James Nelson-Joyce & Wayne Rooney: “I want Wayne in This City Is Ours!” | The Wayne Rooney Show

0:00 I love it like, you know when when you get to do something on your own?

0:03 And you wake up in your own bed and you can cook your own food and stuff.

0:06 You get too much at home.

0:07 This Well, this city is ours.

0:08 Oh, yeah, of course.

0:09 This city is ours.

0:09 It's Liverpool, so yeah.

0:10 That must have been like I kind of want I want

0:12 Wayne to get here so we can get into that properly,

0:14 but that must have been like It was a gift.

0:16 a dream.

0:17 Yeah.

0:17 Is that how you view it, a gift?

0:18 Yeah, it's a gift.

0:19 I'm very lucky.

0:20 No, there's actors who are sometimes better than

0:22 me and more gifted than me at stuff.

0:24 No, I think you're being humble with sarcasm

0:26 true in it.

0:26 Look, plays a lot in every areas.

0:28 Bacon rashers, bacon sausages.

0:31 [laughter] You got hash whites?

0:35 What?

0:36 Hello.

0:36 Hello.

0:36 You good?

0:38 How you doing, brother?

0:39 So, you have a bit late?

0:39 It's all right.

0:40 It's all right.

0:40 Feel a little bit off today, [laughter] I want to have a good year.

0:44 I just after last year.

0:46 I seen Luke back in the kitchen.

0:47 I was thinking I saw I saw a couple clips, didn't I?

0:52 I saw when we were talking about it.

0:54 Oh, that was with the That was you streaming with that tease.

0:58 No, you look sharp, though.

1:00 You look sharp, bro.

1:01 Like all the comments were like, "Oh,

1:02 he's still got it." I reckon you can still do a job up front.

1:05 Last 5 minutes.

1:06 Last night.

1:08 [laughter]

1:11 Introduce me into my show.

1:14 [laughter] There was a show I couldn't do the other week.

1:19 Welcome to the Wayne Rooney show where we're joined by Wayne Rooney.

1:24 [laughter] But we are in Liverpool in a pub called The Monroe

1:27 and we are joined by the actor uh James Nelson Joyce.

1:31 And we were just chatting about kind of being

1:33 in Liverpool and how you guys got to know each other.

1:36 Um and it I was also asking that me

1:38 and Kay are fascinated by this, the Scouse bond.

1:41 It's quite something, isn't it?

1:42 Like it seems like even when you two met each other, both Scouse.

1:45 Yeah, it's We were We met first on the me and Tony.

1:49 And then you met Colleen before and yeah Um a kick in the shins.

1:52 It shut down, wasn't it?

1:53 Yeah, shut down.

1:54 It was all shut down in Liverpool where Colleen used to go a lot.

1:57 And then yeah, it was a Scouse as you always stick together and you're

2:01 proud as well and seeing the stuff he's done on on TV and stuff.

2:06 It's great when you you see Scouses doing well and yeah,

2:09 obviously over the last few years the stuff that James

2:12 has done has been great and it's great to watch,

2:15 so it's you're always when you get once you get to know someone as well,

2:19 you try and look after them and and have that bond.

2:22 So Soccer Aid was the first time you kind

2:24 of spent any intense time together, is that right?

2:26 It's the first time we met.

2:27 Like what was your first impressions of Wayne

2:29 because you'll have heard of Wayne the footballer.

2:32 I so we've got mutual mates, so to speak.

2:35 So oh so you've got an inside on Like I knew sounds anyway,

2:38 but where we grew up, it's like a 5-minute drive from mine.

2:42 So like you know as much as you play for Everton

2:45 and United and all that, he's a Scouser in me, like we stick together.

2:49 What were your first impressions?

2:51 Um what I thought, one of the lads.

2:55 [laughter]

2:54 It's funny cuz we had um Soccer Aid, I didn't do the training.

2:58 I don't want to want to do the training days.

3:00 Um and then I got there and then obviously James is there,

3:03 Tony Duggan there and and then naturally

3:06 the Scouses you gravitate to to each other.

3:08 want to watch this happen one time.

3:10 But you know what though, we went like that in training.

3:12 It was all elbows.

3:14 I would say yeah.

3:14 [laughter] Yeah, but you've got a lot there, yeah, you've got it.

3:17 You train him, but it's a No, and then that's that's I think that's normal.

3:21 Scouses you just gravitate to each other and um and then there was

3:25 a few people who he he could see just I'm not going to name names,

3:29 but there's a few people talking to me and he could see I wanted to get away.

3:35 [laughter] I could see him I could see him looking across and I was thinking,

3:38 "Go and rescue me out." So he helped him out?

3:41 Yeah, of course.

3:42 Do you see with Soccer Aid, do you lot is there like a lot of people that go so

3:46 hard in training that by the time they get to the actual match,

3:49 they're like finished?

3:50 Obviously that's our we know what it is as ex-foot- as ex-players,

3:54 so you know how to prepare for the game and even though And then you don't.

3:58 No, no, but even though No,

3:59 but even though you're not fit like I weren't fit the game,

4:02 you you know what to expect and so you you can Can manage it.

4:06 take your rests during the game and and stuff like

4:08 that where the the players the celebrities who play in it,

4:12 they're so eager obviously.

4:13 It's like if if we go into something different here and they're so eager

4:17 to do well and and say in the the really The goals are different.

4:20 impress people, yeah.

4:20 Yeah, and then what normally happens is cuz

4:23 the body's doing something a little bit different,

4:25 they start feeling little things and little aches

4:27 and pains and they're not used to it

4:29 and and then cuz football's different it's different

4:31 to just running or when you're going in the gym,

4:34 it's all the little movements and that's what I

4:36 I I've been saying to Alfred more just football training.

