This interview contains spoilers for anyone not up-to-date with season three, episode eight ofThe Walking Dead.
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[Laughs] Its okay, its on the mend.
Presumably episode nine picks up immediately where number eight left off?
And youre returning from the mid-season break with the iconic eye-patch.
Does that signify the genesis of the comic book Governor?
He is someone whose humanity is closing down very rapidly and I think he will act on that.
But whats been great for me so far in the series is how its surprised people.
They both hate him and love him and they dont know where they are with him.
I dont think he will ever become, hopefully, totally evil.
Thats the difference between the two men.
Whats the Governors scope of ambition would you say?
Is he content with Woodbury, or does he want to expand the empire?
He doesnt want to bring anybody in whos going to be…
A threat?
Yeah, threatening his authority at all.
Im sure he regrets bringing Michonne in…
I dont know about that.
I dont know whether you are actually.
I think youre going to have to wait and see with that.
Theres a whole sense that thats what people want.
Theres a sense of what will that meeting be about?, what will be the outcome?
and do they even meet at all?
The main thing for me is that its definitely not going to be what people expect.
So were not looking at a big confrontation from the off as the posters have been teasing?
Itll be interesting [laughs], I think people will just have to wait and see with them.
No, not at all.
It didnt influence me in any way.
Your character calls Ricks group terrorists.
Is that how he sees them, or is that more rhetoric for his people?
No, thats definitely how he sees them, because thats what they are as far as hes concerned.
He has kind of a bread and circuses approach to Woodbury doesnt he?
Keeping the populace distracted with spectacle and security.
Would you compare him to any real-world political leaders?
He doesntdistracthis populace with security, you know, thatsit.
Youll be less safe with them, youll be poorer with them, youll be more unhappy with them.
You look at any of our leaders in the past and present and they do that all the time.
Hes new to power though…
Hes definitely new to power.
Are you playing a character who is playing a character then, would you say?
I dont think hes aware that hes playing a character.
Is this a natural place for him to inhabit, or an unnatural place for him to be?
Were finding that answer in the season.
I havent actually, because I dont really want to have that conversation.
But youre contracted for five years, so that shouldnt be an imminent threat?
Well you never know, I think the other thing aboutThe Walking Deadis that no-ones safe.
I think thats what gives the show its frisson.
How do changes upstairs ripple down to the set?
I really love the atmosphere of being down there on that set.
I would love to direct an episode, but just being part of it is great.
rumours, was there a part of you that would have loved them to be true?
Yeah, there was a bit.
Again, its a great show and I was slightly thrown by that.
Were you a fan ofDoctor Whogrowing up?
No, not at all.
No, I was really not, it was not my bag.
I was also slightly suspicious of people who were.
It was always on at the wrong time for me, I was always out playing football.
Ah, Id love that.
I would absolutely love to do it again.
I had such a ball doing it.
But also at the end hes full of joy so Id really jump at the chance to do that.
It comes from my work, which is okay.
Did you follow the fan reaction on Twitter?
Yeah, a little bit I did.
It was all very positive so I was very happy about that.
David Morrissey, thank you very much!
