Interview with Peter Bowles

What made you want to take up the role?
The script. It was ground-breaking for me. I loved the part, that’s really it!

How did you find the filming process, given the unique nature of the format?
It was new. Every actor likes a close-up and for every shot to be a close-up was great! But not to be talking to another actor was very interesting, you can’t react. Some of the best acting is reacting and you couldn’t do that here. The thing is, partly because of my age, but the most challenging thing was not letting myself down by muffing the lines, which luckily I didn’t. It’s quite a responsibility.

Who is Greville Cotterall?
He is an Earl, the Earl of Monmouth. It was an incredible house near Edinburgh.

How is his relationship with his son, Dominic?
His motto, in Latin, means not to be frightened. Something happens to the boy when he is 10, something at school and I have to remove him from there. I decide to teach him a lesson and frighten him. It destroys the boy’s life and as the episode unravels, it shows how I destroyed the boy’s life.

Why is he so determined to silence Bryony?
People are saying things about my son and his behaviour, as he is taking drugs and drinking too much. He’s of an upper class, a higher standing, who doesn’t want anything to be questioned about his family and doesn’t want anything to do with the police.

How do you think the audience will react to the format?
I really hope they enjoy it. Once you get into something of this format, you really get into it. It’s different but because the writing is so superb, it doesn’t let you down, it draws you in.