The Sun, 2 March 2002, by Jon Peake.
"Trouble & Strife. Lindsey Coulson plays a wife who enjoys 
wedded blitz."
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*Manchild* - Tuesday BBC2

You've got to feel sorry for *Manchild*'s Gary. Married to 
shrewish Cheryl, played by Lindsey Coulson, it's no wonder 
he looks on in envy at his mates Terry (Nigel Havers), 
Patrick (Don Warrington) and James (Anthony Head), who are 
all single and having fun in their middle age. And when Gary 
(Ray Burdis) becomes infatuated with a lapdancer, Cheryl's 
safe in the knowledge that, while he may have his fantasies, 
he's going nowhere.

"All his friends are telling Gary he shouldn't be with 
Cheryl," says Lindsey, 40. "He quite likes the idea of 
another relationship, but he knows that Cheryl would find 
out - and go around and strangle the other woman."

So when she gets suspicious, Cheryl takes action. Gary's 
nothing without her - and she knows it. "He can do the macho 
posturing while Cheryl is around, but if she left him he'd 
be gutted," says Lindsey.

And in real life, the actress isn't very sympathetic towards 
Gary and his friends' behaviour.

"I find it quite sad that men feel they need to do this sort 
of thing," says the actress, who lives with her partner 
Harry Harris - brother of her EastEnders screen daughter 
Patsy Palmer - in north London, with her daughter Molly, 
nine, and their little girl Grace, nearly two.

"I suppose it's about age. I can look at 20-year-olds and 
think I'm the same age as them, then realise that person is 
young enough to be my child. You wonder where the time has 
gone."

Molly always makes sure Lindsey acts her age. "Sometimes 
she'll say, 'You're not going out in those trousers,' or 
'Don't wear that jumper,'" Lindsey laughs.

The actress is best known for her award-winning performance 
as struggling mum Carol Jackson in EastEnders, but she's 
landed herself more great parts since.

"When you're doing a soap you're going to be typecast for 
such a long time," she says. "That's partly why I left 
EastEnders. I loved it, but I want to do other things while 
I can.

"But they're left the door open for me. It's nice to have 
the option there."

Anyway, Lindsey may be busy with another project. Do we hear 
wedding bells for her and Harry?

"Hmmmm," she muses after a pause. "Should you take that as a 
yes? Let's just say, it's not that important to us. We're 
quite happy as we are and if we do it, we do it."



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