4:39 I've been bigger at the culture.

4:41 I think he's taking this training really seriously.

4:43 I don't know if it was on the phone to me and he was saying he goes,

4:45 "I had a coach coming in to teach me how to play football." He went [laughter]

4:50 I think you've lost it on Wayne as well.

4:51 I've actually been I've been doing it this morning and all that.

4:53 I struggled this morning.

4:54 I've had a big weekend.

4:56 Um [laughter]

5:00 Really?

5:00 No, I went skiing with the kids and then we went to races

5:03 and I had a another party for Cole for the 40th in the parents' house.

5:08 So I struggled getting up this morning, but I got up and done it.

5:10 So I'm guessing you're a big football fan, right?

5:12 Yeah.

5:13 I'm a royal blue all the way.

5:15 I was going to say and you you

5:17 don't support the team in Liverpool that Wayne likes.

5:19 No, no, no, no, no, but me dad is a blue.

5:22 And dad is a serious blue, isn't he?

5:24 Yeah, he's a bitter one, yeah.

5:25 He hates it when I say bitter.

5:27 Should we get him on?

5:30 [laughter] He needs to be fair, he's in the nice room, isn't he?

5:33 Dad.

5:34 Come here a second.

5:37 Just saying you're a bitter blue, aren't you?

5:43 [laughter] So if he's if he's a blue, how did you end up supporting Liverpool?

5:45 From me mum's dad, he was used he used to live in Wavertree,

5:48 he travels to all the games.

5:50 And I was the first grandchild.

5:52 So, when I was 18 months old, he took me on the Kop,

5:54 the last game standing, and then that was it then.

5:57 Your dad How does that work in the dynamic with your dad?

5:59 It's funny, isn't it?

6:02 [laughter] It's funny.

6:02 I get a letter in the mail all the time.

6:03 So, do you know his dad as well?

6:05 No, I've I've spoke to his dad as well.

6:06 I've been on the phone to him, but um That's pretty cool, isn't it?

6:09 When I was putting your dad on the phone to Wayne Rooney.

6:11 Yeah.

6:11 We laughed at each other.

6:14 [laughter] He'll go to me, "What the hell is going on here?" And he'll go,

6:16 "You can't say that on the telly." [laughter]

6:20 Fair.

6:20 Um but also, I'm told that your dad is such a big Everton fan.

6:24 There's been a Is there been a few moments

6:26 in your life where it's it's been quite tricky for you?

6:28 Yeah, so when I was like 15, 16,

6:31 we played United in the Carling Cup final at Cardiff.

6:34 So, we he dropped me off to get on the coach.

6:36 And just before the coach was about to take off,

6:38 you know, it was full with Liverpool fans,

6:40 he's jumped on the coach and gone, "I hope he gets well, you red [laughter]

6:45 And then just jumped off the coach, and I've got to sit there now for 4 hours

6:48 with a load of lads that I didn't even know, just sweating, yeah.

6:50 It's horrible cuz when Liverpool when Liverpool win stuff, it's it's horrible.

6:57 Like as a See the pain in his

6:59 an Evertonian, I remember in 2000 2005, when you won the Champions League.

7:05 Remember they they they done the parade.

7:08 And obviously, I was in Liverpool.

7:10 And then they're doing the parade with Everton.

7:13 Me and me mates were in the car.

7:15 So, we drove through if you remember, we did have a paintball gun with us.

7:19 But we didn't use it.

7:21 Um but just just you didn't use it,

7:24 but just seeing them all is just like it's horrible.

7:27 When they're doing them parades, it's So,

7:28 you went out there with the intention, and then you thought better of it?

7:31 Yeah.

7:31 We didn't do it, yeah, but I'm guessing now with your work and everything,

7:34 what's your relationship like with Liverpool?

7:36 How do you get to Cuz I imagine it's hard to get to games, isn't it?

7:39 Yeah.

7:39 I mean, like with work and that, you just you don't got the time,

7:42 but if I want to go like to go to meet them,

7:44 they'll show me out and that, but it is it's hard to get to games.

7:47 Yeah, but it's but it's hard but it's hard

7:50 I was meant to go down and I do weekends and couldn't make it,

7:52 but um he text me him a few weeks back.

7:56 He's a police officer doing telework and asked me if I wanted to I said,

7:59 "You [laughter] want to come in?" I said,

8:00 "I can't play a copper at work." But yeah,

8:02 I'm getting me wrestle coming out playing a copper.

8:05 [laughter] What would you have done if he'd have said yes?

8:07 Well, he's a loved up show.

8:08 Our big producer is a Match in United front and he's like,

8:12 "Wait, Wayne's a favorite player of mine and all that." And I'm like,

8:14 "Wayne said he's going to come and play this copper." Yeah, so I'll pick him up.

8:17 What are the [laughter] times?

8:19 What are the requirements?

8:19 I'm like, What are the requirements?

8:22 Nothing.

8:22 He's on a strict diet at the moment.

8:23 It's very funny.

8:24 But that that show that um City's ours I I must have went massive after that.

8:29 I was Yeah.

8:31 You know, everyone told and that dance and all that.

8:32 I was too you had them.

8:34 Just before you came actually,

8:35 we were talking about like how much he loves being back in Liverpool

8:38 now as well and the fact that you get to do a show here.

8:40 We described it as a gift.

8:42 It It must be like and for you as well

8:44 as a fellow Scouse kind of from the area, it must be amazing.

8:48 there's there's a few things.

8:50 Um a few shows which have been based around Liverpool and and stuff

8:55 and as a Scouse you're always watching them

8:56 and you're thinking like what's the accent like?

