(Continued...)

Aside from the A-list stars who make cameos, this season has more of Barry from EastEnders playing a tragic version of himself—of an actor who once had some fame and success, but is now having trouble finding work. It seems this role is resurrecting him. You and Ricky are pulling a British version of Tarantino, plucking has-beens from the scrap heap. Is Barry grateful?

Well, I don't think he was on the scrap heap. That would be a bit harsh. It's really just nice to find someone who's talented and a bit overlooked. If there's any justice he'd be given a sitcom of his own and he'd be the star. But he's a good example of the weird, fickle nature of the business. It's like you say, he's considered a has-been, where actually, he's great, and he's just waiting there to be given something to do really.

Do you plan on lifting up other has-beens in the future?
Again, I'm reluctant to use the word has-been. It's so harsh, it's like saying that once you've stopped being on tele, life stops.

I can't think of a more polite word.
Maybe sort of, Missing in Action. Well, who is there? I remain a big Chevy Chase fan. He's deeply underrated. I read recently that he'd done an appearance on Law and Order.

Let's say you had Chevy Chase on in the next season, how might you craft his character?
The thing is, I think it would be more interesting to do what Tarantino did and not have them play themselves, and just give them a great role that shows why they were good in the first place. Like Pam Grier in Jackie Brown. I'd like to have Chevy Chase play a wiseass boss. I think he's at his best when he's a cynical wiseass. Like the newspaperman character in Fletch.

Is Ricky as annoying in real life as people say he is?
Actually, he's not as irritating as he used to be. But he will do things like follow a mate around London for blocks, like a stalker. Or, if he finds out a friend is having a haircut, he'll go to the barber and just sit there watching, making suggestions and such. Stuff like that. It's like Peter Cook as the devil in Bedazzled, when he's picking up LP's in the record shop and just scratching them up. Dudley Moore says, "What are you doing?" And Cook says, "Eh, just routine mischief." And I think that's how Ricky sees it. And friends like it. I think there's something quite enjoyable about having the undivided attention of someone as well known and much loved as Ricky.

Last month (mid-December) you upstaged Ricky at the British Comedy Awards and won the best actor prize for your role in Extras. Was Ricky jealous? He seems much more thirsty for the limelight than you.
No, he wasn't jealous. He was happy I won it, and I was pleased to be acknowledged as a performer because I'd always had one eye on doing some performing.

Could it be the beginning of a more high-profile career?
I do enjoy performing, but I don't think I would ever chase the high-profile gigs at the expense of what I really enjoy: creating and crafting the whole show, particularly with Ricky. I'd like to think of it as a nice sideline.

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