To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Outlander stars Sophie Skelton and Richard Rankin have shared what they think are the common misconceptions about their hit show as it heads into its seventh season – and some of them may surprise you.
The pair play Brianna and Roger MacKenzie respectively on the show, daughter and son-in-law to central couple Claire (Caitríona Balfe) and Jamie (Sam Heughan).
Both transplants from the twentieth century, they have settled in Fraser’s Ridge, North Carolina, with Claire (who first travelled back to Scotland in 1743 in season one), Jamie and the community in 1770s America, alongside their son Jemmy, as they prepare to welcome their second child together.
Season six of the Starz fantasy-drama series was unavoidably affected by Covid, ultimately being truncated into a shorter run of eight episodes, meaning it concluded ahead of the climax of its equivalent book in author Diana Gabaldon’s best-selling Outlander series, A Breath of Snow and Ashes.
‘We were struggling with that in terms of [the fact that] this show has a very vast crew and a vast amount of SAs [supporting artists] for certain scenes are needed and that really helps build our world,’ Sophie told Metro.co.uk.
‘So season six definitely had a different feel to it for the show.’
Sophie Skelton and Richard Rankin are back once more in Outlander as Brianna and Roger MacKenzie, and there is a lot in store for them (Picture: Getty)
However, season seven, which involved a return to normal filming and a shoot that lasted the best part of a year, provided a ‘back to school’ atmosphere.
Discussing the benefits of how the season split happened, the 29-year-old added: ‘I think it was perfect for us because it gave more time to our storyline. There’s so much that happens in this show and Diana’s books are so rich and there’s so much material that it’s hard to fit it all in – so it was actually quite nice for us to finish six where it did and then just really start our storyline from fresh with seven.
‘Roger and Brianna are expecting a baby and that really is the catalyst for a lot of what happens to us and to our characters this season. So, to start that fresh was much better in the end.’
Season seven is a generous 16 episodes long, although only the first eight episode are set to air this summer, with fans subjected to another mini ‘Droughtlander’ part way through as they cope without their favourite.
Brianna gives birth to the couple’s second child, which Sophie called the ‘catalyst’ for their season 7 storyline (Picture: Starz/Backgrid)
Outlander has been going since 2014, attracting a passionate and dedicated fanbase along the way, and with a spin-off in the works for after the already announced eighth and final season.
Sophie and Richard climbed aboard the time-travelling juggernaut in 2016 for its second season, but what do they think are the biggest misconceptions about the show and working on it as two long-time insiders?
‘I think, in terms of the genre, it can often be misunderstood, and I think that’s a very good point,’ shared Richard, 40.
Co-star Sophie agreed, chiming in: ‘Yeah, when people say, “What’s it about?” and it’s kind of like, how do you describe that? Because this show genuinely calls pulls all the genres into one, and that sounds too good to be true, but Outlander has actually done it successfully! I mean, do you say sci-fi, do you say drama [or] love story? It’s really hard to describe it without it then getting put into a box, which isn’t necessarily the right box!’
Richard reckons Outlander can be ‘misunderstood as being soppy romance’, but argues it is so much more (Picture: Starz/Backgrid)
‘I think some people some people don’t think it’s for them, which is more often than not men,’ Richard continued.
‘But I think it’s kind of misunderstood as being soppy romance and it never is, it never has been – not that there’s anything wrong with that genre. But I think it’s just misrepresented and misunderstood,’ the star, who has recently been cast as Inspector Rebus in an upcoming adaptation of Sir Ian Rankin’s (no relation) popular crime novels, said.
Former CBBC actress Sophie was keen to dispel the myth of glamour surrounding the show.
‘If you’re talking about the actual work itself, I think a common misconception is that it’s all glamorous and “Yay, you’re on this big show, and it must be fun!”, and it is super-fun but we work very hard. I mean, we just did a whole season of semi-continuous days and our hours are long and the weather’s tough…’
Richard jumped in to give helpful context as to what a semi-continuous day is, explaining that it ‘means you don’t get your lunchtime nap’.
Sam Heughan as Jamie Fraser in Outlander, father to Brie and leader of the settlers of Fraser’s Ridge in North Carolina (Picture: Starz/Backgrid)
Sophie, who struggles with midday slumber, added: ‘I can’t nap because then my wig looks like I’ve just been dragged through a hedge!
‘I don’t know how you do it. I just I’m so grumpy after a nap and I’m all disorientated. These guys all have little snoozes in their trailers…’
Revealing how these types of days on set work, Richard explained the positives of it as a ‘kind of running lunch where you get a half-hour break, which is great because it keeps everything moving and your day is shorter so it’s great over a long period of time.’
The pair are also put through the wringer physically alongside their castmates and crew on Outlander, which shoots on location in Scotland.
‘It’s not much green screen – we film in the snow and the rain and the mud and we really all do pull together and dig deep and it’s tough,’ Sophie revealed.
‘That’s why press tours are great – and the fact that the fans have stuck with us for so long, we are genuinely so appreciative – because when we come out of that little hub in Scotland and actually see how much the world loves it, it reminds you why we do what we do.
Caitríona Balfe faces the noose at the start of season 7 after being accused of the murder of Malvina Christie, so how will she escape? (Picture: Starz/Backgrid)
Outlander season 7 cast (L-R) David Berry, newcomer Joey Phillips, Sam Heughan, Sophie Skelton, executive producer Maril Davis, Richard Rankin, Caitriona Balfe, newcomer Charles Vandervaart, newcomer Izzy Meikle-Small and John Bell (Picture: Getty)
‘It’s such great stories to have out there and such great characters for people to love and learn from that it’s always good when you get to show it to the world.’
Richard was also busy trying to come up with other times for a nap that would work on set, to which Sophie pointed out: ‘You only have to nap because you play games until 3am and then go to work.’
‘You mean read scripts…,’ Richard hastily corrected her.
Outlander season seven premieres on Friday June 16 on Lionsgate Plus.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : Robert Carlyle teases ‘heartbreaking’ scene in TV series that is ‘The Full Monty at its best’
The Droughtlander is over once more as part one of season 7 hits screens.
