Richard Blackwood on the role of soap operas, lessons and the pursuit of fame

Let’s explore some big questions with the ultimate icon.

I guess you probably can’t tell me too much about what you’re working on right now, but what is Felix up to?

Felix tries to move on with his life, moving on from Martine [Deveraux, played by Kéllé Bryan]. He’s trying to open those doors again, so at some point you’ll see that he might be filling that spot. Also everything that happened to his son, with the knife accusation and so forth, also recovering from that and being there for DeMarcus.

I wouldn’t say the worst is over, but you know, he’s weathered the storm and is now trying to get out the other side.

The dynamic between Felix and DeMarcus is so interesting, especially with the knife crime storyline. How did Tomi go exploring?

I mean, working with Tomi is very easy. We immediately clicked. I think it’s because we’re both Taurus, we’re both zodiac signs of the Earth, so there’s just a mutual respect, and he’s also a really nice guy, very professional.

As for the storyline, we both come from that world where it sadly happens, we grow up in inner-city London so we were both familiar with it – if it didn’t happen to us, it happened to those around us , and the goal is to create awareness so that we can bring about change. We’re both really excited about that.

What do you think the role of soap operas is in portraying these important conversations?

I personally think it’s a responsibility. The people who watch the show, there’s a high percentage that actually consider it real life. Sometimes they find it hard to differentiate between the actors and the real person, they think you’re that character, and that’s fine, because it takes them into that world, but if we captivate an audience like that, and have that kind of power, then we should use that mantra to highlight things that people go through to give them solutions in the best way that we know.

Sometimes people will be attracted to us even as escapism, so I think it’s very important for soap operas to play with the fantasy sometimes, but I think sometimes it’s important to touch the real thing so people can get some help can get from.

From music to TV presenting, acting, comedy, you’ve been in the industry for a long time. How has your approach to fame evolved?

I think it started with wanting the fame at first. That was the drive. You would see people you respected in the company, living this lifestyle that resembled this fantasy only being famous could give you, right?

You felt like you were in this little world where it was the normal world, working from nine to five, and everyone around you was normal and going through the same things as you, was in the same tax bracket as you, all these things, but you looked at this other world – everyone is revered by everyone, you make all this money, the world is like your oyster, and you get all the benefits of being successful.

For some, that’s a really tough world, it was for me because I knew I had a talent, which was stand up at first, and then wanted to act, but the whole drive was that I like myself on that big screen, go this making movies where I’m a superhero, or I’m this cop, or even a bad guy, whatever it may be, walking the red carpet was the first kind of motivation for me.

When I got into the industry and started to have some of that success, I started to realize that it wasn’t necessarily real, that you are as good as your last show.

So as I got older, my motivation to continue in the industry changed. Anyway, I’ve just grown up and come to love the art form and I’m thankful that after so many years I’m still relatively successful because that’s the next part, the longevity.

What do you think is the biggest lesson that you’ve been through tough times? [Blackwood has been open about his depression after filing for bankruptcy in 2003] that you still remember today?

Initially my whole premise was ‘why me?’ When I went through that, I didn’t think I was doing anything wrong, to deserve what I was going through.

I firmly believe in karma, if I do something wrong I pay karma for it, so be it, I accept that very much. But I couldn’t see what I had done to justify it all.

In hindsight – they say hindsight is 20/20 – I am grateful. What I got out of it was that, and I say this to people all the time, people have dreams and ambitions about who they want to become, what they don’t understand is the journey it takes to get there. Ultimately, most times you’ve striven to be who you want to be, the dark times are what you’ve been asking for.

For example, when we look at great athletes we are not known, or we don’t even look at the training period, we just want to see the result, we want to see who set a world record or we want to see Anthony Joshua knock someone out or Tyson Fury or wherever. The period between fights, we are not there to see the blood, sweat and tears, fainting, dehydration, trying to stay motivated for this fight. We only see the win, the big money, the cars, and we’re always at the end, at the party.

But if we had to go through it with them, we’d appreciate more of what they’re really going through. So that’s what I had to learn, those grueling times are what shapes you.

What do you think has been a misconception about you throughout your career?

When I was younger, the misconception, which sounds kind of weird to say, was that I was actually a nice person and people didn’t think I would be.

I understood because I was so successful at such a young age, and as a stand-up you have to be very confident to go on stage and tell jokes. So your personality is very powerful and it can be somewhat, not overwhelming, but people can feel intimidated by [you]they might think, oh, you’re a little cocky. You must be the showman. I got it, I got it. I’m this young guy who has this success and I’m on TV saying ‘who’s the guy?’, of course, you’d just bet I’ll be arrogant.

In comedy, there’s a conversation about its evolution and what some people consider offensive jokes that weren’t seen through the same lens five, ten years ago. What’s your take on the comedy conversation and where it’s headed?

I think people, I mean don’t get me wrong, there are people who abuse their power as comedians and talk about things they know they should leave alone.

There’s an argument that there’s nothing sacred, I don’t necessarily believe that. My thing is that there are certain things that I don’t think should be taken lightly. Like pedophilia, anything to do with children, rape, there’s nothing funny about that, and nine times out of ten it’s either an adult or a man talking about those things and we don’t include what that could be like for a woman being raped more than men, just statistically.

I’m a Taurus and so one of my traits is that we’re naturally empathetic, so I can put myself in someone’s shoes and say ‘wait a minute, maybe that’s going a bit over the line’.

I personally am, but I believe in the same sign that we have become more sensitive, but not by being sensitive.

What happened is the slippery path of social media, everyone can now hear. If you’re pursuing the world of entertainment or being in front of the camera, you’re trained to be heard, you know how to give the audience what you need, and you know what to keep to yourself.

There are certain things you talk about or don’t talk about and you have tact when we talk about these things because of course you know you’re a brand – but if you’re a person you might be an accountant, or maybe you’re a firefighter, and all of a sudden you have this camera and you can reveal that other side of you that has no training in that part, you just talk because it’s easy to do.

Not every joke will be for you, but now you want to put that person down for the fact that maybe you didn’t understand the joke, but you ain’t trained in that world to deal with, ‘well it’s just not for me I don’t need it take no offense’.

I keep using the term slippery slope, but I think it’s dangerous because you have people speaking out about things that you can tell they haven’t really thought deeply about, it’s just fashionable to be furious about something. Not on everything, of course there are certain things [where] I’d get it, but there are others you go to ‘really? Was it that serious?’

Watch Hollyoaks, weekdays on Channel Four or stream on All4.