Vicky McClure reveals co-stars helped her combat loneliness while filming in Belfast

Vicky McClure has revealed that her Line of Duty co-stars helped her cope with loneliness when she was away filming the show.

The actress, 38, – who stars as DI Kate Fleming in the BBC series – appeared on Tuesday’s GMB and told how Martin Compston and Adrian Dunbar were her support system while they shot the show in Belfast. 

The star was discussing her involvement in the 1 Million Minutes listening benches campaign and has designed one of six special benches across the UK to encourage people to strike up a conversation.

Honest: Vicky McClure has revealed that her Line of Duty co-stars helped her cope with loneliness when she was away filming the show

She said: ‘In terms of my own loneliness, I’ve never suffered with it to the point where it’s got me in a dark place but I work away a lot, and that is the hardest part of my job. 

‘Especially when we’re doing Line of Duty we’re over in Belfast and that’s why I’m so lucky Martin, Adrian and Jed are really good friends because it helps with that loneliness and I love being around Jonny (Owen, her partner) and my family and that means the most to me.

‘So when I’m away that’s tough, but I certainly feel for people that suffer with loneliness in a much bigger way and I think that’s what we’re trying to combat with this campaign.’

Pals: The actress, 38, - who stars as DI Kate Fleming in the BBC series - appeared on Tuesday's GMB and told how Martin Compston and Adrian Dunbar were her support system while they shot the show in Belfast (pictured all together)

Pals: The actress, 38, – who stars as DI Kate Fleming in the BBC series – appeared on Tuesday’s GMB and told how Martin Compston and Adrian Dunbar were her support system while they shot the show in Belfast (pictured all together) 

She added of her impressive career: ‘I think as actors you always wonder if this is the last job, it’s not a guaranteed position.

‘I think the minute you start and feel a bit complacent about that is a dangerous place to be so now I don’t. I just know I’m on a lucky streak at the minute.’

On chatting to strangers and her campaign Vicky said: ‘I am a chatterbox – I wish I spoke to more strangers. It’s different now isn’t it but I do love community and I think lockdown was something that really – to be fair, I didn’t really know my neighbours and lockdown came and we all started to get to know each other. 

Stars: She said: 'When we're doing Line of Duty we're over in Belfast and that's why I'm so lucky Martin, Adrian and Jed are really good friends because it helps with that loneliness'

Stars: She said: ‘When we’re doing Line of Duty we’re over in Belfast and that’s why I’m so lucky Martin, Adrian and Jed are really good friends because it helps with that loneliness’

‘Social media is amazing and it really does help people to communicate with other people when they are feeling lonely, but there is nothing like spoken word and having a chat whether it’s on the phone or in the street and I am a chatterbox. 

‘I speak to my friend Jo probably 15 times a day and I don’t know what we talk about – half the time it’s just, ‘What are you having for tea?’ but it gets you through the day.’ 

She continued: ‘I think just being able to speak to people, ‘You know we’re a bit scared, a bit unsure’, it goes hand in hand with dementia as well and dealing with people that are living with dementia especially through the pandemic has had a similar impact… unsure of what’s going on and we just need to communicate with people.

Important: The star was discussing her involvement in the 1 Million Minutes listening benches campaign and has designed one of six special benches across the UK to encourage people to strike up a conversation (pictured with her bench in Nottingham)

Important: The star was discussing her involvement in the 1 Million Minutes listening benches campaign and has designed one of six special benches across the UK to encourage people to strike up a conversation (pictured with her bench in Nottingham)

‘I think just by giving your time, making a phone call, or just knocking on a door, whatever it is you can do, and having a chat and making somebody laugh, and it is about that, it’s about having a laugh, it doesn’t need necessarily to be a deep chat. 

‘I think just being there for each other is what is most important and the fact it doesn’t cost anything is the best part about it. We are donating our time here and not money and that’s why it’s really important.’ 

As well as Vicky’s bench in Nottingham, the other listening benches can be found in Windsor, Belfast, Edinburgh, Exeter and Leeds and have been designed by Maisie Smith, Calum Best, Kadeena Cox, Max Whitlock and David James in the hope of getting people talking.

Close friends: Vicky, Martin and Adrian are pictured on Celebrity Gogglebox together earlier this year

Close friends: Vicky, Martin and Adrian are pictured on Celebrity Gogglebox together earlier this year

Elsewhere on the show Vicky was asked if Line of Duty would be returning for another season.

She responded: ‘I don’t know. I’ve no idea. Genuinely no idea.’

It comes after last month Vicky took to Instagram to proudly announce the launch of the business she created with partner Jonny Owen.

The star created production company Build Your Own Films with her producer, actor and writer beau Johnny, 50.

Sharing a picture of herself holding a clapperboard online, Vicky wrote: ‘This is the most exciting news. Hello and Welcome to Build Your Own Films!! 

‘We’ll keep it short and sweet for now but having both been involved in the media industry for decades we felt it was the the right time literally build our own projects!

‘We couldn’t be happier to take on our first co-production with the hugely successful @leftbankpictures for @itv. This is @byo_films first green lit co production and we are over the moon to have an incredible cast, wonderful crew, extremely talented new writer in Frances and to film ‘Without Sin’ right here in my home town…NOTTINGHAM! Creating real jobs (Wales hopefully soon!).

‘We have some more projects bubbling away which we hope we can share more green lights with you in the future! 

‘BYO aims to create interesting, collaborative and cutting edge productions and most importantly offer equality of opportunity to people from all backgrounds

‘Love & big cwtch. Vicky & Jonny xxx.’ 

Proud: It comes after last month Vicky took to Instagram to proudly announce the launch of the business she created with partner Jonny Owen

Proud: It comes after last month Vicky took to Instagram to proudly announce the launch of the business she created with partner Jonny Owen

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