The Sun - The TV Mag - 27 July - 2 August 2002
The rivalry hots up between firefighters Mick and Frank
HOSE THE BOSS!
As Blackwall's Station Officer, Mick Callaghan (Anthony Green) should be fully in control. But with his feelings for firefighter Sally Fields (Heather Peace) clouding his mind, not to mention a challenge from Frank Mooney (Tristan Gemmill) to be the Blue Watch big cheese, things don't look too bright.
In the latest London's Burning, Frank formally challenges Mick for leadership of Blue Watch. And not only does Frank undermine Mick by telling him that he's slept with Sally, he later uses his charms on Mick's wife Shauna (Liza Walker) - and ends up sleeping with her.
"Mick's marriage is going through a bad patch and Sally is an amazing girl," says 31 - year - old actor Anthony.
"He's been spending slightly too much time with her. But he held back because he realises he loves Shauna. What he really needs is to get his marriage back on track."
Which may not be easy. Frank seems determined to destroy him.
"Mick is just a decent guy who is trying to do the right thing," says Anthony, who lives alonw in south London.
"But Frank is making things very complicated. Mick's got a lovely family and Frank wants to take that away from him. Mick's the good guy and Frank's the evil guy. Mick knows the games he's playing."
Anthony, who previously appeared in Where The Heart Is and Judge John Deed and Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies, really got into his role.
"I trained for two days with the fire service, but I tried not to do too much research because you can start imitating people," he says.
"I met my equivelant at a station in Suffolk, who told me the best thing about the job is saving children's lives.
"Another thing I learned is that you have to be one of the lads but not quite one of the lads - you have to draw the line, know when to leave them to it. Luckily, the scripts incorporate all that, so it's easy to play."
Like many of his co - stars, Anthony, an avid Blackburn Rovers fan, felt the power of the firefighter's uniform.
"You can do as much research as you like, but nothing really gets you into it until you put the clothes on," he says. "Then you can properly understand the character."
After scores of New York firemen lost their lives in the World Trade Center attack last September, the public have a different perception of firefighters. They don't just put out fires or rescue cats from trees, they're heroes.
"People's views have definitely changed," says Anthony. "The police and ambulance service have always been seen as doing a fantastic job, but the fire service was slightly separate from that. It's something that involves huge risks to life.
"Firefighters do a great job, and we should never forget that."
