CBBC’s terrific supernatural drama Wolfblood begins its second series today.
We spoke to creator Debbie Moon…
The world is about to see much more of Debbie Moons supernatural CBBC seriesWolfblood.
Were big fans ofWolfblood.Its the sort of show I would have been obsessed with as a young teenager.
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Whats been your experience of the fandom?
It certainly has a following.
That was very much in the forefront of our minds when we were making the show.
With something like the Wolfbloods Eolas powers, youre dealing with addiction there, but in a veiled way.
Yeah, essentially, yes.
You dont want to let these kids down in series two…
No.
Did you write the character of Maddy to be a role-model?
She has a strong moral centre.
She transgresses, but ultimately does the right thing, in series one at least.
I think sheisa very positive character.
I didnt want her to be a passive character who was pushed around by the male characters.
It certainly is coming across.
So you didnt deliberately write her as a counter-measure to Bella Swan?
Its just a coincidence then, that there are moments that feel like a feminist correction ofTwilightinWolfblood?
Its equal powers, theyre equally strong, theyre equally in touch with their wolf selves.
Do you find that kind of equality is something missing in childrens television and fiction as a whole?
Its probably something that was missing when I was growing up, less so now.
Weve had a good number of really interesting female characters in childrens fiction over the last few years.
Theres not yet been a female Doctor…
Not yet.
But then maybe we shouldnt be looking for a female Doctor.
you could argue it either way.
I think it was.
We wanted it to feel like an adult show that had somehow found its way onto CBBC.
A lot of influences for the show were comic-book related, things like theX-Mencomics.
That all comes across in that last speech from Maddy to Rhydian in episode one doesnt it?
I think thats a really important moment in the series.
Theres all this stuff making Maddy and Rhydian different, but its okay.
It will cause you problems, but its a part of you and its going to be okay.
A wider audience is seeing it now of course, thanks to the BBC Three repeat of series one.
Has that brought an older audience to the show in the UK?
I think so, yeah.
Ive heard from some people whove caught up with it there who havent always been aware of it before.
Its been interesting to have that kind of platform to reach a different audience.
The mythology of it, you mean?
Do you think therell be localisation problems with rolling the series out across the world?
References and jokes that wont translate?
Therell be a few references that wont come across wont there?
Something just for us.
You just have to write for the specific audience and hope that the emotion comes across.
The next thing you might expect to hear aboutWolfbloodwould be news of a US remake.
Is that something youve considered?
[Laughs] Wow.
Its not something thats ever really come up.
I dont know, if it did, Im sure wed deal with it.
Its more adult, more of a high school horror really.
It is, yeah.
Their approach to the whole werewolf thing is different to ours.
I dont know if America wants another werewolf thing, perhaps they might?
Well deal with that if it happens!
How about a possible film spin-off?
Is that something you think would suitWolfbloodand that youd be open to?
Again, its all the negotiations side of things.
The idea of it being a film has come up, whether it will happen, I dont know.
Would the film still be within the BBC?
I should think so, yes.
I think people will be interested to hear that!
Its just talk of course, it may never happen.
But lets say it has been discussed.
Have there been discussions about how long you see the show running?
Could we ever get to Wolfblood: the College Years?
[Laughs] Well maybe.
That sort of thing hasnt really come up yet.
When we reach that stage I suppose well have to deal with it.
Wolfblood the college years, could be interesting couldnt it?
Were not going to meet trolls and succubi and whatever else in series two…
Definitely no vampires.
Tell me about that.
How far in your mind does the Wolfblood lineage extend?
Do you have a bible with all this kind of background in it?
We do have a bible.
There are certainly Wolfbloods all over the world.
Theres a running joke in the writers room about an Australian spin-off called Dingo Blood.
Yet to be commissioned?
[Laughing] Not yet, you never know!
Who knows what might be going on out there on a full moon?
I think its a very small number, its less than one percent of the population.
Its a very small number, I think there were more in previous times.
Nowadays, its a very small number really.
All sorts of story potential opens up from that.
Is that something you may tackle further down the line?
Its something weve talked about.
Its an idea that interests me I think.
Of course, when you have a secret, sooner or later, that secret starts to spread.
Whats the earliest we can expect to hear about series three renewal forWolfblood?
Probably some time during the transmission of series two.
Theres been some talk, justifiably, about a lack of women writers on Doctor Who.
Your name featured in ourlist of writerswed like to see aDoctor Whoepisode from.
I think youve met Steven Moffat, is that right?
I do have a story or two actually.
So yes, I would have one or two ideas if that phone call should come, yes!
Would you be tempted to bring back any particular foes for the Doctor?
Theres so many good ones arent there?
What can you tell us about the adult supernatural series script youve written?
Not a great amount.
At the moment its going around to various channels hoping we will get someone interested in it.
Its kind of a supernatural investigation series with people who are investigating various supernatural goings-on.
Are you looking at a full series of hour-long episodes for that?
It will be hour-long episodes yes, probably six, but we dont really know at this stage.
That would be good wouldnt it?
Were not in the spoiler business here…
Good!
[Laughing] Alright then.
Its not one word but wild Wolfbloods.
And a third word?
Third word, third word… what would the third word be?
Theres definitely danger in series two.
Debbie Moon, thank you very much!
Wolfblood series two starts on CBBC on Monday the 9th of September at 5pm.
Read our spoiler-filled review of episode one, Leader of the Pack,here.
