the monsters in the episode?

"My character gets to unveil the Headless Monks. Aaaarrgh!"

Were there many special effects involved in your scenes?

"No, not really, which was a shame. Maybe next time…"

Did you get to perform any stunts?

"No stunts. I would love to see Manton in action."

What’s your favourite memory from filming the episode?

"Definitely the make-up and costume department. I am in awe of what they do to create creatures from every corner of the known and unknown galaxy."

There’s been a lot of secrecy surrounding the episode’s cliffhanger ending. Were you all given complete scripts?

"I knew very little about what went before or after my episode. Which was weird sometimes, but understandable."

Steven Moffat’s Doctor Who stories are renowned for being quite complex - does this episode follow that trend and how many times did you have to read the script to understand the story?

"It is a very complex story with many strands involving many characters from the past and present. I felt it really challenged my need for a back-story, to flesh out the character and know how they relate to the story as a whole, but in the end it made for a more spontaneous experience. I trusted the direction. I am sure it will be great."

If the chance presented itself, would you like to come back to Doctor Who?

"I would love to come back to Doctor Who. I think it is one of the best things on television and has such wide ranging appeal."


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