Interview with Aidan Gillen

What attracted you to this role?

I liked the tone of the script - I like a bit of darkness, I have to say, especially when it's imposed upon a seemingly peaceful, sleepy town. I always saw it as a twisted cousin of Midsomer Murders, with some very shady laughs. I was also interested in the type of dysfunctional parent/child relationship that was there for exploring. And working in such a good ensemble cast.

Can you tell us about your character Everett Newcombe?

Everett is a single father, living like a squatter in his own respectable semi-detached. He doesn’t seem to do anything for a living. He’s louche, sexy, scruffy, and has a good yet cruel sense of humour when he can be bothered. 

Would you say he’s seen as a bit of a loner or recluse, or just secretive?

He's seen as all of those things, by those who could be bothered, because he kind of is. Or maybe "private" would be another way of putting it. He'd definitely play into all that valley of the squinting windows type behaviour that can go on sometimes in small towns because it'd tickle him. At the root of all this, is, of course, a genuinely bruised human, dealing with it all the wrong way. 

What is his relationship like with his son Linus (played by Max Fowler), and how is their home life?

That relationship would be best classed as competitive. Linus is really more like the grown up one most of the time. Everett’s reverted to teenage-hood himself, while Linus wants to break out of it. But the teenage dad cramping his style isn't helping. They love each other though. 

Do you think Linus just wants to be close to his father? 

Linus just wants to be close to a father, a parent, having lost his mother young and all that.  He wants to know what's on his dad's back, and what happened to what was once an okay working dynamic family. Linus wants to get on with his life and be able to enjoy himself with his girlfriend (Caitlin played by Leila Mimmack).

How does Everett react to Hattie’s disappearance?

Indifference. Kids run off. He knows she's bright and probably bored. He sees it as she'd be showing some spirit in trying to get away from life in a town like this, which can be stifling.

How would you say Everett is perceived in the community and by Fiona in particular?

Everett is seen as an outsider, a non-team player, a cynic who does not hold his departed wife's memory dearly, and a lazy drinker who's probably up to no good.