8:58 Are they representative of Liverpool properly and stuff?

9:00 And and there's been a few which haven't.

9:02 Mhm.

9:03 Um whatever, but I think with with the City's ours it was it was done right.

9:07 It was it was really good to watch.

9:09 I was I was saying before I mean only one of all the years I was supposed to go.

9:11 Should have went.

9:12 Yeah.

9:12 But you can tell a Scouser by the way

9:14 they walk or anything in the clothes they wear.

9:15 Can you tell us how you spot them?

9:16 Like what's the key?

9:17 I'll tell you what I'll be looking for them now.

9:18 Like a sixth sense.

9:19 You just know they're one of us, you know what I mean?

9:21 You can, yeah.

9:21 There's a Scouser in the corner laughing at us.

9:23 It's true, [laughter] isn't it?

9:24 It's true.

9:25 Like even walking through when I lived in London

9:27 and I go home or I go through Houston station,

9:29 I'll be like, "You know what's happening?

9:30 Where in Liverpool are you from?" You know, I was like that.

9:33 Bonds, it's you go all day and You go all day

9:35 and you'll you'll you'll know they'll have the bag over the mouth day

9:40 [laughter]

9:39 the glasses hanging around his neck and Can you tell

9:41 by their accent where in Liverpool they're from as well?

9:44 Um north and south Liverpool, yeah.

9:47 Can you?

9:47 Yeah.

9:48 Was it strong?

9:49 What what's the difference?

9:49 I'm trying to learn it.

9:50 South South Liverpool, isn't it?

9:51 Is it?

9:52 And then you You'll have people from from Widnes and stuff like

9:55 that and where people Are they all But you'll probably listen to them and think,

9:58 "Oh, that's a Scouser." Where you'll know straight away.

10:01 Did you feel pressure then playing in that in that show

10:04 knowing it was all based on Liverpool,

10:05 knowing people like Wayne were watching it?

10:07 Nah, not with Little Boy Blue I felt the the pressure of.

10:10 So, that was about resource, you know what I mean?

10:12 I felt the pressure of that, but with this I was just as I say,

10:16 I I'd auditioned for such a long time for the role.

10:18 Did you?

10:18 Yeah, for like 6 months.

10:21 So, and I weren't giving up, you know what I mean?

10:23 Like cuz at first I heard it was going to be like

10:25 a name and all that and I was just I was like,

10:28 "Nah, they're not saying no to me." And I was

10:30 just putting me foot down every time, like Get me agent.

10:32 Was it like self-tapes or was it actual like in person?

10:35 Yeah, I would it started off in person,

10:38 then it was self-tapes and then it was back to being in person.

10:41 And I was just like there's no way they're giving this to anyone else.

10:44 This is not happening.

10:45 And I was honestly like auditioning and writing and sending emails

10:49 and I was just like there wasn't there was no way.

10:51 Do you know on the on the auditions you do

10:54 you improvise or did you just stick to the script?

10:56 I I'll always improvise cuz there's all like you're shooting

10:59 a scene five or six times just in this one shot.

11:03 Comes a bit monotonous.

11:04 So, to keep it alive and I think you get

11:06 the best performance out of the actors you're working with.

11:08 So, even when we were auditioning and me and Hannah

11:10 were doing a chemistry read I would, you know,

11:13 throw different other lines or say them different way

11:15 just to cuz it's acting's about reacting, isn't it?

11:18 It's like, you know.

11:19 Like Also, it makes you feel like you're in the room a lot more, right?

11:22 Yeah, cuz Keeps you on your toes, doesn't it?

11:24 Yeah.

11:24 What's the show done for you?

11:27 It's been amazing, like it's opened a lot of doors.

11:30 Like I'm very lucky, but and it's to to be honest it sounds cringe,

11:36 but you may not know what I mean.

11:38 Like, everyone who works on the job is like,

11:41 you know, we spend 14 hours of time with each other.

11:44 Got Sam and Malou and all the best

11:45 producers going and it's like a team camaraderie feeling.

11:49 And I guess, you know, when the dressing room's right, you know,

11:53 it's it's that like and so when we knew we were getting a second season,

11:56 it was like all these people who we love,

11:58 I know they're getting employment for another 6 7 months.

12:01 You know what I mean?

12:01 Like that.

12:02 That's the kind of thing where I get the lift

12:04 from because it's nice to know that they you know,

12:06 they can pay the mortgage or whatever because

12:08 you never know when your next job is.

12:10 I've I've just done um filmed the My Head recently and where

12:15 I was going to do a little bit of acting in it.

12:17 But Spoiler, can't wait to No, I don't know I don't know why not.

12:21 Put it on IMDB.

12:22 I don't know why not.

12:22 I've had my United years old and be acting in it.

12:24 It's terrible, like [laughter] so bad.

12:27 But then I think now I've still playing.

12:30 Yeah.

12:30 When you play and you you you're doing it and you

12:32 just want to get it out and but now you've got

12:34 to actually feel a bit more calm and a bit more

12:36 time and and stuff whatever and I'd walk in and say,

12:39 "Right, should we do it this way?

12:40 Yeah." [laughter] We've got to get you in season three.

12:43 We've got to do it.

12:45 When does filming start?

12:46 Has it started?

12:47 So we finished last week.

12:48 So we've been doing season two for 7 months.

12:51 We finished on that last week, yeah.

12:52 And so when will it be out?

12:54 We think the beginning of October.

12:56 It's quite It's quite a quick turnaround to do.

12:58 We see when you prepare for roles, do you like you I'm not saying method,

13:03 but is there anything you do for any particular role?

13:05 Uh one thing I'll always do is get an aftershave.

13:08 Okay.

13:08 Cuz it's like a sensory thing, I think.

