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Here is the live chat with Will Mellor that took place on Tuesday 22nd January 2002.
Wendy Nolan: I've watched you on the TV for many years but why and how did you become interested in drama and acting?
Will: I didn't have any interest in it at all until I was about 11, at my sister's wedding, and the DJ put on a song from Grease. I got up with my sister and did You're the One that I Want. An agent was in the room and said I had a bit of talent and a lot of confidence. So I went into it from then. It was just a coincidence, really.
Annette Slater: What was your first acting job?
Will: It was a documentary on horror writer, Clive Barker, and I played him as a schoolboy - but I didn't actually say anything, I was 11!
Greg Spinks: Were you a fan of Casualty before you starred in it?
Will: It was religious viewing in my house. Every Saturday night my family and I would watch it. I was a big fan, and very chuffed when I got the part.
Sarah Ogden: Do you like playing the character, Jack?
Will: He's basically like a bigger version of myself. I like outgoing, Jack the laddish kind of people. He's the lighthearted side of the show.
Caite: Who is your favourite character out of the Casualty cast?
Will: Charlie, because I've watched him for years and years and never thought I'd meet him. I always wanted to know who he was looking at, because his eyes were always doing that! I wanted to know the situation with his eyes. He's a really, funny nice bloke, and he lived up to my expectations.
Sam W: Did the upcoming cancer storyline for Jack influence you in any way?
Will: It made me more aware that you can get cancer at the age of 24 or even younger. I got a bit worried because I didn't know enough about it, and I started checking myself, when I got the scripts, and I still do. It sort of freaks you out a bit - you think it only happens to older people. It made me more aware - a bit of a wake up call. Playing it was different to what I was used to, because he's usually lively and up-tempo, but all of a sudden you see the other side to him, and he really doesn't know what to do. He doesn't deal with issues, but he can't push this issue out of the way. So he lives in denial for a while.
Simone Rowe: Who is your role model Will?
Will: I love Mel Gibson. If I've ever got to cry or something I look at him and see how he does it. He's a great actor. He's a hero! I want to do things that are down to earth and real. I don't want to do Stalloney sort of stuff.
Carol King: Do you watch Hollyoaks now you've left and what do you think of it?
Will: I've not really followed it for a few years. My friend Nick who plays Tony is in it, though, so I still watch it now and then and have a giggle. I don't really like it anymore because when I was in it there were only 7 or so main characters, but now everyone looks the same - they've all got blonde hair! It doesn't seem real.
Helen: Is there any cast romance off set in Casualty?
Will: Loads, but I can't tell you about them! Seriously, there's enough romance on screen - no time for it offscreen! If you got into a romance with someone you were working with, it could all get a bit heavy. But who knows - have a bit of a drink, see what happens!
Alison Maryon: Do you have any plans to release another single?
Will: I still play the piano and I've been writing music for at least three years now with a couple of other people. One guy is Rufus Stone - he works at a publicity company - we write together. I want to make music that's a bit about me - I don't want to do the cheesy pop stuff, but music that comes from myself. So I'd like to get a band together and perform live, rather than stand there and have four cheesy dancers around me. When I did Top of the Pops it was a dream that happened, and when it happened, it wasn't what I expected. Everyone around me was telling me lies - they were all 'yes' men who tell you that you're great even if you're not. I had a No.5 hit and then realised it wasn't what I wanted, and I wasn't allowed to do what I wanted to do. I want to do music on my own terms now.
Candy C: What was it like filming Two Pints Of Lager with Ralf Little?
Will: It was great. It was funny - a group of northern people having a drink and a laugh! Me and Ralf had a bit of a run in but after I nutted him it all went alright!!!! Seriously, we had our differences because he's very into the publicity and the media thing, and I'm not. I'm just myself and I just want to get on with it. But we get on really well now, and we're working on the second series, and there will be a third series later.
Webitt: Do you watch Holby City?
Will: No! No, I'm joking - I don't watch it, but it's just because I don't watch much TV. I watch Pop Idol a lot now, because I hate Darius! I think Gareth will win, but I think the best performer is Will. I don't want him to win because I think he'll get a better record deal if he doesn't win. The winner will get a very manufactured deal - I think Will is better than that. So I think if he gets a deal from somewhere else, he'll be better respected.
