Exclusive: Bisson: 'East Is East to become trilogy'

When news surfaced earlier this year that the BBC plans to mount a sequel to East Is East (cleverly shifting compass points to be titled West Is West), several questions immediately popped up. What would happen to the Khan family? Where would the sequel take place? How can it live up to the original? While speaking to DS soaps chief Kris Green, Emmerdale's Chris Bisson, who starred in the much-loved 1999 comedy, answered those questions and informed us that not one but two sequels are in the pipeline.

Is the sequel to East Is East definitely happening?
"West Is West is definitely happening - it's shooting in Bombay this month. I'm not part of it, though."

That's a shame.
"Well it might be a trilogy and I might be involved in the third one! It's only a rumour and it's still just a rumour in my world as well, but there was an idea for two scripts to follow East Is East. The current one is shot mainly in India and Manchester and then the third one is all back in Manchester."

Do you know what the story is?
"I do but I'm not allowed to tell you! I only know very broad strokes about what the story is. The script for the third one isn't done and I haven't read the script for the second one, but I know what happens in it."

Are you wary of sequels given that they don't always live up to the original?
"Some sequels don't but some do - it depends what you try and do with a sequel as to whether it works or not. If you're delivering the same kind of stuff and trying to cash in on the brand then they seldom work. If you've got a strong acting base and strong characters and the writers really drive those characters into a new place then absolutely, it can work."

> Click here to read our recent interview with Chris Bisson