Monday Monday Ripley: 'Christine's not evil, she's just a mess'

We chat to actress, author, hands-on mum and self-confessed OCD housewife Fay Ripley about how she's nothing like her character in ITV1's new comedy Monday Monday.

Tell us about Christine in Monday Monday, and how she fits into the scheme of things...
"Basically she is the head of HR, Human Resources. Because I've never worked in an office, I didn't have a clue what HR meant. But I didn't have to do very much research because Christine also knows nothing about her department! She’s on another planet. She's an alcoholic. She's struggling whether to answer her email or have a bottle of vodka. She's basically a kind person, she's not evil, she's just a mess."

Is it one of the hardest roles you've had to play?
"No, the hardest roles are really badly written. This is a character I was very keen to play, because it's very different to anything I've done before. And you have to be realistic about what's out there. Nine times out of 10 it's a policewoman and I don't like playing policewomen. This is not a sitcom so there's not that pleasure to make laughs. You're allowed to surprise people in character-led shows."

Why is Christine's PA Sally so loyal to her?
"God knows. She must have a nightmare going to work, poor girl. I think she's very efficient, one of those slightly OCD-ish people who are naturally efficient and can't help themselves. Because Christine is basically loveable in the same way a pet who is not potty trained and still pooping on the carpet is still loveable… I think she looks on her as an unhygienic pet."

Why has the whole Butterworth's office moved up to Leeds?
"My character probably doesn't even know she's in Leeds. This show, even though it's written out of a recession, is really poignant about a recession because it's about cutting costs. It's about office space – it costs less if it's not in London. It's about streamlining. A lot of the storylines are about threats to jobs and in this present climate it's more than recognisable. Christine is in the perfect position – she would be the one to fire herself!"

You juggle a lot with work and kids and your book. Do you wish you had a PA like Sally?
"I know a few people with PAs and frankly you wouldn't think they needed them. They're not mega successful or mega rich. I can't because 1) It's really expensive and 2) I'm such a control freak I'd spend the whole day telling them what to do in precise detail, so I might as well do it myself."

So, does Christine give up the booze?
"She tries really hard. She manages at one point, but by the end you wonder if she can hang on in there – it could go either way for her. By the end she's hanging on to the coattails of her job, and she does end up in rehab at one point, and she may well end up there again. It's not an easy journey if you have an addiction, as we all know, it's a struggle. But good for a second series! It would be boring if she sorted herself out – there would be no funny scenes in HR!"

Would you sign up for a second series of Monday Monday
"I think it's a grower. I've said to the producers, if we do another series, I hope Christine gets a boyfriend! It would be fun."

Monday Monday is on Mondays at 9pm on ITV1.