Warning: this interview contains major plot spoilers forBeing Humanseries five.
What can you tell us about Captain Hatch that we can print?
He gets out of his wheelchair and he can start manipulating people.
Whats it like when your agent comes to you and says they want you for the devil?
Well, you feel honoured [laughs].
As a pretty bad guy in lots of the shows that Ive done its great to play the devil.
In the kind of show this is, its kind of hip and funny.
Hes quite an amusing fellow.
Whats his situation when we first meet him?
Well, hes been in this hotel for a hundred years.
He will rise thats what he says so he does.
So hes deliberately trying to drive a wedge between Hal and Tom?
Yes, to set them against each other.
But presumably we dont know hes the devil at the beginning?
When do we find out for definite?
Hes quite decrepit isnt he?
So theres a lot of physical transformation?
Does it take a while to get you ready to play Hatch in the morning?
Is this the worst of the bad characters youve played?
Its certainly up there with them, although hes so funny and amusing.
So he is quite amusing.
Why is this the particular time he rises?
Does he operate on his own, or does he have lackeys?
No hes on his own.
He doesnt need lackeys; hes the devil [laughs, devilishly].
Had you watchedBeing Humanbefore?
Are you in every episode of this series?
I go all the way through.
Theres more of me in the last episode than there is in the first.
Phil Davis…
Thats very flattering.
Does it come across when you get a script like this, that it feels tailored to you?
It was irresistible because it was so well-written and funny.
Hes a very acerbic character then?
Yes, very clever and very funny.
He kills people with a smile on his face, or persuades them to kill themselves.
Hes able to influence people?
Is that his only power at that point?
At that point, yes.
The words are his power.
Do we know whats got him in that state?
When you read it, was it immediately clear to you how you were going to play the role?
But this was pretty easy to get the hang of I think.
What was your biggest challenge in terms of this role compared to others youve done?
Did you base him on any cinematic devils?
No, not on any other character.
I dont do that really.
I dont think, oh it should be a combination of Michael Caine and Tommy Steele…
I just sort of try them out for myself.
This is a man in a wheelchair, all hunched up.
I thought the devil should be posh [laughs].
How do you wantBeing Humans viewers to react to him?
I want them to be laughing and then stop them dead.
Presumably, youre going to be a fixture in this as you cant really dispatch the devil?
Youd be up for it would you?
Is it something that you like to read and watch?
Not just blood and gore but actual psychological horror.
This is a curious show.
I dont think Ive ever seen a show like this, because it is very funny.
This seems like a happy set to work on?
Everybody says that but in this case it is actually true.
How did you experience onBeing Humancompare toDoctor WhoandMerlin?
It was obvious to me when I first read the script, it looked like a winner to me.
Was it weird to go back and do it again?
He was a friendly psychopath, a chirpy sort of psychopath.
What do you think about when youre deciding on a job?
I justfanciedthis, I really did, and I was delighted to be asked.
Phil Davis, thank you very much!
