Jo Joyner. who’s back as quirky Luella in much-loved detective drama Shakespeare and Hathaway, opens up on her teenage twins, married life and whether she’d ever return to Walford…
If there’s one thing we love on TV, it’s a cosy crime drama — and Jo Joyner promises us that the new run of Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators won’t disappoint. In an exclusive catch-up with OK!, the actress, who played Tanya Branning on EastEnders on and off for over a decade, says the show is about to deliver its “biggest and best” series yet.
“Oh, we’ve got a Cluedo episode, with everyone contained in one house and we’re trying to discover who the murderer is, a live shopping channel episode which is hilarious, a horror convention…,” she laughs. “We went away for a couple of years and now can’t wait to be back.” Here, Jo, 48, also opens up about being a busy mum to teenage twins — and reveals the secret to keeping romance alive with her actor husband Neil Madden.
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Hi, Jo! How are you? Are you ready to fully embrace autumn?
Funnily enough, my daughter did get out the pumpkin candle the other day. So yes, I think I’m ready to embrace the cosy season.
You’ve been filming abroad in recent times — is it hard leaving your husband Neil and your twins Edie and Freddie?
It’s easier now that the kids are older, but it’s feast or famine in this job. I was a year and a half solid away from home, and they’re amazing. They come out and see me, I come home when I can. I realise that my kids are very good to put up with a lot. It’s not a normal lifestyle. Most of their friends’ mums are around. But it’s what they’ve grown up with and, look, they’re really well travelled and used to throwing stuff in a bag and heading off for an adventure.
We were in Australia for the summer a few years ago. And FaceTime makes it all easier. They’re 15 now, they have a busier social life than me! I’ve been at home a lot since February, so we’re all good — I made up for it and we all had a great summer together.
And what’s it like having two 15-year-olds in the house?
I love it. My kids have always been so easy-going. They really don’t row with each other. Me and my husband are like, “We were never like this with our siblings!” They’re super close and really not moody yet. Of course nothing I say is cool but they’re never rude or moody. I’m waiting for that to hit.
Do you think either of them will follow in your footsteps?
Not so far — they’re doing GCSEs this year and neither are doing drama. I know, I can’t believe it myself. Imagine, they may end up getting proper grown-up jobs!
You and Neil are in the same industry — is it a blessing, or a curse?
Oh, a real blessing. Somebody who understands the industry you work in, celebrates it and gets as excited as you about going to the theatre and all that, is great. He’s my best friend. I like to be around lots of people all the time, whereas he loves his own company, so I think it works well that I’m the one that’s worked away a lot over the years. He loves a bit of peace at home.
Is having time apart one of the keys to your marriage then?
I think so, yes. Then we love coming back to each other. And talking, communication is key. Luckily we were really good friends for years, before we became a couple. We’ve always been able to talk about anything. And we obviously still fancy each other — that helps. It’s always good to fancy your own husband!
You’re a couple of years off the big 5-0. Do you ever think about it?
I don’t, really. It seems ridiculous, because I still feel about 28 in my head. Luckily, the times we live in mean that we know more about nutrition, fitness and mental health than we ever did when I was young. I feel fitter and better than ever — I work out a lot, and have this fabulous infra-red sauna at home, which is my new best friend. If you’d shown me a picture in my twenties and said this is what you’re going to look like at 50, and this is what your life would be like, I would be very happy.
Do you feel that there’s still a great deal of pressure on women to age or look a certain way?
You get the pressure you put on yourself, I think. I don’t worry about it. Why try and look like you’re 25 when you’re not? That way misery lies. I love that my daughter is growing up in a society where being strong, fit and healthy is revered, as opposed to the awful “heroin chic” I saw growing up.
Shakespeare & Hathaway is back soon, are you excited?
I’m so thrilled to be back — we genuinely have the best time filming this show. The characters are like a comfy pair of shoes, you slip back into them so easily. My character Luella is so upbeat and positive, she’s like an overexcited labrador. And this season is funnier than ever.
Do you see yourself in Luella at all?
I’m very positive like her, the glass is always half-full – but I’m not as high maintenance. I love my gardening too much to get my nails done.
Shakespeare & Hathaway is very funny — do you enjoy comedy?
I do. That’s what sets it apart from other cosy crime shows. Just before I went into EastEnders I won a Rose d’Or award for comedy doing a sketch show – so I kind of started out in comedy before drama.
Speaking of EastEnders , with Jake Woods returning to the Square and everyone calling for you to return – would you consider it?
I’ve always said never say never, you know? I am definitely way too busy in the next year to be coming back, so I won’t be returning with Jake. But yeah, I see my EastEnders family and it’s always so lovely to catch up. But a return to Walford? Not at the moment, let’s say that.
Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators starts on Wednesday24 September at 8pm on U&Alibi
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