13:10 Like, you know, certain aftershaves or clothes

13:12 make you feel a certain way, don't they?

13:14 So like a nice aftershave if you're playing someone a bit or you know,

13:17 or like you're playing a little scally or something.

13:19 Cool waters or something.

13:23 [laughter] Aftershave as well.

13:27 Um cool waters.

13:28 Come back to me.

13:28 I can We

13:32 [laughter]

13:35 You mentioned this off camera the other week.

13:36 You said this had happened when you came Yeah.

13:50 I can't I can't contribute to In terms of I said what it's done for you as well.

13:54 You've been nominated for a BAFTA, haven't you as well.

13:57 And you're up against someone I know I feel bad for always asking you about him.

14:02 But it feels weird not to.

14:03 Steven, yeah.

14:04 You're up against someone that you kind of been an idol and now a friend.

14:10 You find out when everyone else finds out.

14:12 Do you?

14:13 Yeah.

14:14 So at like at 12:00 or whatever it was when it got announced.

14:18 I saw me phone at 12:15 and I had like a couple of missed calls off me agent.

14:26 [laughter]

14:29 So I looked at me phone, what's going on here?

14:31 And then I saw loads of messages and then me agent was phoning me.

14:33 She picked up, she was like, "Hi,

14:34 you're this city's being nominated." I'm like, "Amazing talent blows." I'm like,

14:38 "How great." And then she went, "And you have for later on after night

14:40 or is it April 1st?" You know what I mean?

14:43 And then I put that phone call down within 10 minutes.

14:46 Stephen Graham face timed me and he was

14:48 just like saying loads of nice things and that.

14:51 To be honest, I wouldn't be here if it weren't for him.

14:54 That that is genuine.

14:56 Yeah, honestly.

14:56 Why?

14:57 Tell us a little bit cuz you met Is it right

14:58 that you went up to him in Nando's as a kid?

15:00 Sorry, you've probably told that story a few times as well.

15:02 But you went up to him then and you've kind of gone full

15:04 circle almost now from what I Thinking about scousers what I was saying,

15:07 we're all in together looking after each other.

15:09 But he hasn't just done it for me,

15:10 he's done it for you, Jodie Comer, Jack McMullen, you know.

15:15 You Tom Me Taggart, you you look at the list of names of people who he's helped.

15:18 He's just got a heart like that's massive.

15:20 When you say help, in what way?

15:22 So like with your career, your personal life, you know,

15:24 keeping your chin up when you keep on getting rejected.

15:27 You know, what like so Steven put me in contact with his agent.

15:31 And he's done that with Jodie and it's probably

15:33 one of the best things that's ever What we

15:35 said about Scousers is when you watching Jodie and seeing

15:39 how much she's been doing and what she's doing.

15:42 It's brilliant and I'm good friends with her dad,

15:44 Jimmy, who's my mate still there.

15:48 Jodie comes to dad is the manager.

15:50 Jimmy, I saw remember we went to Wimbledon and obviously

15:54 cuz Jodie had done brilliant and so then we

15:56 were sat just next to Royal Box and I

16:00 look across and I see Jimmy in the Royal Box.

16:03 [laughter] So I text him and said,

16:03 "Are you James you?" Whatever but then it's that that thing of you know,

16:08 I remember Jodie when she was a kid and then seeing her do

16:11 what she's doing and seeing James again go back to our Scouse thing.

16:15 It's brilliant when you see Scousers do do well.

16:17 Is that a bit of a kind of something that's on your radar as well as you get

16:20 older and kind of continue to have the success

16:22 that you have that you want to be a mentor?

16:24 Oh yeah, one 100% life any of the young kids who are

16:27 on trial or anyone who I meet is like why wouldn't you?

16:31 Why wouldn't you help someone?

16:32 You know, we all need help at some point.

16:33 I'm sure remember you talking about was it Duncan?

16:35 Yeah.

16:36 And he had a job to do with it, didn't he?

16:38 Did you help anyone out particularly when you look back?

16:41 Yeah.

16:42 I'm sure you did.

16:42 I just wonder if there was anyone that you particularly took under your wing.

16:44 Yeah, no, there's I think there's if I just look at the to football I've

16:51 had teammates who were younger than me who need help and advice and you know,

16:55 I've been there to help and they've come to see

16:56 me in the room like before games and you know,

16:59 they might feel a bit down or feel a bit left

17:01 out of the squad or even with personal stuff as well.

17:04 So I think you of course you try and help whatever way you can.

17:09 The same way I had players who who helped me and that's you try and pass

17:13 down as you get a little bit older and pass down your knowledge on them.

17:16 Is there any good kind of actors from this area

17:18 that we should look out for coming through at the moment?

17:20 Well, just loads.

17:21 Well, like the ones that are in this city as ours, isn't it?

17:23 Yeah.

17:24 Jack McMullen Tell you what, you know Michael Noble, the lad who plays Banksy?

17:28 Yeah.

17:28 So, you know, seeing a lot of the stuff he's done in the second season.

17:32 He's going to win a BAFTA.

17:34 100% Michael Noble is incredible, but you know Tia Lacey Shaw There's a young

17:39 kid who was in the first season, Shane Walker.

17:41 I feel like they're all thriving, you know?

17:43 Mhm.

17:43 At the minute with the actors and and Shane and the music as well.

17:46 I was going to say it feels like it's a bit

17:47 of a creative kind of cultural hub at the moment.

17:50 It must be must be something that you're quite proud of as well.

17:53 Yeah, that's brilliant and then obviously um there's Time as well.

17:56 I I love Time.

17:57 Yeah.

