When actor Steve Evets was offered the role of foul-mouthed farmer Jim on a new Sky series, it was as easy yes.
“It’s a dream job,” says Evets, who has starred in films and TV series including Looking for Eric, One for Us and White Gold.
“They send a car for me, I go to work, they put scruffy clothes on me, I go on set, I swear at everyone and insult them.
“Then they put me in a car, send me home and send me some money.
“Then in the evening, I go to the pub and I insult people for free.”
The seventh and final series of Brassic promises to be a fond farewell, packed with everything fans love.
Predominantly filmed in Bacup in Lancashire, Brassic follows the lives of Vinnie O’Neill, played by Joe Gilgun, and his friends in the fictional town of Hawley.
After their near-death experience at the end of series six, the gang which includes Michelle Keegan as Erin Croft have a new lease of life.
“It celebrates real people, people who haven’t really got a voice,” says Evets.
I’ve arranged to meet Evets on Bury Market – he’s a regular visitor, often posting videos with traders on social media.
The actor, who grew up in the Higher Broughton area of Salford but now lives in Whitefield, is having a coffee with his family when he clocks me walking over and introduces me to his grandchildren.
He looks like any other punter, but within minutes he is accosted by fans – one from as far away as New Zealand.
It is evident that he will miss playing the character whom he politely describes as “having no filter,” which is putting it mildly.
“It is the end of an era,” he says.
“It’s been great for me. It’s quite sad, but it’s better than flogging it to death.
“You can overdo things.”
This is a sentiment shared by Brassic’s co-creator and writer Danny Brocklehurst, who says he “wanted to leave the party while it was still fun, even if saying goodbye is tough”.
But is there hope that Brassic will return in in the future?
“It would be nice to give it a break then do a feature film,” says Evets.
“I think that would be good. I think there’s a market for it.
“There’s lots of die-hard fans out there. Who knows what the future holds?”
New episodes of Brassic are streaming weekly on Sky and NOW.