Trev Packer: Do you think you will stay in acting or have you got any other plans for the future?
Will: I'm hoping to do as many different things as I can - I'd like to present extreme holiday programmes, do music, I don't want to get pigeonholed. This country does that to you - it's different in America, where you can have a go at anything. I did a musical for two years which I loved - I just want to entertain now. I want to be the centre of attention, like when I was a kid! I've never been to America - I'd like to go, but I don't want to be disappointed. I've heard bad things about the industry sometimes. If I could get into big films without going to America I'd do it, but I think you have to go there and sell yourself a bit.
Claire Basnett: Do you like being Jack the Lad! Do you enjoy your role in Casualty and do you think you will stay long?
Will: I'm going to stay as long as my character can do different things. I want storylines, and to be doing different things. As soon as I think Jack's done everything he can do, I'll leave. I've got the comedy to do, and other projects, so at the moment I'm enjoying it.
Natasha Lowy: If you weren't in Casualty, what other programme would you like to be in?
Will: I'd like to be in ER. It's what any hospital drama wants to be but the budget's immense! And I would pay to be in Friends! I'd like to be a new character. Hopefully Rachel's boyfriend, but he gets bored of her, goes onto Monica, and then Phoebe! Perhaps Jack Vincent could be a player in Friends.
Katharine McClenaghan1: Did you have to go to real hospitals to see how they work before taking the part?
Will: No - I got the part, was chuffed, met everyone and got on with it. My part isn't involved with the work too much - I just have to chat up every good looking girl that comes in and act daft! He's probably the worst receptionist in the world because he's never working! I think he's very lucky to have that job!
Natasha Lowy: What character would you like to play in Casualty if you weren't playing Jack?
Will: That's a hard question. Patrick's a good character, because he's very arrogant. I like the way he's played, and I'd like to be an arrogant character. He's very cool. He's got a bit of an edge to him.
Lizzie: Who do you 'hang around with' when you're filming?
Will: Usually Ian Kelsey, who plays Patrick, and Dan who plays Dillon, and Lee who plays my brother. We all hang about together. And Kelly who plays Nikki too. We all stick together because we're all in Bristol filming together. We have a few drinking games we get up to! It's fun to work on. Filming can be daunting at times, and it can take a long time to do, but we have little games we play to pass the time. If we're doing a scene all in one shot, we have bets on how many takes it'll take to get the shot in! I think Ian Kelsey had 30 takes on one line once - it was some medical jargon he couldn't handle!
Caz Wright: Do you ever have a laughing fit when you are trying to do a serious scene?
Will: Not on Casualty as yet. It's mainly been on Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps. Once I did 24 takes because I couldn't stop laughing, over nothing. Me and Natalie Casey, she played my girlfriend, got on really well and just laughed for ages.
Angela Harper: What is the most embarassing thing you've done on set?
Will: On Hollyoaks, once my character had to do a strip routine in the cafe - it was a lady's night. He got down to his boxers and then the girls had to drag the boxers down. I was supposed to keep them on, but in the end they asked me to take them off, saying they were in shot but wouldn't show it. So I removed them and I had some balloons covering my bits. I had to do this scene with Davinia who plays Jude, and she could see everything because I had to have my hands up when I was talking to her. At the end of the scene the camera pans down ... my picture was on the Internet, with me naked, until I discovered it seven months later and had it removed! Also, my editor printed the picture out and put it up around where we were filming so everyone could see. It was very embarrassing!
Hannah Monaghan: At school were you the shy one, the loud one or the naughty one?
Will: I was the clown of the class - that's why I left school with no exam results! I tried to make a joke out of every lesson. I did whatever I could to get out of it because I hated school, apart from the football at lunchtime. I've been really lucky to get somewhere in life. So it's not an example to follow - but I made an enjoyment of my school life. I couldn't listen to any of the teachers. It just wasn't me!
Kat Usher: Jack is a bit of a ladies man but never seems to get anywhere, what advice would you give him?
Will: I think he needs to look for a girlfriend, rather than a one-nighter. I don't think he knows what he wants. If a girl found him and asked him out for a drink, I think he'd be scared, and he'd be wary. So I'd just tell him to grow up a bit and realise that women are sometimes the stronger sex and men just have to sit back and take it!