17:58 Oh, it's so funny on that though cuz um that was me first time working with Sean

18:02 and you meet Sean and he's dead like

18:04 mild and he's gentleman he's a real gentleman.

18:06 And I and I thought we'd have fun on the walk in and he went, "Oh, no, James.

18:11 Not you again." Cuz I was like 10 when I even seen him,

18:14 but like that's what I mean, like I weren't supposed to be an actor.

18:19 And you know, you pinch yourself like you

18:20 some of the people you worked with and that.

18:22 Why do you say that you weren't supposed to be an actor?

18:24 going to ask you that.

18:25 I wanted you to be a footballer.

18:26 Did you really?

18:27 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

18:27 And it was just so happened I fancied me English teacher when I was like 15, 16.

18:32 She She was fit, you know what I mean?

18:35 [laughter] So I used to just put accents on to get her attention in class

18:37 and then it just kind of evolved from there and I just got lucky.

18:40 Is there a particular role that you once you played it you thought,

18:44 "Wow, like I've actually I've I've done this now." I don't watch myself.

18:48 Really?

18:49 watch anything back, no.

18:50 Do you watch yourself back?

18:52 No, no, no.

18:53 Like unless it's like for a for for like an edit or something.

18:56 Otherwise like I hate it.

18:58 Cuz it's funny, isn't it?

18:59 Cuz like footballers and that you can't you guys have to

19:01 getting at but when obviously I've done um TV TV adverts and stuff.

19:05 I'll never watch it back and but it must

19:07 be interesting when you're doing a you know, a show.

19:10 Oh, I saw I know.

19:11 I was doing well, I've done a 2-minute thing where where you've got a a role

19:16 play so you don't know what's going to happen really for to do a show.

19:18 I I'd have to I think I'd have to watch it back.

19:20 But, the thing is is like he's, you know, he'll shoot a scene so 20 25 times.

19:25 So, it starts with someone else's, you know,

19:28 preference of what they like in that performance.

19:30 So, I think you do a job,

19:31 you forget about it and you know, Have you actually watched the the show?

19:35 I've watched The City of Zs, yeah.

19:37 And because we had to for like a lot of the press and stuff talking about it,

19:41 a lot of the stuff and all cuz he just sent me on the So,

19:43 do you actually know what's going like I read the script.

19:48 [laughter] That must be mad where you you know what the bits you've done, but

19:51 Yeah.

19:51 you don't know how it's Yeah, no.

19:53 That must be weird.

19:54 Would you go Would you go into like writing your own things and and directing

19:59 all that sort of stuff or would you just want to stay as an actor?

20:03 I've got something in production way.

20:06 That is quite But, I can't genuinely can't say what it is.

20:09 I've got that's all right.

20:10 But, it's the only No, but that's genuinely the truth.

20:12 So, you wrote it yourself though, yeah?

20:14 It's It was an idea created by me and a really big writer talking

20:18 about it all and And his agent at this point is saying, "Shut up." [laughter]

20:23 And we won't ask you too much about that, but the last

20:26 year we can talk about The City of Zs and everything.

20:29 It feels like the last year for you.

20:31 Would you say it's been life-changing?

20:32 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

20:34 What's What's next?

20:36 I'm about to go and do Other than the writing.

20:37 Yeah, well, no, I'm about to go and do

20:39 this film in like We start filming in 2 weeks.

20:42 And it's set in the 1920s Portugal.

20:44 It's all true.

20:46 It's about a fellow called Alves Reis and he basically was an amazing forger.

20:52 And he got the mint of London to produce 300 million escudos notes,

20:56 which in today's equivalent is about some 300 billion or something like that.

21:01 And he defrauded Portugal of all that money and kind of built their economy.

21:05 He was giving the money to the working classes.

21:07 It was like a bit of a Robin Hood story

21:09 and then yes all going on to do that next.

21:11 And that is the reason that you can't do Soccer Aid.

21:13 Yeah.

21:14 That's a pretty good reason, isn't it?

21:15 Yeah.

21:16 Yeah, well he's he's not having it.

21:18 He's he's got a little jet now, can't he?

21:20 He's got a little jet back home.

21:22 [laughter]

21:22 Are you in that world now where you can get jets around?

21:25 He can lend me one.

21:28 [laughter] Um so that will be filmed over 3 months.

21:29 And we were we were talking about this before actually when you were talking

21:31 about Liverpool like the intensity of going

21:33 away and filming for that period of time.

21:36 Like I can tell you love Liverpool.

21:37 I've got that.

21:38 What's it like being away from home because

21:40 we can say it's all glam and everything but

21:42 can I say something before you do that?

21:43 Of course you can.

21:44 FaceTimes and You know what I'm saying?

21:46 I was away on holiday, wasn't I?

21:48 And he answered the phone and he had this net around his head.

21:52 What was that?

21:53 Oh yeah.

21:54 He was away.

21:55 Obviously he was filming for City.

21:57 He had this net around his head.

21:58 I was like, "What are you doing?" He was saying In between takes, yeah.

22:01 We were in Spain and there was just loads of mosquitoes.

22:04 So he put this net in between takes.

22:06 He had made us wear this net round our head.

22:08 Pick [laughter] up the phone like that and he's going,

22:10 "Hello, can you hear that?" That's why Maureen is calling me.

22:12 Yeah.

22:13 But yeah, it's like I I enjoy going away from home.

22:16 It must be so nice.

22:17 Do you take anything away to make you feel like like little home

22:20 comforts to to make you feel at home when you're away or is

22:22 there anything that you try and do to try and cuz I can

22:24 imagine being away for that long I I it'd do my head in.

22:27 I wouldn't want to be fair, no.

22:28 Really?

22:29 No.

