The actors on forming a close bond on Two Pints, why it’s important to have rows, and how they feel about ageing
Born in Stockport in 1976, Will Mellor is an actor known for his role as Jambo in Hollyoaks and a decade-long run in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps. His co-star in the latter show was Ralf Little, born in 1980 in Oldham, who starred in The Royle Family before joining the sitcom in 2001. Mellor has since appeared in Mr Bates vs the Post Office, Line of Duty and Broadchurch, while Little has been in Inside No 9, Doctor Who and Death in Paradise. The pair host the Two Pints podcast, and the second series of Will & Ralf Should Know Better airs from 29 September on U&Dave.
This was taken in a pub called the Archer in the fictional Two Pints universe. We were portraying twentysomethings who didn’t have prospects or social mobility, but were quite happy with their lot. As a result, there’s a slight world-weariness and ennui to our facial expressions. We were probably channelling the aloof rock stars from the 90s we loved and those photoshoots where nobody ever smiled.
The first time I met Will was in 1997. I was friends with the guy who played Max Cunningham in Hollyoaks and he took me along to a Halloween party in Liverpool where the rest of the cast would be. No one knew me from Adam – I’d filmed The Royle Family, but it hadn’t come out yet. I turned up dressed as Batman. The Men in Black song came on, and suddenly I was standing next to Will, who had come as Bram Stoker’s Dracula and was the only other person at the party who knew the choreography. Afterwards, I thought: “That was fun – but I’ll probably never see you again.”
