Sherlock Holmes And The Baker Street Irregulars
Michael Maloney is Inspector Stirling
Michael Maloney has worked extensively for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre and in the West End, taking leading roles such as Romeo, Prince Hal in Henry IV Parts I and II, Peer Gynt and Hamlet.
He is also well known on the big screen for roles in Truly, Madly, Deeply and Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet, Henry V and In The Bleak Midwinter.
On television, Maloney has most recently been seen in the BBC's Wide Sargasso Sea, Spooks and Ancient Rome – The Rise And Fall Of An Empire.
Michael Maloney on playing Inspector Stirling:
Tell us a bit about your character.
"He's just a well-meaning police officer but he's probably been passed over for promotion a couple of times. He's not the brightest one in the bunch and he's at least two steps behind Sherlock Holmes.
"He can never really solve the problem and makes wrong arrests and all that kind of thing. He's almost a comedy foil – or representative of a finite mind, whereas Holmes is slightly infinite."
Holmes has been known to clash with the police. What is his relationship like with Inspector Stirling?
"Their relationship is in a true tradition. You see this in a lot of police shows or detective shows even now – where the police are continuously frustrated by this independent snooper and they get very embarrassed and rather angry when they are outwitted."
The most famous detective in the world has been portrayed countless times on screen and stage. How important do you think it is to keep revisiting and reworking the Sherlock Holmes stories?
"As long as there is a demand, it's important. That's why people do Shakespeare over and over again. I think that well-told stories always take well to adaptations. I also think that there's a real feeling in people that they know where they stand when they hear a Sherlock Holmes story coming. Sherlock Holmes has a great following!"
What was it like working with the rest of the cast, particularly such a young one?
"They were really very good. I can't help feeling like I'm looking at the stars of the future. A couple of them are really sensational and they've got great enthusiasm. They're different from most kids I've worked with in that their level of concentration is very high. Some very promising young people!"
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