Popular Outlander podcast “Droughtlander Diaries”, hosted by fans and content creators Jess and Sarah, invited Andrew Gower to one of their episodes to his latest music project featuring composer Bear McCreary on the new Gustaffson track “Flowers”.
We’re excited to bring a cast member from earlier seasons to chat with us this week. In this episode, Andrew Gower, who you’ll know as Bonnie Prince Charlie in Outlander, shares his journey as an actor and musician. He discusses his early influences, the formation of his band Gustaffson, and his collaboration with renowned composer Bear McCreary. Andrew shares with us his experiences in drama school, the thrill of acting, and the unique connection he has with his audience. He also shares insights into his audition process for Outlander, his research on Bonnie Prince Charlie, and his favorite scenes from the show. This episode was so fun to record and we hope you love it as much as we did!
You can listen to “Droughtlander Diaries” on Spotify or wherever you find your favourite podcasts. Listen to Andrew’s episode below!
Mark your calendars: We have a release date for Ellis in the UK!
British Channel 5 have confirmed that they will begin airing the episodes of Andrew Gower‘s new crime drama on 31 October 2024 at 8:00 pm.
The series stars Sharon D Clarke as the titular detective, whose job is a bit like an itinerant freelancer. She travels from county to county where unsolved murders have the local station stumped, witnesses are too scared to talk, or the station is simply too understaffed to handle, and tease out the truth from those who would prefer it stay buried. Clarke will be joined by co-star Andrew Gower, who plays her bagman and fellow traveling bobby, DS Chet Harper. Ellis’ loyal second in command, his duties range from buttering up the right people to smoothing the feathers ruffled by Ellis’ arrival.
A three-time Olivier Award winner, Clarke is known to TV audiences for her longstanding role in Holby City and parts in Doctor Who, where she played Ryan’s grandmother Grace, plus Showtrial, Informer, and the Prime Video film Red, White & Royal Blue.
Andrew Gower recently talked to Express.co.uk about his upcoming crime drama Ellis, which will come to Channel 5 in the UK soon as well as Acorn TV in the USA.
Ellis will consist of three two-hour episodes which is one of the things that sparked Andrew’s interest as it allows the audience to “sit” with the characters. He also named Sharon D. Clarke, who plays the titular DCI Ellis, as one of the things that drew him to this project:
When you talk about somebody attracting you to a project, Sharon [D. Clarke] is an icon of theatre and on TV and musically. The music conversations we had during that job were just incredible. So I’ve admired her work from afar.
A Female-led Story
Growing up in a female household I’m always attracted to those stories, telling tales of strong females. If females led the world, we’d be in a much better place.
Partners in Crime
Ellis and her partner DS Harper (played by Andrew Gower) are parachuted into failing cases and often find themselves facing hostile local law enforcement as they investigate a fresh crime. Although Ellis and Harper are drafted in to work together, Gower teased a tricky dynamic between them.
It gets off to a disastrous beginning. Their meet cute is disastrous, which is a great way to kick off a relationship. Even in episode one, the journey that Harper goes on in Ellis is the best rollercoaster – round and round, side to side.
Fundamentally, I think they’re both outsiders, whether Harper wants to say he is or not. Like the best partners in life, they compliment each other, whether they want to say that or not. From the outside, hopefully the audience will see it.
Crime Drama
Andrew recently portrayed a different sleuth in Netflix’s hit drama YOU opposite Penn Badgley:
In You, I kinda of scratched the surface with the detective role but this is the first time I guess I’ve been able to make my own stamp on what is a real institution, especially over in Britain and the US – detective shows there are so many of them you could list them.
Maybe there are too many to list but we can give you the ones that Andrew appeared in! This year he made guest appearances in popular British crime dramas Sherwood and Van der Valk.
He played a man who believed himself to be the great detective Sherlock Holmes in Canadian Murdoch Mysteries, gave an unforgettable performance as Nicholas Myers in the Season 2 finale of Endeavour and won everyone’s heart as Eliza’s clumsy sidekick Rupert Parker in Miss Scarlet & The Duke.
He gained first experience as a member of the police force as DC Jared Ansell in Black Work alongside Sheridan Smith and Matthew McNulty. We are sure all this preparation will make him an excellent Detective Sergeant on Ellis!
Trailer
Watch this trailer for new and returning series coming to Channel 5 this fall including scenes from Ellis:
Gustaffson return to St Oswald’s Church Warrington for a one off night & special acoustic gig. Fresh out of the studio after recording their debut album with Elbow’s Craig Potter producing and featuring Emmy-winning composer Bear McCreary (Outlander) & Sir Ben Kingsley.
They will be performing brand new tracks from their upcoming album and last year’s EP ‘The Jacaranda’.
This will be our first gig in Warrington and it should be a really special night at St Oswald’s Church. What an incredible venue to play music in. We are delighted they have welcomed us back after filming our latest live video ‘Flowers’ in the Church November last year. If you’re local come down and say hello.
Andrew Gower Online 