Anthology series Inside No.

9 returns for its third series tonight at 10pm on BBC Two.

We chatted to creators Pemberton and Shearsmith…

This article comes fromDen of Geek UK.

9is an ingenious antidote to bloated TV storytelling and convuluted multi-series arcs.

We spoke to creators Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith about the necessity of keepingInside No.

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How do you go about promoting a series likeInside No.

9and trying to entice more and more people to watch it while keeping its secrets?

Reece Shearsmith:It is hard because we really never want to talk about what happens.

Steve Pemberton:You wouldnt even say the tweaks, would you?

RS:I would just say there are six programmes, find them!

We always have this bugbear about films where on the poster it says the best twist ever!

you think, well, ruined because youre sat waiting for it.

RS:Or if there isnt one!

Then suddenly the twenty-nine and a half minutes counts for nothing and its just about the last thirty seconds.

The journey is everything, its not just the end.

Its a tricky thing.

We do try and have our cake and eat it.

How can you possibly, just from a photograph?

So there are some people who sort of want to spoil it for themselves.

Even trailers give little bits away.

I cant be responsible for that.

SP:I think all those things still apply.

People say do you want to change the format?

Well, there is no format really.

The one thing were very strict on is limited location, limited cast.

I know Im not because I dont have that time to give to it.

As a time-investment, shows like that ask a lot.

That must make it pretty infuriating to see people Tweet about your work while its airing, I imagine?

People watched it and nothing, then it started again afterwards.

I thought that was brilliant, that people are just watching it and not Tweeting along during it.

Maybe that was early days and its different now.

[laughs] If you look up you might not be writing that because you might be watching it!

Programmes encourage you to Tweet dont they?

Putting a hashtag up during the thing.

They try and get things being talked about.

I suppose its good to be talked about.

RS:It was lovely to see that.

SP:Very refreshing to see.

RS:An episode that doesnt have a twist would be in its own way surprising I guess now.

Not all of them are, but maybe for our sensibility it feels quite light-ish.

There isnt as much sort of deranged psychosis in there.

RS:Or the next one, no.

Did you simply scratch that itch in series two?

RS:I did.

I think Steve would still like to pursue it more.

SP:I was really on the fence about it.

RS:I felt like nothing got our full attention.

It was a lot of work, wasnt it, to juggle?

SP:It comes down to a choice really.

I know plenty of people do that.

We have a brilliant director, so why not use him to bring new things?

and it adds such an atmosphere.

We hadnt written it was a stormy night.

SP:No, just a night.

SP:…so why not have these other brilliant minds come into it as well?

RS:I think maybe we are sort of across it because weve written it and were in them.

and well say yes, exactly.

SP:So theyre puppets, is what youre saying!

RS:[nodding, deadpan] Theyre our puppets.

[Both laugh] Its great when people know better than you.

You dont just want to presume you know everything.

RS:Yeah, its lovely.

SP:Per week!

The geographical limitations you set yourself must throw up scripting problems.

Have there been any specific thorny scripting problems brought on by the single location limit?

Things like that are tricky to get over.

Like you say, its part of it.

Its like writing plays, theyre little plays really.

[Both laugh]

RS:No, we dont have that, do we?

SP:No, we just slog through dont we.

Maybe we should do a bit ofSuperman?

This thing aboutInside No.

9being both a comedy and a drama do you care what people call it?

Does either label bother you?

I dont know, people have different expectations?

We have to technically be in that but you cant compare it to a lot of other comedies.

RS:Of course, thats why well fall down at every hurdle.

SP:But it isnt falling down, because the work itself is what you do it for.

Its something were very proud of.

RS:Yeah, of course.

RS:[Almost simultaneously] Awards.

[Everyone laughs]

SP:Cant put an audience on your shelf!

RS:Every week.

Its sort of a silly thing because someones best is someones worst.

Its taste then, and peoples orders will always be different.

It means a lot to us.

Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton, thank you very much!

9 series three starts tonight at 10pm on BBC Two.