Trevor Eve, 73, admits ‘I upset some people’ as he sets record straight on ‘difficult’ reputation: ‘I cared’
Trevor Eve stands as one of British television’s most mysterious figures, a man whose reputation precedes him in the entertainment industry.
Known for being “difficult” in the polite vocabulary of showbusiness, Eve simultaneously maintains a reputation for considerable charm.
This contradiction defines the veteran actor, who has become as famous for his turbulent nature as for his acclaimed performances.
His colleagues and journalists have experienced both sides of his personality – the demanding perfectionist and the charming conversationalist.
These opposing traits have shaped a complex public image that has followed Eve throughout his decades-long career in British television and theatre.
The star recently opened up about his “difficult” reputation to RadioTimes and noted: “I upset some people.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Julie Goodyear finally sells £1.3million mansion after slashing £200k off price amid dementia battleChris Hughes’ brother makes feelings clear on JoJo Siwa ‘romance’ claims after flirty ITV CBB sceneKaty Perry fans ‘in tears’ as they spot hidden meaning in singer’s flower gesture after Earth return
“But I was only difficult because I cared. It was never about the size of my trailer or my car being late. It was, ‘Why are we doing this?’.
“I rewrote a lot of my stuff because I was taught to believe if there’s something you don’t want to say, don’t say it.
“But I stopped doing that about ten years ago. I just thought, ‘OK, send me the script. I won’t change a word’.”
He added that most reputations of people in the industry were “unfounded” and recalled one incident during one of the first-ever interviews he sat down for.
Eve noted that he called out the journalist for being rude, and was subsequently berated in the newspapers alleging he had done “all the appalling things” to get back at him.
Such instances include once being barred from a London theatre following a row over a seat, and berating two women for smoking near him at a polo match.
His colleagues have experienced his demanding nature firsthand, with Eve engaging in arguments about everything from costume choices to camera angles.
This challenging side of Eve’s character became particularly concerning for one journalist who met him shortly after the announcement that his BBC1 drama series Waking the Dead would end.
Eve blasted the BBC for spending too much on Doctor Who – and claims his own hit drama should have been axed in 2007.
He said of the time travel show: “The programme is great, but it was created for kids in 1963. One doesn’t need to say more. They spend too much on Top Gear, too.”
Speaking on Waking the Dead, he added: “It should have ended in 2007. We made 82 hours – some excellent scripts and some really bad ones.”
However, it has also been reported that in person the star has a starkly different side to his character.