MARIANNE JEAN-Baptiste says she hopes those who watch the BBC One series, The Following Events are Based on a Pack of Lies, realise that ‘it’s something that can happen to anyone’.
Created and written by Penelope Skinner and Ginny Skinner,The Following Events are Based on a Pack of Lies is the story of two very different women (Alice Newman and Cheryl Harker) and the conman (Dr Rob Chance) they have in common; three remarkable characters trapped in a tangled triangle of complexly layered half-truths and lies of epic proportions.
Cheryl (Jean-Baptiste) is a bestselling fantasy fiction author who, recently bereaved, now lives alone with her poodle, Goblin. Alice (Rebekah Staton) is a formidable but long-underestimated PA who lives in a bungalow with her young son, magician partner.
Rob (Alistair Petrie) is an eccentric and celebrated ecopreneur (allegedly). Three apparent strangers with nothing in common… except Rob’s dupes, deceptions and delusions.
We all know the story of the dastardly yet charming conman who pulls off a devilish con. That story is as old as the con itself. This is not THAT story.
This is a story about lies and artifice, about our weakness for self-deception, and about the rapid ascent of the modern fraudster. It is the story of an unexpected friendship between two very different women and the power they’ll discover when they raise their voices in joyous rage. As they finally find the courage and self-belief to take charge, the con is on to try and take a sociopathic predator down.
Ahead of the show kicking off, Jean-Baptiste spoke on her role and what drew her to it.
What was it about this story that made you want to tell it?
Jean-Baptiste: I found that it was an original take on the subject; I think there’s a fascination with people that do the things that Rob does, you really try to figure out why they behave that way, and if there’s some pathology to it. The writers were trying to shift the focus slightly, because you are fascinated and want to see what he does next, but it was about the women then becoming empowered to – it sounds simplified to say ‘get revenge’ – but to get some power back. It was a lovely experience working with Rebekah and Alistair, I think we really gelled and enjoyed each other, which helps immensely!
As fantasy author Cheryl Harker, what do you feel the story shows about the power she holds, and how much she owns that power when we first meet her?
Jean-Baptiste: When we first meet her, she’s in a very vulnerable state. She’s just lost her husband and that was a great relationship where she was appreciated for who she is and was encouraged to be strong. He was not at all threatened by her. So she’s a bit lost actually, and in need of some kind of validation from outside that she’s still attractive, that somebody is still interested in what she
has to say. So in terms of power I think it’s there, but she’s weak at that point. It’s a work in progress, you’re always having to ‘re-up’ and remind yourself of what you’ve done and how you’ve achieved it.
Without giving too much away, what resonated with you about how easy it can be for the ‘unreasonable woman’ lie to be believed when it’s ‘he said’ vs ‘she said’?
Jean-Baptiste: It’s interesting because men and women both look at certain situations in the same way and might say ‘well, how could she have been so stupid?’ or ‘maybe she’s just being hysterical?’ Retrospect is a fantastic thing, but you just have to look back. I’ve seen two documentaries lately, one about Sinéad O’Connor and the other one about Paula Yates and both women to a certain extent had been demonised on some level. Looking back now and watching the press coverage, you think ‘oh that’s awful!’ but at the time you’re going ‘oh no, not that person again, going on about this or that’. We’re more aware of that sort of thing now but it’s been pervasive for such a long time! That idea that ‘women can be a bit over the top’.
There’s a playful tone to this thriller that doesn’t diminish the severity of what it says about toxic relationships – how challenging was it to balance that in a respectful way, and with real life fraudsters and predators?
Jean-Baptiste: You always have to go for the truth in a situation, even if you know something is incredibly funny or not. We laughed a lot, obviously, doing this because it was fun and some of the scenes you think ‘this is nuts!’ but you just play the truth of a situation. If it gets a laugh it gets a laugh, and if it doesn’t you just keep moving!
‘The Following Events are Based on a Pack of Lies’ isn’t afraid to take risks – not least with putting your character’s dog in peril in episode 1 – how happily bonded were you with Goblin the dog?
Jean-Baptiste: Ah, dear Goblin! I don’t want to speak ill of Goblin but I don’t think poodles are particularly easy to train! Goblin was about doing Goblin’s own thing, many times! He was very sweet but he was a mama’s boy, and Goblin’s actual mother turned up one day to set and he was really well behaved – I mean his dog mother, not his owner – and it was funny, he sat where he was supposed to sit! I have two dogs myself, and I’m fascinated by watching them.
What do you hope this series might inspire in those that watch it?
Jean-Baptiste: I hope that people have a good time watching it but also realise it’s something that can happen to anyone. There isn’t a type of person that gets conned or scammed, it can be a really successful person, or a regular person trying to make ends meet. These people do not discriminate, they target people and they go for it.
Please note that this interview took place in March 2023.
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