A fictional young prince at Cambridge Universtity provides the theme
for Robson Green's latest TV venture, a romantic comedy titled The Student
Prince (on BBC1 on Saturday).
Green plays the Royal bodyguard who, as well as protecting the Prince,
imparts some no-nonsense Geordie advice along the way.
With real-life Royals never far from the headlines, Green finds praise
for very few members of The Royal Family. He believes we need to re-examine
the need for the monarchy and its role in society. "A lot of it is just
archaic pomp and ceremony," he says.
"Diana was the only one who showed love openly. The others should learn
from that."
Tara
The death of Diana, Princess of Wales prompted the producers of the programme
to re-think the title, says Green.
"It was going to be called The Prince Of Hearts, but after the tragedy
they decided to go back to The Student Prince, which had been the working
title in the first place," he says.
Green, aged 33, may be happily married but he hints at ulterior motives
for taking the role of the bodyguard in the new drama.
"It was a cracking story - and I got to snog Tara Fitzgerald!" laughs
TV's golden boy. "In the story, my character feels out of his depth at
Cambridge University. I felt like that when I started out as an actor,"
he admits.
Tara Fitzgerald plays scholar Grace in The Student Prince. She eventually
falls, not for the young Royal, but for his bodyguard Barry (played by
Robson Green).
"She's interested in his curiosity to learn and his integrity," she
says. "He feels alienated and in the background. I hope the story promotes
the idea people shouldn't be afraid of education.
"As for me, I'd like to do some more theatre - perhaps Jacobean," adds
Tara.
Royals
Rupert Penry-Jones, son of actress Angela Thorne, plays the lead in The
Student Prince. The dashing young actor says there was no conscious decision
to base his character on Prince Edward.
"I rented videos of all the Royals and studied their accents and walks,"
he says. "People may see a connection with Edward but I wasn't trying to
emulate him. I tried to make a new character."
On life as a Royal, Penry-Jones sympathises it must be quite a difficult
life. "You have no choice. You're in it from the day you're born."
"In the story, the bodyguards get replaced. When you share your life
so closely with someone, you must start to feel they're a surrogate father.
When they get replaced you miss them."