22:30 I do like I'll FaceTime me family all the time and that but like

22:33 I'm dead close with me sisters and me niece and nephews.

22:35 So like you missing 3 months of their life or whatever

22:37 long you come back they've kind of forgotten who you are.

22:40 They're only like 2 and 3.

22:41 It's you know, it's a bit weird.

22:43 That's the that's the stuff.

22:44 Yeah, yeah.

22:45 And that's the stuff that people don't see I think, isn't it?

22:46 They think, "Oh, you've got to go to this amazing

22:48 place." And obviously you're doing an amazing job but was

22:50 there anything you used to take away or do to like

22:53 tournaments and stuff where you can maybe relate to that?

22:56 Not really.

22:56 Clean used to always pour.

22:58 Um Cuz in the time I think it was Father's Day.

23:01 Yeah, it was a It was just cards and all

23:03 the kids and stuff and you should take like pictures.

23:07 Stuff like that but I used to go with FaceTime when so when I lived in America.

23:13 It I still would FaceTime which there was the time difference but then

23:17 it's always hard because it make you actually You don't actually see them.

23:20 Yeah and you miss them more and that's all it's It's obviously I

23:24 was living there so it was a little bit different but it's um

23:28 Yeah there was nothing really uh The only thing the only thing I

23:30 did want to do was wanted to be me noodles or flew me noodles.

23:34 These noodles, how many mentions are they?

23:36 Flew me noodles over and Hula Hoops.

23:39 It was going to get Do they not have Hula Hoops in America?

23:41 In America no.

23:42 Oh yeah.

23:43 I've still not tried these noodles.

23:44 Have you Have you heard of these noodles?

23:45 Is it Scouse thing?

23:46 Old Koka noodles yeah yeah yeah.

23:49 [laughter] That about say.

23:50 Can you get them You can probably get them down south can't you?

23:52 I'm talking as if we live in a different country.

23:53 So that's what I was saying yeah.

23:54 I got loads of them flew over and Hula Hoops.

23:57 You didn't think of doing that?

23:58 Didn't fancy doing that?

23:59 I just love them all.

24:00 Those that's all I have.

24:01 I mentioned it before about the kind of the move

24:04 I don't I don't know if I want to say

24:05 movement in Liverpool at the moment but what what

24:06 is going on here that's so special at the minute?

24:08 Why do you think it's being so having so much success?

24:11 No I think it's you know you look at the music scene

24:13 of the arts and at the minute Let's not talk about Liverpool.

24:18 You have to say at what point you want to get into Liverpool?

24:20 I don't know I don't know to be honest at the minute.

24:23 It's all about it.

24:23 Go on then why what your thoughts on Liverpool?

24:25 No I am What you saying about Liverpool

24:27 at the beginning of the season you was banging

24:29 on about For tonight the game tonight PSG

24:31 tonight and Yeah we're recording this before Liverpool plays.

24:35 I was there last year when PSG beat them on pens.

24:37 Yeah I was there.

24:38 We was stood in the corner no in between the PSG fans and the Liverpool fans.

24:43 Their fans are amazing by the way they are.

24:45 I seen them at Villa and Arsenal last year as well.

24:48 And I was in the middle as the penalties were

24:50 going on just watching and just as I could see

24:53 they were going to win like a little smirk

24:55 on your face and all the [laughter] Liverpool fans here hammering me.

24:59 Yeah whatever and then like how when you won

25:01 a war back and forth sides of the pitch, I felt like 10 ft tall.

25:03 [laughter] It was like What are your best memories

25:06 of Liverpool because they've got so many famous nights?

25:08 Maybe it's one of the big Champions League ones.

25:11 Um on a world cup I used to know the big games Barcelona.

25:16 Are Liverpool fans ever going to get over Jurgen Klopp?

25:19 No.

25:19 No.

25:20 It's hard to though like I mean as a United fan

25:22 like like Sir Alex I thought you could have said it better.

25:26 no, but I I can I can I can empathize with it like you you

25:29 got you got a man that's bigger than

25:30 the The person Klopp really that first Klopp

25:33 was is He was a council He was a council Klopp was the only Liverpool

25:38 manager who's I've I've I've looked at him and thought I'd love to play for him.

25:42 Not obviously not for Liverpool,

25:43 but for him as a manager and I said a few weeks ago to about Ancelotti.

25:47 I said and this way and me being critical of Slot,

25:51 it was me just saying he he maybe hasn't got the order

25:54 which Klopp has which could be a good thing or a bad thing.

25:58 Um whatever and then Klopp what Klopp brought

26:00 and even like the the pictures of him walking out

26:03 of a restaurant with bottles of beer and stuff like

26:05 that and which obviously when you're winning that's all right.

26:08 [laughter] You need a certain he seems very down to earth

26:11 and which I think the people of Liverpool like like them.

26:15 You need that charisma and charm to have a to get

26:17 the people of this city behind you in particular.

26:20 I think you you've mentioned it like you lot stick together so so much.

26:23 So when you embed yourself within the culture of it,

26:27 I think the fans take to that a lot more whereas I think if

26:30 you're sort of like a bit hands-off it doesn't sort of work in this city.

26:35 I think the thing is for Liverpool fans is for 9 years we saw you know

26:39 like got going into everything it was 100%

26:42 it was like you know 100 miles an hour.

26:45 And I think even Klopp on the sideline he was always up and going for it

26:48 and it it it's taken some getting used to to see our way of playing out there.

26:53 It's a bit monotonous, isn't it?

26:55 Like we haven't really got a style of play.

26:58 Slot doesn't really have that thing.

27:00 This isn't me digging on him, by the way,

27:01 but he hasn't got that thing as he got Klopp had.

27:03 Like, you know, getting the fans going, getting the crowd going.

