Philip Glenister wants a guest role in ‘Hustle’ as his real life brother’s long-lost sibling.
Philip Glenister
The ‘Life on Mars’ star would “love” to work on TV with Robert Glenister and admitted he’d previously pitched an idea to his family member’s producers for a potential storyline, and though it received a positive reaction, he’s not yet been invited onto the show.
He told Sunday Times Magazine: “I’d love to do something on telly with Robert and I had an idea for his drama series 'Hustle'.
"I’d play the long-lost brother of Robert’s character, Ash, who’s disappeared with some family money to Las Vegas, where he works as an Elvis impersonator.
“Ash would track me down and there would be a stand-off on the strip with me dressed as Elvis. I pitched it and they said, ‘This is great!’ but I never heard another word.”
And Robert, 60, is equally keen to work with his brother, but thinks it may have to be a project they create themselves.
He said: “The only time we’ve worked together was on a 2016 Radio 4 production of ‘True West’, which was produced by my wife, Celia de Wolff.
“People often ask why we’ve never done something on the telly together and the simple answer is that no one’s asked us. Maybe it’s something we need to develop ourselves and then pitch. They can only say no, can’t they?”
Although Robert began his career first, Philip has enjoyed more mainstream recognition thanks to ‘Life on Mars’, but the older brother insisted he’s never envied his 57-year-old sibling’s success.
He said: “When Phil began filming ‘Life on Mars’ in 2005, no one knew the role was going to be so iconic, but it really caught fire and captured the public’s imagination.
“I’ve never had any great ambitions for such a role myself. Someone asked me the other day, ‘Do you ever think about playing King Lear?’ and I said: ‘No, I don’t, actually.’
“I really like being in an ensemble company as opposed to the frontman.
“I admire people who do those sort of roles because it really is sticking your neck on the line. It can all go terribly wrong, but for Phil it all went terribly right. I was very proud - he was great.”
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