Boon’s New Girl

Saskia Wickham is the latest addition to the team of Boon companions...

When Saskia Wickham landed the role of Alex Wilton, Boon Security’s new secretary, she also got the chance to fulfil one of her lifelong ambitions. “I’ve always wanted to hit someone over the head with a bottle of whisky,” reveals Saskia, who played the title role in the BBC’s period drama Clarissa. The unfortunate victim was actor James Hazeldine (London’s Burning’s Bayleaf), who guest stars in a future episode!”

Joining the cast of Boon for the 13-part series, which begins this week, came as a welcome change for Saskia. She took on the role of the brassy Alex when actress Elizabeth Carling, who played former secretary Laura, left the series to tour Britain in The Rocky Horror Show.

“It’s lovely to do something so different from Clarissa,” says 23-year-old Saskia, who lives in London with her husband Sean. “It was a bit nerve-racking filling someone else’s shoes. But my co-stars Michael Elphick, David Daker and Neil Morrissey couldn’t have been more welcoming: Michael Elphick hopes that Saskia’s character will bring a new dimension to Boon. “Alex starts off as one of the cases we’re investigating, and ends up working for us,” he says. “But there’s more to this girl than meets the eye. For starters, she’s been in prison for cheque-book fraud, she’s an expert at picking locks and she also owns a luxury flat!”

But does she manage to sink her claws into gullible Ken? “It’s a possibility that’s open to all of us at Boon Security,” Michael grins. “Ken is wary of her, Harry respects her – she gets us and the office organised – and Rocky, as you might imagine, fancies her like mad.”

In fact, Neil Morrissey, who plays Rocky, has his work cut out chasing women this week. Also starting this Tuesday is the second series of the sitcom Men Behaving Badly, in which Neil stars as Jack-the-lad Tony, replacing comedian Harry Enfield’s sex-mad character, Dermot. Unlike Tony, however, young Rocky wouldn’t dare talk out of turn to gutsy Alex. When he does try it in one episode, he ends up being thrown over her shoulder! “Alex is a tough cookie and very sure of herself,” says Saskia of her character. “I’m not as self-confident as her, and not as bossy either – though my husband probably wouldn’t agree!”

Much as the cast enjoy working as a team on location in Nottingham, they rarely socialise together.

“Michael and David are always being stopped for autographs, so it makes going out difficult,” says Saskia. “Neil and I shared the same hotel and used to go out for meals, but tongues began to wag so I moved to outside Nottingham. That’s the side of our business I really hate.”

Saskia admits she’s looking forward to returning to London when filming for the series ends in November, although, as yet, she has little planned on the work front. When I was between acting jobs before, I cleaned other people’s houses,” she says. “And I’ll do it again if they pay me enough!”