The Reality and the Fantasy
London’s Burning may not be the most accurate of dramas regarding the work of the Fire Service. If we were as busy as they are we would never be on the drill yard, doing T.A.P.S.’s, having lectures, doing fire safety, showing school children around, preventing arson…well you get the idea.
How does the work of an actor in the drama compare to ours? Well there is certainly less risk for the actor if not the stunt person, but who stands in for us when we are in danger? No one. But we do at least have a secure income even if it is low. How does it compare to those who pretend to be Firefighters?
Jim Alexander played Joe Walker in the programme for two years. He made some telling comments in a recent interview.
"I make sure that I don't spend everything I earn. I always put aside up to 20 per cent of my income to cover me against a bad patch when the work dries up.”
All well and good but what about splashing out? I last went mad and bought an overpriced football shirt for £39.99. And Mr Alexander? "I bought a pair of Armani jeans with paint and patches all over them for £170 but they look as though they cost a fiver from a charity shop. Funnily enough, despite that I do feel good in them..."
I would hope he does after all it may be just a tatty pair of jeans for some but it is 27 hours take home pay for a Qualified Firefighter.
His first acting salary was £1,500 per episode, playing firefighter Joe Walker for 16 instalments of ITV's London's Burning - not that he's complaining. "I was in work for eight months but the pay wasn't much for such a high-profile show," he says. "In the next series, I got £3,000 an episode for the same run. "Though I spent a bit on going out and having a good time, I managed to save £20,000."
Jim took a drop in salary when he went on to star as Jamie Parker in Sky's Dream Team, so he wasn't able to save as much. But between his first and second series he was lucky enough to earn £12,000 doing an advert for an Alco pop called Sidekick.
"I earned £450 a day for four days' filming," he says. "The rest came from repeats. The ad only ran for three weeks but, had it lasted six months, I could have made a lot more."
Not a bad rate of pay is it? How does that compare to your daily take home pay? Do a quick calculation….
In June last year the young star moved into his own place - a three-bedroom flat on two floors above a curtain shop, which cost £118,000. From his savings Jim could afford a deposit of
"I've also thought about getting a pension but I'd rather put any spare cash into my home. I am slowly doing it up and have just spent £10,000 on a new kitchen."
Though Jim tries to be a good saver, he does have bad days. "My weakness is when I put my credit card behind the bar and offer friends a round or two of drinks."
Good luck to all workers who earn whatever they can. I don’t begrudge Jim or anyone else who earns sums larger than those we do after all we all have in choice in the career we take. I just happen to believe that I should be paid a fair rate for the job I do. It may be less than that of an actor. But it should at least I believe be fair.