The star of ITV’S new psychological thriller reveals five secrets from the set

1 Sticks And Stones is written by Mike Bartlett and I think that like another of his shows, Doctor Foster, it will get people thinking and talking. I play salesman Thomas Benson, who makes a mess of a big sales pitch and then appears to suffer psychological bullying as a result. I drew on real-life experiences of bullying for the role – I suffered a lot at school. It was interesting how both cast and crew trod carefully in case they were accused of workplace bullying.

2 Thomas’s young daughter Millie is deaf, as is the actress who plays her, Daisy Boo Brandford, so I learned sign language for the role. I had a video on my laptop, and every time I had a break in filming I’d try to learn a little bit more. But I still wasn’t in remotely the same league as Daisy when it came to signing! 3 Thomas lives with Millie and his wife Jess in Reading. Mike Bartlett has set the drama there because he hails from that part of the world and says it’s a place that raises a laugh with audiences – a bigger one than places such as Slough, Manchester and Portsmouth.

4 We filmed in a modern but disused office block on a business estate in Hampshire. It was quite isolated, you felt cut off, which helped me because it’s what Thomas feels for large parts of the drama – adrift and isolated from those around him.

5 There are some tough scenes, where characters have big bust-ups. Thomas is involved in a particularly ferocious one – after filming it, the actor I’d been playing opposite wanted a selfie with me to show we were still friends!

Ken as Thomas, with his wife Jess (Alexandra Roach)