One of the real strengths of Friends is its cast, which is part of the reason so many people were so keen to see them reunited here. While it may have had strong writing behind it too, it was these six main actors who truly embodied the characters, and made their relationships so believable. Each actor was so perfect for their part that it's almost impossible to imagine anyone else playing them, or indeed them playing one of the other actors. And yet that's exactly what (almost) happened. While Jennifer Aniston may be Rachel and Courteney Cox is Monica, the pair revealed during the special that they actually auditioned for the opposite role. Thankfully they quickly realised that they were a much better fit for the other's character, and the rest is TV history. Of course, we do actually get a glimpse of what Cox as Rachel and Aniston as Monica would be like in The One With Two Parts, as they pretend to be the other while trying to date a couple of doctors (including a certain George Clooney). The results there may be great, but it's not something I could imagine being the actual way of things. Also in terms of auditions, Lisa Kudrow revealed that she had to come back and audition a second time for James Burrows... something none of the other cast had to do.
NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far.
A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.
