Philip Glenister Fans

What was it like to suffer the beatings as Harry Venn in Hidden rather than doling them out as DCI Gene Hunt?
It was a bit confusing being the other side of the table, but also quite nice to flip the coin and do something different.

A lot of people didn’t have a clue what was going on in Hidden, were you equally baffled?
Oh yeah, absolutely. It was like working your way through a tough Sudoku, but that’s why it was worth doing.

Do you ever watch Life on Mars and reminisce?
When I was filming Mad Dogs with John Simm in Mallorca last summer I took a couple of DVDs out with me for a laugh. We had one night when we sat in my hotel room with a bottle of wine and stuck one on.

What’s your favourite moment from the programme?
The scene when we’re in the back of a surveillance van and Marshall Lancaster’s character, DC Chris Skelton, does this huge fart and I say, ‘What’ve you been eating? Pedigree bloody Chum or something?’

Your brother Robert is in Noises Off at the moment and your niece Emily has just started out as an actress; will the Glenisters be eclipsing the Fox acting dynasty soon?
I don’t think of it as a dynasty. At the end of the day it’s the job one does. I actually say to my daughter, ‘If you want to act and make some money, get yourself down to the Old Bailey and stick a wig on.’

You recently filmed Bel Ami with Uma Thurman and Kristin Scott Thomas, what’s your part?
I play a Parisian sub-editor married to Uma Thurman (or ‘The Thermanator’ as she was known on set - she has a very powerful presence and she’s taller than me), then that ugly geezer Robert Pattinson turns up and shags everything that moves. Apart from me, thank goodness.

You’ve been spotted having a pint with the former Labour leader Neil Kinnock in the House of Commons, do you go there often?
Yes, it’s my local. Actually I was there for a reception for the performing arts union Equity. I’d met Neil before on the set of Cranford and he’s a good laugh so we had a pint.

Did you talk politics?
We might have, but that will remain private.

You play a lot of golf, have you ever had a hole in one?
Never but I’ve come very close so maybe I’m due. You have to buy a round of drinks when you do so at least I’ve saved a few quid.

If there’s any change to this, we will let you know!

Alongside John Simm! Show starts at 10am. Confirmation of exact time to come as soon as we have it.