Being Human series five is nearly upon us, and there’s a special preview feature in the the new issue of SFX , on sale today (9 January). Warning: medium level spoilers ahead.
Before the role was cast, show creator Toby Whithouse was having trouble finding Captain Hatch’s “voice”. Then he pictured Phil Davis (whom he’d previously worked with on 2007 sitcom pilot Other People ) in the role, and suddenly it all fell into place. So it’s no wonder the actor found the role a comfortable fit.
“It’s like slipping into a pair of shoes,” explains Davis. “Sometimes they fit immediately, and sometimes you have to wiggle your toes a bit. But this was pretty easy to get the hang of. It was irresistible, because it’s so well-written. He’s very clever and very funny. He kills people with a smile on his face – or persuades them to kill themselves. I want the audience to enjoy his evil and be scared of him at the same time. I want them to be laughing and then stopping dead.”
“It’s a brilliant performance,” Whithouse enthuses, “imbued with such presence and danger, and that effortless evil that Phil does so well. I wrote it, but I’m genuinely chilled by some of the stuff he does. And he’s not afraid of making himself look ghastly. Hatch goes through a transformation as we get towards the end, but up until that point Phil was happy to make himself look utterly rancid!”
When we first meet Hatch, rotting away in that filthy room, he’s in a terrible state.
“I’m one of those rare actors who comes out of make-up looking far worse than when he went in!” Davis jokes. “They blacken my teeth, paint veins on my forehead and put earwax dripping out of my ears – it’s a pretty disgusting sight. He’s described as ‘a little angry fist of a man’ to start with, but as he gets more powerful, he becomes more relaxed and urbane. ”
The feature also includes Toby Whithouse’s own guide to each episode. To see the rest you’ll need to buy the issue but here’s what he has to say about episode six:
Episode Six
Writer: Toby Whithouse
“This one has cameos from two guests from last year… no, Mitchell isn’t coming back, because he’s dead. And so are George and Nina! We’re not only told what Captain Hatch’s plan is but we see it played out, in some of the biggest setpieces we’ve ever done. And the end will leave you guessing. There will be much discussion about the end…”
Buy the new issue of SFX
• Being Human Series 5 Synopsis Revealed
• Being Human Series 5: First Footage
• Being Human Series 5: Who Is Phil Davis Playing?