Simone Evens: What's your fave film?
Will: That's a hard one - I've got loads! Goodfellas; Scarface; Braveheart; and The Champ are all near the top.
Tasha: How many people do the make-up on Casualty?
Will: We have about four or five people, but we have people who do special effects who do all the cuts, wounds, scars and burns etc. It's the most horrible thing to go in, with your bacon sandwich in one hand and someone's eyeball hanging out of their face next to you! So never eat your breakfast in the make-up room!
Aleisha Leigh: What is your fave type of music?
Will: Stevie Wonder is my favourite artist, but I love hip-hop, R'n'B and soul music.
Andi Probert: What advice would you give to someone who wanted to get involved in TV acting?
Will: It's a very difficult thing to answer - it's got a lot to do with luck. You need to believe in it, and go for it. A lot of people will tell you you're wasting your time.
I was at a place in Manchester where no-one did anything like I was doing. I was told I wouldn't get anywhere because I had no exam results. But you have to ignore those people. If you don't believe in yourself, no-one else will. Go to an agency, get them to believe in you, and remember that you'll get turned down for a lot of parts. But the sun will shine on you at the end of the day.
Kat Usher: What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever sent you?
Will: I get all my fanmail filtered, so I don't get to read as much as I could. But I do get some weird requests. I got sent some toenails once. The fan wanted to send me something disgusting because he didn't like me! I chewed them for a few hours and put them in the bin! I got a few requests to meet people at the top of the Eiffel Tower, which was nice, but I wasn't able to do it!
Lara Biteme: Are the days long filming on Casualty?
Will: They can be very long, especially the big scenes with lots of people in. Thankfully I'm usually behind reception going, 'hello? What's your name?' The days in Rescuss take a long time - you can be stuck in one room for three days. Sometimes it is a bit tiring.
Adele: If you hadn't been an actor or a pop star what would you have done?
Will: I'd loved to have been a boxer. I did it from when I was seven for seven years. I boxed as an amateur, and in the HBAs. My dad trained me, and I felt I'd disappointed him when I got into acting. My dad and uncle were both boxers. But obviously I haven't disappointed him.
But I'd still like to have a go at boxing. It would be nice to have something to do with the sport. And that's why Jack had a boxing storyline - they found out I was a boxer, and they wanted to get it into the storyline.
Scott Walker: Would you ever work behind the camera?
Will: No, I've never had the desire to do that. If I was very honest I'd say that I'm a showman. I want to be the centre of attention, so I just want to go out there and perform. If I can go on stage and make people laugh, or sing a song that people like, then I'm happy doing that. I get such a buzz from that. When I did the musical, I got such a buzz from dancing and singing on stage, I felt that that's where I belong.
Bounce BB: Do you have a personal trainer to keep you looking so gorgeous?
Will: No - just my mum's Sunday roast! I'm quite lazy, but because I boxed when I was younger, I've kept in shape because of that. I can't just go to the gym and lift weights because I think it's boring.
Jessica Hunter: So what do you do in your spare time?
Will: I play lots of Playstation 2, I go to watch Man United - and don't tell me the result of tonight's game! I play football with my friends from Hollyoaks and Brookside.
Blondie Star: If Jack ever got written out of Casualty how would you like his exit to be played?
Will: I'd like Jack just to walk off and say see you and be quite normal. I wouldn't like him to be killed off. I think that's just an excuse to get rid of a character. I'd just like to say 'I'm bored now, bye!' It would be quite odd, but funny. I'd like it to be comical, not sad. Perhaps he could fall over while rollerskating. I'd like it to be something quite daft!
Shauntelle Smith: If you could snog anybody famous who would it be and why?
Will: Oh man! That's a nightmare! There's loads... Mel B. I've always had a thing for her. I still dream about her - what's the matter with me? Britney, just because I can just... snog her. And a girl called Halle Barry, who is beautiful! If that's you online now, Halle, I'll marry you tomorrow!
And, finally, here's a last word from the lovely Will to you all...
Will: Thanks for your questions. Believe me, people off the TV are no different to you lot out there. So next time you see someone in the street, come over and have a chat to us because we're cool!
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