27:05 it is Liverpool, I've said this from the start of the season.

27:09 The the issue has been Salah's just not It happens to all of us.

27:15 You know, age gets to you a little bit and your legs go a little bit.

27:18 I've said this right at the start of the season.

27:19 I think that's happened since the start of the season.

27:21 And Van Dijk hasn't been the same season and them

27:23 two are the leaders really in the in the dressing room.

27:26 And then when you've got two players

27:27 who are really influential in the dressing room,

27:30 it's hard for the players to then go and leave their mark or become the leaders.

27:35 And unfortunately for I think them two it's

27:37 going to probably which it already happened with Salah

27:40 is going to take take Do you think Virgil leaves at the end of the season?

27:44 think he will, but I think he's to let

27:48 other players know that but leave while you're on top.

27:52 You've seen players when they've stayed there for too long at clubs

27:54 and Is that a skill almost to know when to when to leave?

27:58 I think you the hardest thing for a player is

28:00 to understand you maybe not at the level you was in.

28:05 That's the hard to accept that.

28:06 I don't know at Man United where Zlatan come in and weren't

28:09 playing and I was thinking I can either stay here,

28:11 I had two years left on my contract,

28:12 I can either stay here getting paid really well,

28:15 um sit on the bench and come on for a little bit or I wanted to play.

28:19 So I left straight away.

28:20 Um and then I accepted it.

28:22 I knew that Is that when you went to Everton?

28:26 Yeah.

28:25 So um went back to Everton.

28:27 Um ended up top goal scorer at Everton, by the way.

28:30 But I went back for How can you like him?

28:32 I've realized ex-Man United and Everton.

28:34 It's a complicated friendship, isn't it?

28:35 So me dad, so me granddad, when he went back to Everton,

28:38 he cried when he when he went back.

28:40 That's sweet, man.

28:41 That's why I told him that.

28:42 I told him that.

28:43 Aw.

28:43 Yeah.

28:44 You know, I was on FaceTime to him as well, by the way.

28:46 You still you a FaceTime, don't you?

28:48 It's It's brilliant cuz he's on FaceTime and he's

28:49 uh he's got a beard in the hospital.

28:52 [laughter] It's brilliant.

28:54 That's amazing.

28:54 What's the derby like for you?

28:56 Because this city is so tight.

28:58 It's so intense.

29:00 Um what's the build-up to it like?

29:02 Do you relish it?

29:02 Do you hate it?

29:03 See, it's mad cuz like Ev- Evertonians hate Liverpool.

29:07 Whereas like Liverpoolians kind of just hate hate United.

29:11 Like whatever, it's kind of like just a giggle, isn't it?

29:15 See, we we can call it even.

29:17 Danny said he was starting to be a bit of blue.

29:19 And same like we're we're not we're just Everton fans.

29:23 We're We were Liverpool fans, they almost think they're better.

29:26 I mean, they want to look down at you and stuff like that.

29:28 We see them as like the little brother sort of thing, like that.

29:31 what I mean?

29:31 And then now What what he's feeling now,

29:34 where he's not looking forward to the derby,

29:35 that's what it's like for Everton fans most years.

29:37 But I honestly, like for me,

29:40 I I'd love it if Liverpool finished first and Everton finished second.

29:43 Like I don't I don't hate Everton.

29:45 A lot like I'm not like that cuz half my family's blues, you know what I mean?

29:50 You're not going to be saying that in public.

29:51 he wants us to get relegated.

29:52 Yeah, that's what I was going to say.

29:53 He's not going to be as nice as that.

29:54 I respect Liverpool, but yeah, that's We did There's a chance to get relegated.

29:58 That's what I told [laughter] you.

30:01 Um what's it been like for you this season then?

30:02 Cuz Everton kind of they've had a bit of a better time, haven't they?

30:06 They're exciting to watch.

30:07 That anxiety I honestly that anxiety is unbelievable.

30:10 He's like at the Etihad, he's put Arsenal or something.

30:12 Mhm.

30:13 Do you agree?

30:13 [snorts] Yeah, he's top player.

30:15 I I'd like to see him in United.

30:17 I'd like to see him stay at Everton, obviously, but unfortunately, you know,

30:22 I think players want in Champions League

30:24 football and He's not getting Champions League.

30:27 That I don't know.

30:27 That's what I think.

30:28 Well,[ __] that.

30:28 I don't know, yeah.

30:29 If Everton get Champions League football, then he has to stay.

30:32 Yeah.

30:32 Mhm.

30:32 I think Grealish gave a big lift though, didn't he?

30:34 Mhm.

30:35 Jack just like it's like that first game at the Etihad,

30:38 he just like he he'll take it in there.

30:42 [laughter] But I think you've got to give credit to David Moyes.

30:44 I think he does get disrespected a lot.

30:46 And I think what he's been able to do with that side.

30:49 Yeah, he's I've never worked with him twice and um obviously I when I was

30:55 first there and at United United was difficult

30:59 coming in right after Sir Alex and yeah,

31:01 that was always going to be tough for him, but you know,

31:03 he's he went off to Spain, done a job there and and come back.

31:08 And then you see the West Ham West Ham.

31:09 But he's got them consistently in there, hasn't

31:12 And then the fans I thought but the amount of times you hear

31:15 people say you know what the style of play and stuff like that.

31:17 To me I didn't you West Ham were effective.

31:21 They were finishing high up the table.

31:23 They were getting goals.

31:23 They won a They won a trophy.

31:25 And then what happens is you won't get

31:26 this young foreign manager then who you know,

31:28 they're thinking they could maybe talk go back to the Yeah.

31:32 Absolutely, yeah.

