One of the most despicable characters on television makes an unexpected return to our screen tonight.
ITV drama, Liar, saw Ioan Gruffud play Andrew Earlham, a charming doctor who viewers couldn’t quite believe was a monster.
After last series’ finale it’s a surprise to see the Welsh actor, famed for his role as Hornblower, return to the role.
“Having all been blown away by the response to the first series we were thrilled there was an appetite to make the second series,” he explained.
“But with every second season of anything, especially so great and impactful as Liar, there is always that fear it might not be on the same level and people might not respond the same way.
“You have to bring all of the elements you have at your disposal as an actor to humanise this person. Even though he is an abhorrent human being.
“Just to find a way of justifying those actions, from his point of view, and making them believable. I thought it was important that we empathise with him in some perverse way.
“In the first series people didn’t want to believe that Andrew could possibly have done these things. Even though they saw it with their own eyes. That’s the power of a person like him.”
The role led to some interesting conversations with fans of the first series, according to Fantastic Four star Ioan.
“I’ve had some incredible encounters including with women who are distraught and disgusted by Andrew,” he said. “But at the same time, they had fallen for his charm on screen.
“And they were totally conflicted. They told me, ‘Your character did terrible things to those women. But I couldn’t stop watching Andrew.’ The impact it had was what we had intended with that character.
“We were all thrilled with the way Liar resonated with the audience.”
Liar won plaudits from critics for its thrilling twists and turns, but for Ioan that’s not the only draw of the series.
“I think anything that is thrilling and entertaining to watch but also has some underlying conversation or message about it is the perfect mix,” he added.
“It has more to it than just being a thriller. But it’s something you don’t necessarily notice at first as a viewer because it’s not going, ‘This is what you should think about this and this.’ It is asking the viewer to make their own mind up.
“It’s exciting, it’s going to surprise people, make them jump and produce all sorts of emotions.”
Liar returns tonight, ITV, 9pm
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