With filming for the second series now under way, we’re eager to see what the hit show The Call Centre will bring us next. One of the reasons that made the first series of The Call Centre such compelling viewing for us at Frontline was the main character Nev.
A fly on the wall documentary which is set in Swansea’s third largest call centre, the programme is like a real life version of The Office, with the star of the show – cringe-worthy yet loveable boss Neville Wilshire – often being compared to Ricky Gervais’ character, David Brent.
More Nev Antics On The way
If the second series is anything like the first, we’ll see more good-natured banter, catchphrases like “happy people sell” and “some will, some won’t, so what, next” and other crazy antics from Nev, whether it’s arm-wrestling employees to decide whether or not to give them a promotion, or setting them up on dates with each other. He may make it his business to know the ins and outs of their personal and professional lives, but because Nev comes across as someone who is married to his job, it would be interesting to see how he would behave with a potential new love interest in the new series. If we were to delve into Nev’s private life, it would no doubt make fans of The Call Centre empathise with him more.
Although Nev does share a great deal of David Brent’s personality traits (and it would be fantastic to see him doing his own version of that iconic dance in series two of The Office!), his relationships with his employees and other members of staff demonstrate that he is a much more likeable character. Using unorthodox methods to get the best out of his employees, he puts a great deal of effort into helping the underachievers rather than simply dismissing them, at times coming across as more of a mentor than a boss. So much so that despite the fact that she either doesn’t show up for work at all or when she does she’s intoxicated, he even keeps tea lady Hayley on as he doesn’t think these young people are given enough of a chance to shine. His caring side is heart-warming to watch, and gives viewers emotion as well as comedy, which will hopefully continue.
To top the new series off, a performance of the cast’s charity single which is being released in December to compete with X Factor for the Christmas number one, would be extremely entertaining. When you take into consideration the fact that Nev encourages his employees to sing mid-morning karaoke, surely it’s not that far-fetched to hope for!