REALITY HITS HOME

By Fiona Knight
Printed in What's On TV - 1996

Craig McLachlan reveals how the latest series of Bugs began with a terrifying real-life explosion.

Hollywood-style explosions were pretty run-of-the-mill when the BBC action series BUGS was being filmed around the Canary Wharf office development site in London's Docklands.

But on 9 February this year, the huge blast that ripped through the area had nothing to do with the actors and crew. An IRA bomb had gone off a few hundred years away - and, this time, the devastation was for real.

"It was scary stuff," says Craig McLachlan, who plays wise-cracking Ed in the action-adventure series. "I was lucky. I'd just gone home when the bomb went off. Sometimes on my way home, I use the cash machine just where the bomb exploded - thank God I didn't that night. The real damage was some distance away, but it really shook everyone."

Since that night, the Bugs special-effects team has moved its work away from the Canary Wharf site. "We have to be sensitive to people who live and work around Docklands," says Craig. "To carry on with the special effects would have been thoughtless."

Since his marriage break up with former Neighbours co-star Rachel Friend, Craig has been romantically linked with his Bugs co-star Jaye Griffiths.

"Apparently, I was seen giving her a piggy-back and that meant we were in love!" he grins. "I found it funny but it wasn't amusing for Jaye because she is dating. And I couldn't help myself when I was introduced to her boyfriend. I shook his hand and whispered, 'Jaye's a great kisser, isn't she?' I think I was lucky not to be punched!"

After he finishes making this series, Craig, 30, plans to visit his parents in Australia. "I haven't seen them for over two years," he says "although we chat on the phone every week. My dad reckons I've changed. Last time we spoke he said 'Strewth, you sound like a real pom!' I think he may be right!"