Sinbad Star Recalls His Unusual Audition

And as luck would have it, there’s an interview with the show’s star, Elliot Knight, in SFX #224, on sale next Wednesday (anyone would think we plan these things).

In the interview, screen newcomer Knight reveals that his audition came with a difference.

“I had four auditions. Three fairly standard ones and a final one which was a kind of assault course like you wouldn’t believe. Lots of physical fitness tests. They said, ‘Bring clothes you can move in,’ so I did, and I had to sweat in them as well. Some black belt Taekwondo instructor came in and started this intense physical workout, on camera and in front of everyone, which I wasn’t expecting. Press-ups, sit-ups, V-sits, lots of weird things I’d never heard of before. And then they had me running up and down Leicester Square through the crowds. I must have looked like I’d mugged somebody…”

Produced by Impossible Pictures, the 12 episode series follows the adventures of Sinbad, who is on the run from his home town of Basra and under a curse for a killing that led to the death of his much-loved brother. Sinbad finds himself cast out to sea on The Providence, a ship filled with a range of intriguing characters. After surviving a violent and magical storm, both Sinbad and his fellow shipmates are forced to band together to face their inner demons, hopes, loves and fears. Sinbad must embark on an epic and emotional quest to rid himself of the curse and embrace his destiny.

Sinbad also stars Naveen Andrews ( Lost ) as Lord Akbiri, Sinbad’s archer nemesis who will stop at nothing to destroy the young hero; Sophie Okonedo ( Hotel Rwanda ) as Razia, the Queen of the Water-Thieves; Timothy Spall ( Auf Wiedersehen, Pet ) as Anicetus, the Old Man of the Se; Dame Janet Suzman as Sinbad’s grandmother; Elliot Cowan ( Marchlands ) as Norwegian sailor Gunnar; Marama Corlett ( The Devil’s Double ) as jewell thief Rina; Estella Daniels ( Thorne ) as Nala; Junix Inocian ( The 51st State ) as the cook on board The Providence; and Dimitri Leonidas ( Grange Hill ) as Anwar, an eccentric character and the ship’s cerebral doctor.

Read the full interview with Elliot Knight in the new issue of SFX , out on 27 June.