Q&A with Hugh Dennis who plays Alan Richardson

Why should people watch series two? 

It's great fun to film and watch because it's a sexy thriller with an engrossing thread. Series one had many storylines, and I was an outlier, but series two moves the story forward with new couples and protagonists, making it a great watch. At the end of series one, I'm aware of being prosecuted, and in series two, I'm on community payback for being a Peeping Tom and breaking into someone's house. When you first see me in series two, I'm wearing the characteristic day-glo jacket of someone on community payback.

Tell us about your character arc. 

My character arc is about redemption. I've seen the error of my ways and hope to turn out differently than expected. I've done my time for the crimes committed in the first series, but I'm still in the cul-de-sac with new neighbours. I'm good at noticing things and become aware of one new neighbour, wondering what's going on in her life.

How does it feel being the one (main) character who has come back for S2? 

It's flattering that the character works in series one, and I enjoyed it. It's very different for me because I don't smile at any point in the first series, which is opposite to my usual roles. Filming in Belgium and Holland, pretending to be Leeds, is odd because Belgium doesn't look much like Leeds. However, it's great to experience a different country and way of life.

How is your character linked / or how does he become linked to the new characters we meet on the cul-de-sac?

I'm connected to them basically because I live in the same cul-de-sac. I'm connected to Mia because she befriends me and sees me as a human being, inviting me for tea while picking up litter outside her house. Charlotte, I know through her dad, Henry, who is slipping into dementia and is nice to me, possibly because he doesn't know what I've done. They are my two friends in the cul-de-sac, and I rely on them as I'm lonely and regretful.

What have been your favourite scenes to film so far? 

Well, I think my favourite scene is a fighting scene where I can unleash an internal rage but I don’t want to reveal too much.

What have been your least favourite and/or the most challenging scenes to film? 

I’m in the street litter picking but it’s quite cold and filming went on for hours and hours. So it's not running through a burning building or anything… it's just sweeping leaves in the street!