LEE INGLEBY

1

My character is Paul, a father who is struggling to understand his autistic son, Joe, played by Max Vento. I knew a bit about the autistic spectrum because I once played a guy with Asperger’s. We have advisors on set from The National Autistic Society and other charities. I’ve also spoken to parents with kids on the spectrum.

2

The series is set in the Lake District and this week Paul and Joe (pictured) go camping at Bassenthwaite Lake with Joe’s uncle Eddie (Greg Mchugh) and grandfather Maurice (Christopher Eccleston). We arrived on a sunny day, but the next day it was bucketing down. We’d all put on big coats and huddle under a gazebo – except for Chris, who just embraced the rain and stayed in it.

3

We’re based around Keswick during filming and made use of nature on days off. I’m really into photography, so I’d head out to Honister Pass, a mountain pass, with my camera. I prefer street photography and people’s faces, but I enjoyed that environment.

4

Over the three series we’ve become like a family, although it split this year because Paul and Alison (Morven Christie) got divorced and Morven shot most of her scenes in Manchester. The rest of us in Keswick – me, Greg, Chris and Molly Wright, who plays Paul’s stepdaughter Rebecca – would go to country pubs at the weekend.

5

I’m an ambassador for The National Autistic Society. One of our actors, Travis Smith, who plays a man with autism who works at Paul’s pub, has autism and Asperger’s himself so he and I visited one of their schools for a Q&A about acting. I hope the show opens people’s eyes.

Tuesday, 9pm, BBC1