Entertainment
Greg Davies on his future in ‘silly’ comedy after taking on serious role in The Cleaner: ‘It was an interesting challenge’
Greg Davies writes and stars in the six part sitcom (Picture: BBC)
Greg Davies was happy to show off his more serious acting chops in his new dark comedy The Cleaner.
The Taskmaster host writes and stars in the six part series about ‘smart arse’ cleaner Paul ‘Wicky’ Wickstead, who wipes away what’s left behind at a crime scene or the scene of an accident.
Each episode focuses on a different case and the strange characters he encounters.
Greg, 53, is best known for his roles in madcap comedies such as The Inbetweeners, Cuckoo and Man Down – and it’s not something he’ll be ditching any time soon despite his new project.
Asked if The Cleaner signalled a departure into more dramatic roles, Greg confessed it ‘wasn’t a conscious move’ but was excited by the more straight man acting.
Speaking to Metro.co.uk and other press, he said: ‘I haven’t sat down and thought, “Oh enough of being silly.”
‘If anything I would say that my interpretation of this character, he’s a lot more, for want of more eloquent phrase, more smart arsed than the German one and more prone to trying to be funny as is my want.’
Greg plays crime scene cleaner Wicky (Picture: BBC)
However he added: ‘I certainly welcome the dramatic elements to it. I certainly found it exciting when in the more serious moments, it’s certainly an interesting challenge.
‘But I didn’t sit down and think, “I must become an actor, I must prove I’m an actor.”‘
The show is based on the long-running German comedy series Der Tatortreiniger (Crime Scene Cleaner) created by Ingrid Lausund.
Helena Bonham Carter plays a murderous wife (Picture: BBC)
The actor gets to play opposite guest stars such as Helena Bonham Carter, David Mitchell and Stephanie Cole.
Greg revealed each star ‘all had their own mischief’ but Helena topped the list – not that he would say why.
‘I simply cannot tell you about it,’ the comedian insisted.
‘You can ask her, see if she’s happy to tell you about it. Until I have her express permission I wouldn’t dare. But I laughed a lot.’
The Cleaner starts September 10 at 9.30pm on BBC One and all episodes will be available on BBC iPlayer at 10pm.
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