Martien and Erica Meiland are both addicted to smoking, just like their daughter Maxime, but we never see them smoking on television. How is that possible? “Yes, that’s not allowed. This is strictly monitored.”
It will come as a surprise to many people: the Meilandjes are inveterate chain smokers in real life. Why do we never see them abusing their lungs on television? Maxime Meiland, who is participating in Stoptober, explains Radio 538. “I think your father smokes too, right?” asks sidekick Niels van Baarlen.
‘That’s not allowed!’
Maxime confirms that. “That’s right. My mother too.”
Niels: “But you never smoke in the series.”
Maxime indicates that this is prohibited. “No, but that’s not allowed.”
Niels: “Oh, that’s not allowed?”
Maxime: “No, no, that’s not allowed. No, we pay very strict attention to that.”
Cigarette in view
It’s quite a hassle to keep all those cigarettes out of the picture, says Maxime. “Every time we have a cigarette or whatever in the picture, it is immediately taken out of the picture. That’s why people were very surprised that I took part in Stoptober, saying: ‘I didn’t know you smoked!’”
Niels: “I had the same thing. I knew it about your father, because I saw a pack of butts on the table in the series. But I thought: huh, do you smoke too?”
Maxime: “Yes, since I was fourteen.”
‘Ridiculous!’
Niels is shocked by that revelation. “Oh dear. Hahaha.”
Maxime is not supported by Erica in her attempt to quit smoking. “She said, ‘Ridiculous! There is so little you can do in life these days. If you enjoy it, you should just do it, right? Those lungs can handle that!’ Hahaha.”
Niels’ colleague Tim Klijn a day later: “It always has something – yes, how to say that, I give everyone a cigarette and have heard it myself for years…”
Niels: “There’s always something sad about it.”
Tim: “Yes.”
“Sound like Rachel!”
Niels can currently be heard on the radio with a very hoarse voice. Tim: “By the way, it sounds like you were also busy with a cigarette grinder yesterday.”
Colleague Rick Romijn: “You sound a bit like the male Rachel Hazes. Hahahaha.”