Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Where do viewers meet Mitchell as the beginning of series three?

From the end of series two, myself and George have made this pact that we're gonna get Annie back [from purgatory] regardless, so true to his word Mitchell goes and tries to get her back from purgatory.

You had scenes with Lacey Turner who plays Lia, how was it working with her?

She's awesome, she's brilliant. It's not enough credit to say she's highly professional but that's what she was. She's such a lovely girl, sort of reserved and quite quiet and I think she's amazing, she's done some fabulous stuff. And she's only ever really done EastEnders, so to come in and do it – she's very fluid, everyone enjoyed it and we were talking about it for weeks afterwards. The producers say her scenes look great and that the scenes in limbo look great.

Can you talk about Mitchell's relationships with the housemates this series?

It's a funny one with Mitchell because his relationship with George has kind of changed, but it's more, I guess, on George's side. In the last series, it was very much Mitchell trying to ground everything and take control, taking on Herrick's role and accepting leadership and calming the vampires down a bit.

In series three, George's relationship with Nina progresses so there's a lot of distance between those two [Mitchell and George] and with the other werewolves coming into the house Mitchell feels very uncomfortable. It sort of feels like it's the start of a relationship ending, certainly changing, and it's a transition I don't think either of them are comfortable with but it's unstoppable.

Any time they seem to get together there's not as many laughs in their relationship, but that's the way relationships work – they're variable and change all the time.

How would you describe Mitchell – he seems so tortured?

He's a complete tortured soul, like any vampire. I don't think he'll ever be truly happy – he's always just survived. It's the struggle you see, which I always like. That's not to say he's a wet rag – he knows how to have fun and have a laugh and it's not something he's completely consumed by, but it's always prevalent and it's always there.

It's something he can't forget about and his own actions coincide with the safety of other people who aren't immortal who he feels responsible for, and he's always carrying that burden around with him. He's almost like the mother figure rather than the father figure, he provides that security, the comfort blanket. But by the final episode he reaches the point where he doesn't want to be that anymore.

It almost feels like it's a ticking time-bomb as the series goes on, was that difficult to play or fun to play?

That's the good thing about doing a TV show rather than a film, there's so much scope. We've only done 22 episodes but still, altogether, that's 22 hours – there's so much room to play on so many levels, there's so much longevity. Toby's writing is so good it makes it easy, you never have to think about hitting certain beats it just seems to happen.

The very last scene in the last episode when it all kicks off, I was slightly worried that we might not all get there but the dialogue ... it just happens naturally and the emotion just plays itself out.

There are loads of great guest stars this series – were any particularly memorable or fun to work with?

I loved working with Michael Socha (Tom). His show [This Is England '86] was on while we were shooting so he was on a great little buzz and we were hanging out a lot. It was good fun. It was great with Jason Watkins (Herrick). Again, he's not necessarily a guest-character but he's always one of my favourites. And Robson Green (McNair) – they're all great. It's not interesting to mention everybody but they were all fantastic!

Were there any scenes that stand out that were memorable to film?

Certainly the last scene. It was like an eight-pager on the last day and it was my idea to shoot it on the last day! It turned out if we didn't nail it on the last day we were in trouble! That was a platter of emotions. That was a huge one. Being in the new house was fun – any scenes that were shot in the new house were fun.

What did you think of the new set?

It was awesome – really breathtaking what they managed to do with it. It was so detailed, even the carpet, you swore someone had lived there for years! Such a credit to the art department, that house was brilliant.

Obviously, it gave us the benefit of moving the camera, there was more space, moving the walls. It gave us the breathing space and allowed the house to become a character. They really outdid themselves.

How do you think this series compares to the first two?

I don't know! I haven't seen anything yet. It certainly felt great and to work with a new director Phil John. It felt exciting and it didn't feel like we were hitting the same beats as last time. The first series was really kitchen-sink and light and had more comedic sensibilities and the second series was a lot darker, especially for Mitchell. It had a slower burn to it. This series I don't know, I think the pace has quickened up – it doesn't stop.

You've landed a part in The Hobbit – how do you feel?

Really excited. It's funny, you go through different phases. You find out about it and you're bouncing off the walls for a few weeks, then it all settles down and then as it gets closer I'm super excited about it, I can't wait for it.