31:33 And then it doesn't work and then you end up

31:34 going back and then bringing someone like Moyes or like Sam

31:37 Allardyce and that's Is someone like David Moyes someone that's

31:41 kind of come in and understood the Liverpudlian culture as well?

31:45 the club to me.

31:45 He knows the club very well and I

31:47 think that it's not Everton is a different club.

31:50 You can't go into Everton.

31:51 We've seen it with Roberto Martinez.

31:53 You can't go into Everton and start saying right,

31:54 we want to play balls around the back.

31:56 Your keeper's having loads of touches.

31:58 Everton fans want you to get the ball forward, get the ball out wide,

32:00 get a cross in the box, be aggressive, go and win tackles.

32:04 And but you If you go to the stadium now, when a forward goes and you know,

32:08 makes a tackle on a fullback,

32:10 there's a bigger cheer than there was when there was a goal.

32:12 They want They want to see fight.

32:13 That's what I think I think there's something to be said about having

32:15 British managers in some of those clubs

32:17 as well where they understand the culture,

32:18 they understand the league a lot more.

32:20 And and I think it's great when somebody like David Moyes, a British manager,

32:23 does well because it it it helps it helps the league I think anyway.

32:27 I thought it was great when he smashed Chelsea the other week.

32:30 Honestly, like they just Chelsea didn't know what to do with Everton did they?

32:34 No, they were brilliant, yeah.

32:35 They're effective, aren't they?

32:36 Yeah, and and it's exciting to watch rather than this passing at the back

32:39 and going back and forward like it is sometimes a bit monotonous,

32:42 isn't Of course, yeah.

32:43 Yeah.

32:44 Nobody Nobody goes to a football match

32:46 wanting to see their defender make 100 passes.

32:49 It's quite a lot of respect between you two, isn't it?

32:51 I can I can sense this as well.

32:53 Yeah, despite these I'm quite impressed how much respect there is

32:55 considering you've got such differing opinions when it comes to football teams.

32:59 Do you remember watching Wayne like when he was I remember his first goal.

33:03 What?

33:03 So, my best mate got him on open his mouth every time he Right.

33:06 The Kanchelskis winning it everybody's seen.

33:09 I remember he went and said pass to him.

33:11 I remember I had a full season on the Sunday.

33:13 Now we're playing on Buckley on the Sunday.

33:16 I remember everyone was going to try try to try

33:18 to twist it like he used to do in the rain.

33:20 Did you do the opposite because you didn't want to be like that?

33:24 At that point I'm 16 or 19 or 17 or whatever.

33:27 And also, was there an element of you of like,

33:29 "Okay, he's Evertonian, but he's Yeah.

33:31 He's Scouse.

33:32 He's going to represent us on a bigger

33:34 I remember when he played in the Champions League.

33:35 I was a kid.

33:36 Like obviously I I hated United.

33:38 I hated them.

33:39 But you Was it a hat-trick he scored?

33:42 And I remember there was a pass to me going, "Yeah, go on, lads.

33:45 Go on." [laughter] Is there an element of if it's got to be Man United,

33:48 then at least it's a Scouse Man United player?

33:49 Yeah, I mean, look, and I I never want United to win.

33:53 I had him get beat 4-3 and he scored the hat-trick, you know what I mean?

33:55 But That's why it's we He'll Obviously James will know when I left Everton

34:00 to join United how difficult that was

34:02 for a Scouser That's mentality though, isn't it?

34:05 for a Scouser to go and play for United.

34:07 That was the Well, you know, for me it was a big decision at 18 as well.

34:10 I was a kid.

34:11 So, it was such a big decision for me to make and then um Yeah,

34:15 obviously stayed there long Is there an element between you two where it's like,

34:18 you know what they say,

34:19 entertainers and actors always want to be footballers and sportsmen

34:22 and then sports people want to be entertainers and stuff?

34:25 Is there an Wayne's already admitted that maybe [laughter]

34:31 Have you two Have you two been on some nights out together?

34:34 Yeah, not a proper one though.

34:36 No, okay.

34:37 I was just hoping there's going to be some stories there.

34:38 Well, well I don't I I was up on the weekend as a went

34:42 to races and then had a bit of a after party in Colleen's mum's.

34:47 There was a singer on there and I ended up getting up and showing them my phone.

34:51 Freestyled [laughter] Some some will love it,

34:53 some will cuz I seen them filming so I just freestyled a full song

34:56 about I don't know I was going about all the the seasons in the weather.

35:01 [laughter] How I was loving it.

35:03 And it was proper catchy I found it.

35:06 Okay, so we've spoken about your rivalry.

35:08 We've spoken about quite a lot of things that you've got in common.

35:11 We thought we'd play a little game of word association.

35:13 Okay.

35:14 So, whatever you say James what comes into your head Wayne?

35:18 Uh Anfield.

35:20 Trophies.

35:25 [laughter] [laughter] [clears throat] You want to come back with anything?

35:43 No, listen um He's done you.

35:45 Liverpool obviously you respect them.

35:47 They won trophies and and recently as well

35:49 but it's always special when you have you know

35:53 I have that memory of 95 winning the FA

35:55 Cup and it bring me back to me childhood.

35:59 Um well thank you so much for coming on and best of luck

36:01 with everything with the new show with the Bafta of course as well.

36:05 I'm sure there's going to be many more of those.

36:07 It's nice to have someone different on isn't it?

36:08 Yeah, no it's been good.

36:09 Thanks for having me.

36:10 Thanks for having me.

36:11 It's been a pleasure man.

36:12 And a reminder you can listen to the Wayne Rooney show on BBC Sounds

36:15 or you can watch it on the BBC iPlayer or the BBC SPORT YOUTUBE.

36:32 MHM.