Liar’s Ioan Gruffudd was worried about rape scene

TV DRAMA Liar’s Ioan Gruffudd found its rape scene so distressing he made sure co-star Joanne Froggatt’s husband was OK with it before it was filmed.

The Welsh actor, who plays depraved doctor Andrew Earlham in ITV’s hit psychological thriller, met up with James Cannon because he was worried about how harrowing it was.

But despite the scene’s graphic nature, Ioan, 44, who first found fame in the title role of ITV’s Horatio Hornblower series, has insisted the show has been “controversial yet relevant”.

He said he researched the issue of rape to make sure it was portrayed sensitively. “I spoke at length with a forensic psychologist who works with both victims and perpetrators,” he told The Mirror’s Weekend magazine. “It was a shocking eye-opener.” Ioan, in his first villainous role, plays a surgeon accused of rape after attacking teacher Laura Neilson, played by Joanne, 37, on a date.

Earlham claims it was consensual. The plot develops and it emerges he is a manipulative predatory rapist who drugs and films his victims.

As the final episode of the series reached its nail-biting climax earlier this month, viewers were left reeling at the discovery of Andrew’s murdered body.

But if fans had thought that was the end of it, they were wrong.

Much to their delight, ITV has announced a second series will begin filming in January 2019 and will focus on who murdered the doctor.

It will see the return of former Downton Abbey star Joanne as well as Ioan.