Wee Claire here for BBC The Social, I’m sitting with the awesome Daniel Portman.
Who you may recognise from a wee show they call Game of Thrones. Just a wee show.
Just a wee show.
Yeah.
We all know him as Podrick Payne from Game of Thrones, but we’re here
to get to know the man behind Podrick. This is the man behind Podrick. There he is.
It’s me, sorry to disappoint you
We’re going to ask Daniel a couple of questions and you’re going to complete
the sentences.
Yes.
So, it’s very simple.
Yeah, absolutely, I think I can do that.
Great, OK!
The thing I love most about working on Game of Thrones is…
It’s nice to be involved in something that people care about but is also critically very
well received.
Best thing about acting is…
Interviews.
Oh great, I’m so glad to be part of the best thing ever.
No, I dunno, travelling. You get to meet a whole host of people that… there’s just
an opportunity to live many, many different lives and to see a bit of the world and y’know
you are… it can be tough, y’know it can be a very, very, demanding and unstable job
but you carve your own path and you get to be your own boss at the end of the day and
that’s the fulfilling thing.
I dig that. My favourite person to hang out with on the Game of Thrones set is… can
you choose?
You had Gemma on didn't you?
Yes, and she had nice things to say about you.
Gemma’s one of my absolute favourites. Kristian Nairn who played Hodor, I’ve got
a lotta love for Kristian and Finn Jones who was Ser Loras who’s now Iron Fist. Erm…
Alfie Allen, I’ve got a lot of time for Alf. There’s loads… Jerome…
It’s such a big cast as well isn’t it?
Yeah, I mean Gwen who I work with who plays Brienne, she’s great, erm, and
Jerome Flynn who’s Bronn, erm, we’ve been very, very good pals since we started working
together so that’s the, that’s the joy of the show is you meet so many people and
it’s sort of, you all come from different places and different backgrounds and this
and that and it’s all sort of brought us together and I think we’ll all have a connection
through this show for the rest of our lives ‘cos its been a fucking massive part of
everybody’s last, almost, ten years. So, it’s a big chunk. Erm…
Can’t believe it’s been a decade! Makes you feel old…
Seven years for me so…
And so, who’s the best to go drinking with would you say?
Rory McCann.
Oh yes!
Who’s also on that list of my favourite people. Rory McCann is a… he’s a great,
a top, top guy. Erm.. top guy, and he likes a dram and so do I.
We were playing shag, marry, feed to the dragons. Eh, shag, behead, feed to the dragons rather,
erm… I think Gemma said ‘shag’ for Rory.
I don’t blame her.
And then she went… ‘mmmm’.
I mean, he’s a big boy. He’s a big boy.
Scottish porridge oats man!
Looks like he could chuck you about so…
Exactly, well, well, we’ll leave it there. Ok…
If that’s what you’re into, fair enough.
Whatever floats your boat! Now… onto Scotland. Are you ready ‘cos…
My favourite subject.
‘Cos obviously you’re Scottish.
Apparently.
Apparently, even though we’re down here. Erm, you know you’re back in Scotland when…
People want tae talk to you in the street.
Yes.
That’s it, ‘cos in London they don’t but in Scotland… I remember, went up the
road for Christmas last year, I had five conversations in between getting off the plane and getting
in my taxi with, with…
About Game of Thrones or…
With strangers, no just people who were Glaswegian talking to fellow Glaswegians.
That’s quite nice.
Really nice, really nice.
Thing that I miss most about Scotland is…
Ma family and ma pals.
My go to order at the chippie is… I know what mine is…
I’m gonna say it’s a roll and chips with two pickled onions and a gless cheque Irn Bru
Aw nice… Last thing I saw abroad, which reminded me of home was…
I mean, we’re everywhere really, so like.
When you see a football strip or hear an accent…
I mean, I’m in America quite a lot and everybody in America thinks they’re Scottish
They just say “I’m Scottish”.
Oh, really…
You don’t sound it, have you ever been? “No”.
Ok!
So, you’re not Scottish then but thanks y’know, you’re welcome to join the team.
Yeah, totally, you’re part of the gang, it’s fine
Exactly.
The more the merrier I say!
No, I think so, y’know and I think eh, that’s probably the most Scottish, the last Scottish
thing I saw abroad was just, is the same Scottish thing I see it’s being recognised for being
Scottish and always being able to find somebody to eh, have a pint with.
Being Scottish is…
Erm… is unfair on those who are not.
I like that answer, we’ll leave that there. The strangest place I’ve been asked for
selfie or have been recognised is…
So… everybody knows the Podrick thing that happened in the brothel, everybody knows about
that.
Wasn’t going to mention…
No, I know but it links into this. I was asked for a selfie while I was cock in hand at a urinal
What am I meant to do with this?
Well, the guy says “can I have a picture?” and I’m like “what, what d’you want
a picture of…?”
You actually said that?
Dunno, I was just like “fuck off mate, like, I’m a bit busy”, you could’ve been,
y’know, less creepy and waited at the sink or maybe waited outside, or, I mean, yeah,
feel free, just hold it for me y’know, I’ll do the picture. It’s just very inappropriate.
Did you finish up and do the selfie?
No.
Or were you just like “nah, I’m doing my business goodbye.”
No, it’s so fucking weird.
Daniel, thank you so much for speaking to me for BBC The Social – buh-bye!
Buh, buh, buh-bye, bye!