The new series of supernatural drama Bedlam sees Hugo Speer return as Warren.

Series 2 is currently airing at 10pm on Wednesday nights on Sky Living.

> Order Series 2 on DVD on Amazon.

Was it a tricky decision to sign up for a second series?

“No, it was an easy one, a no-brainer. I enjoyed last year so, yeah, more of the same really, ghost-hunting and being mysterious.”

What happens to Warren this time around? Do we learn a little bit more about him?

“We do. More of the secrets that Bedlam has been keeping covered slowly become uncovered – all is revealed as we go along. His daughter comes back from her travels, so there’s a bit of making up and all that to do.”

Were they emotional scenes?

“Not really actually. Warren was strangely ambivalent about the whole thing. He’s more concerned about putting her back to work I think.”

Did they tell you at the start where Bedlam was going, where Warren was going? Or did you have to create that yourself?

“Certainly when we started off, there was ambiguity as to who he was, where he was, and where he was going. That’s been a lot clearer with the second series.

“I sat down with Richard Fee, the script editor, and executive producer Nicola Shindler, and discussed arcs and development, which helps and gives you a good idea of how to pitch your performance and what to give, when.”

What direction would you like Warren to go in?

“It’s playing dark and bad, because you get to exorcise your demons in real life and do things you wouldn’t normally be allowed to do. I always err towards the baddies if I can.”

Has that always been the case or is it a more recent desire?

“I’ve always wanted to play a Bond baddie, so I hope that happens one day before I get too old.”

How have the new cast been?

“Lovely, excellent, really good. It’s Nikesh’s first proper TV gig and he’s with the same agent as me, so I got the call saying, meet, say hello, look after him, which has been a pleasure. He learns very quickly and is super smart.

“I was delighted that Lacey was onboard because she is a fine actress – she did superb work on EastEnders and has been incredible on this as well. Gemma is lovely and has been great.”

All this must be so exciting for a young actor.

“I can’t remember [laughs].”

What sort of advice have you imparted to them?

“I’ve been doing this twenty years, which is quite scary. Just enjoy it, work hard and be a team player more than anything else – so many things can and do go wrong, but as long as you’re there, ready and prepared. If you’re enjoying it, the audience will enjoy it – it’s a genuine acting rule I find for stage and screen.”

How do you pick your projects? Why did Bedlam stand out?

“My prerequisite for work, if possible, is scripts. You can’t polish a turd. That’s the expression I use, probably too often. Or make a silk purse out of a pig’s ear – that’s a more user-friendly one. If you’ve got a good script, you’ve got the best foundations to build on. There’s not an awful lot of work around, so there’s the practical side.”

In what ways does this second series differ from the first?

“We’ve taken the successful elements from the first and applied them to the second. It’s going to be darker, a little bit dirty and mysterious.”

How involved do you get in the prosthetics, blood, gore and horror? Not much because Warren doesn’t ‘see’?

“Well…”

Oh, so that changes this series?

“He becomes more embroiled in that sort of thing. He’s not a proper supernatural ghost finder like the young ones but he has his moments.”

Have you had any supernatural experiences?

“In real life? I’m afraid not. I was thinking I should have just made one up.”

Are you a believer?

“I’m pretty agnostic about the whole thing. It would be foolish of me to say, no, it doesn’t exist, but then I’ve not experienced anything. I keep an open mind; if a ghost did want to present itself to me, then I’d be delighted, as long as it’s friendly.”

That brings us along nicely to the next question. Putting yourself in the position of actually being a ghost, who would you most like to haunt and why?

“I guess I’d like to hook up with people who have left, have a ghost party and then charter a ghost bus that could go through time. I’d imagine we’d go through the annals of history, maybe haunt the Last Supper perhaps. You could do anything.

“I did once stay in the wing of a building that housed Queen Elizabeth I and, apparently, she took her lovers there, but it wasn’t really scary, it was interesting. At one point, I convinced myself that I couldn’t open the door and then my trousers fell down – I think I might have had a few drinks though [laughs].”

What’s your biggest fear?

“Ill health – I’d hate to get ill.”

Do you try to keep fit and healthy?

“I play hard, but work hard and go to the gym all the time. I basically spend my time between the gym and the pub. The older you get, you get friends who become ill and you lose relatives. I’d hate, hate, hate that.”

What are you up to next? You did some directing last year.

“That was my short film, Mam. It’s done the rounds at various film festivals, from Mexico to Moscow, and picked up Best International Film at the Williamsburg Independent Film Festival in Brooklyn, which was lovely.”

> Buy the Series 1 DVD on Amazon.

> Order Series 2 on DVD on Amazon.

Watch the Series 2 trailer…

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