'I'D HAPPILY DO THIS SHOW FOREVER'

The ups and downs of family life bring love, laughter and heartache as Rafe Spall and Esther Smith face new challenges in the much-loved series Trying

- ALICE PENWILL

Esther Smith and Rafe Spall are back for season four of Trying – and things have changed a lot for Nikki and Jason who are trying to navigate life as parents to teenagers. Luckily, something that remains a constant is that the couple are just as loved-up as ever.

“In a long-term relationship when everything else has fallen away, if you still have a laugh together, then you’re going to be alright,” says Rafe, who plays Jason. “In real-life Esther and I have a laugh together and share a similar sense of humour.”

Esther agrees and finds herself laughing along for real when they film comedy moments.

“I love that side of our characters and it’s so easy to play that with Rafe though because he’s so funny,” adds Esther, who stars as Nikki.

“It genuinely is an enjoyable experience and it’s the base to Nikki and Jason’s relationship – they have fun together. It’s so lovely that the show has been so well-received because it means we get to keep doing it and keep exploring it. I can’t believe the first season came out in lockdown.”

Rafe and Esther have been working together on the series since it launched in 2020 as one of Apple TV’s very first commissions and the actors are strongly rumoured to be a couple off-screen. So it’s no wonder Rafe adds, “I love doing this show, it’s my favourite thing I’ve ever done and I’d happily do it forever.”