For a first film, thats quite a project to be a part of.
Has it, as your first film, whetted your appetite in any way to do any more?
And one part in a film for someone at university.
I enjoyed it so much.
Its such a fun process the way that we make those shows and that film.
And theyre very different from any other kind of acting.
But since then I have, sort of, experienced other things.
Ive been put in a small part in the new series ofSkins.
Its just the most fun.
I love stand-up, obviously.
Thats my first love and thats my, you know, who I am.
Yeah, definitely whetted my appetite for doing more.
Out of interest, what did you bring to the role of the Angel Gabriel?
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Well, I looked tremendous in a pink halo.
No, I think I remember that it was pink.
It was a sort of cerise sort of silk?
It was weird
Would you consider writing a film?
Is that something that would interest you?
Or if somebody asked me to.
It would have to be the right project and the right way of doing it.
But, yeah Id love to.
So, yeah, I would like to write something.
But I dont know what it would be yet.
Incredibly long, yeah.
Thats always happened thats always happened withThe Thick Of Itas well.
It happened more with the film.
Theres no point at which the script is absolutely nailed down.
Quite often whenever things are made theyre so precise theres less room for manoeuvre and for changes.
Hes the Keeper of The Vision, kind of.
Hes specifically chosen people in the cast who can think on their feet and who can improvise.
Because there are a big pool of people thinking all the time about how this can work best.
The words Thats good enough.
Yeah, theyre terrible.
Is that something youve taken from working with him [Armando Iannucci]?
Or has that been with you since the Angel Gabriel days?
[Laughs] I think I hope its something thats in me.
Its something I have to fight against in me.
Ive definitely taken that from Armando.
If that doesnt look right, how should it look right?
How do I change it?
But with Armando its everything that hes looking at, at the same time.
Is that a genuine worry, if you like?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Hes an incredible editor.
So you just dont know.
You just dont know whats going to be in and whats not going to be in it.
Oh, thats a shame that didnt make it.
But very quickly your memory of it becomes the show itself.
I remember when they released the DVD ofThick Of Itspecials a couple of months ago.
People are… its a funny thing.
Thats the terrifying bit.
So, they were used to that by then.
We were used to them and working with them and improv-ing with them.
We shot that just off Parliament Square.
We had to stop because there was the sound of the band of the Coldstream Guards marching past.
Thats not really an English thing, but it was like a postcard passing by.
Not just the cast, but the crew as well.
Its the same director of photography, the same sound designer.
Its the same wardrobe.
Its people we know.
Weve been together for years.
But they were brilliant.
The thing about the Americans, they were all absolutely brilliant at that.
Gandolfini is a master at it.
Zach Woods, who plays Chad, who theres not nearly enough of, is utterly brilliant.
I cant possibly do it.
And a couple of days in they think, Oh, right.
I get this now.
By the end, theyre going, This is wonderful.
just can we do it again?
Why cant I do everything like this?
And is it easy to slip back to Ollie now?
Now youre working on the newThick Of Itstill?
When we first met Ollie it was four years ago.
Well, by the time the show goes out, almost four-and-a-half years ago.
But I always felt Toby was like Ollie but with a bit more… a bit nastier.
Yeah, he wasnt a nice character, was he?
No, hes highly unpleasant, Toby.
Yeah, its funny going back to him.
Do you know what?
Well have to see.
So, thats my job for the autumn is writing that show.
So, well see.
Yeah, itll be intriguing.
Im interested and terrified in equal measure to see what comes out.
Was itreallyjust as awe-inspiring as it appeared from our side of the screen?
It was quite awe-inspiring.
Hes got some glow about him.
Apart from the tour, is there anything else youre up to next?
Are you doing more TV?
Well, the autumn is the tour writing and then its the tour.
Chris Addison, thank you very much!
In The Loop is on DVD and Blu-ray now.
