Stepping into the shoes of Danny on Sky One's hit series The Five, O-T Fagbenle had a huge job ahead of him, but one that he's done impeccably well.
O-T Fagbenle as Danny / Credit: Sky
We got the opportunity to chat to O-T ahead of the final two episodes of the series, to find out what's ahead both for the show and for him...
What was it that initially drew you to The Five and your role as Danny?
The opportunity to work with such heavyweight geniuses such as Harlan Coben and Nicola Shindler and our main writer Danny Brocklehurst. Immediately you are dealing with an amazing team of people. But also I think I saw an opportunity in Danny to play a police officer who has more dimensions to him than most times you get to play a police officer and I was really excited about that.
How did the casting process work for the show?
Basically I became aware of the show and my agent got me a meeting and I went [and] auditioned and read for the part. They then offered me a second audition and after that they offered me the job. Actors really only have the power to say no, so that was the point that I was like OK is this really the job for me? But it was a very, very easy decision!
Can you tell us a little bit about a typical day filming the series?
You are normally picked up from where you are staying and taken in. Then you go through the mill of costume, makeup and then you might run lines. Then it's just shooting the television show. But shooting is a very slow process, it normally takes about 10 hours to create about 4-5 minutes of television so it takes a lot of time and patience and you have to measure your energy out so you can be ready to perform at the necessary moments.
How have you found the response to The Five from viewers?
Amazing! People are so excited about it, moreso than any show I have ever done. There has been such a buzz and I have had my friends calling me up and trying to get insider information, but obviously I am keeping schtum!
What should fans expect from the final two episodes of the series?
What is great about the last two episodes is that there is everything in it. It is very moving, surprising and exciting and I think people are going to feel really glad that they went on the journey of The Five.
It's being shown a little differently in that there are two episodes a week - what do you think about the general change in scheduling habits to television?
I am really curious to see how things turn out. Television is obviously changing; the way we consume media is changing so I think it's natural that we are going to try different styles. I think when YouTube first came out everyone was thinking people were just going to watch five minute shows from now on and that people didn't have the patience anymore to watch longer programmes. But instead everyone is binge watching and consuming ten hour programmes and box sets of shows so it is really interesting.
How does it feel to be a part of that change?
Exciting. We are in the midst of a TV revolution! What more could you ask for?
What have you got coming up in the next few weeks and months?
Right now I am finishing my run at The National Theatre doing a play called Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. Then I am going to be working on a TV series for BBC Two which I can't talk about fully yet but it is something very exciting and is with another famous novelist.
The Five concludes tonight (May 13) with its final two episodes from 9pm on Sky One.