Oh Brother!
We've seen a whole new side to Billy recently. We spoke to Daniel Brocklebank about our lovely vicar's hidden family members and secret crushes!
Can you tell us a bit about Billy’s brother Lee?
Lee is a heroin addict and has just come out of prison. That’s what he’s been fleecing Billy for, to try to pay for this habit. Billy’s offered him a place to stay, tried to get him into rehab but he won’t have any of it.
He’s had a pretty tough life and doesn’t realise that their father threw Billy out when he came out to him so Lee has spent his entire life thinking that Billy abandoned him.
Why did Billy feel unable to confide in Sean about it?
He was ashamed of Lee but he’s also ashamed of himself because he couldn’t help Lee when he needed him.
Why did he choose Todd as his confidant?
He didn’t choose him as such. They were kind of thrown together because of the Sarah situation. And they have become closer because Todd finds out that Lee is Billy’s brother. He saw Billy let Lee go when he was caught stealing from Preston’s Petals and Todd was about to call the police. Billy has kind of been cornered and he had to tell him the truth.
How did Sean react when he reveals the truth about Lee?
He’s hurt that Billy hadn’t told him. That in turn upsets Billy. He hadn’t gone out of his way not to tell him, there just wasn’t the right moment.
How did he feel when Sean dumps him?
Well obviously gutted. He has loved Sean but at the particular moment it’s probably the least of his worries. He has so much going on it’s just another nail in the coffin.
What makes Billy realise that he has feelings for Todd?
They always had a fairly fractious relationship, Todd and Billy. Todd has never been very nice to Billy. I think it’s slow burn, Billy sees a side to Todd that he’s never seen before, a much softer, caring side, with Sarah but also with Billy when he opens up about Lee.
How did Todd react when he confesses those feelings?
Not well. He asks Billy to leave the house and that he doesn’t want any of it. That’s his initial reaction.
Who do you think he’s more suited to – Sean or Todd?
Ooh, I don’t know. Billy and Sean have always had a lovely relationship, however, I think Billy and Todd’s relationship may be a bit more passionate, explosive. It’d be interesting to see them together.
Why was Billy so jittery about Callum’s funeral?
Obviously it’s put Billy in a very difficult position because Sarah’s a friend. And Billy doesn’t really know what’s gone on either, he’s made up his own mind about what’s happened. He thinks that Sarah was raped by Callum and that baby Harry is the result of that attack.
He’s wrong, obviously, but that’s what he thinks, so when Marion comes and asks him to conduct the funeral of the man he thinks has raped his mate, it’s a difficult position to be put in. He also thinks Sarah is responsible for Callum’s murder so he’s burying a man while protecting his killer.
What made him rush out of the service?
It’s because Sarah walks into the church. He told her he didn’t think she should come so when she walks in it’s too much for him. He has the body there, the person he thinks is the killer, the grieving mother… it’s all too much.
Do you think Billy could be the one to uncover the truth about Callum?
Very possibly. That’s up to the writers though.
Can you give us any hints about what else is coming up for Billy?
I can’t actually. I don’t know any more than Todd and Billy getting together but who knows if that will run smoothly?