ON SET WITH...

Channel 4 Robert, 44, stars in new

Show co-star comedy Back, with Peep his foster

David Mitchell playing us behind the brother. Here he takes was shot at scenes on the show, which

Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire and on location in Gloucestershire…

5 MONDAY

In Back I play Andrew, the estranged foster brother of David’s character Stephen, who’s come back into his life. It’s not clear what kind of person Andrew really is. He can be very charming, but does he have an evil streak running through him and a determination to make Stephen’s life miserable? Today we’re filming at Pinewood Studios, where the interior of Stephen’s pub, The John Barleycorn, has been created. It’s familiar territory – we filmed a lot of our sketch show That Mitchell And Webb Look here.

6 TUESDAY

I’m filming more scenes with David today. I’ve known him since our days at university, but this is the first time we’ve acted together in ages. We’ve worked together so much, it’s new to us to have had the chance to miss one another – and we have done. Back in 2006 we filmed Peep Show, the first series of That Mitchell And Webb Look and a movie called Magicians, did a 43-date tour and TV ads for Apple… we were hardly out of each other’s sight and we got on each other’s nerves. Not now though.

7 WEDNESDAY

Today’s scenes with David are being filmed in a house not far from Pinewood that doubles as Stephen’s former family home (right). Great attention has been paid to detail – there’s even a picture of Stephen on his wedding day to ex-wife Alison, played by the wonderful Olivia Poulet.

8 THURSDAY

We’re back at Pinewood today and there are rumours that the studio next door is being used to film the latest Star Wars movie. They certainly have some very flash catering being delivered, better than ours. We’re experiencing a brief heatwave and filming conditions are uncomfortable, although it’s the nature of the work to be either too hot or too cold when you’re in costume. But we mustn’t grumble as we’re finished by late afternoon. Some of our co-stars are having to carry on until midnight because they’re filming scenes set after dark.

9 FRIDAY

Flashback scenes today with younger versions of myself and David. The actors playing us are charming young men and mine actually looks a bit like I did when I was younger. Then more scenes in the pub, which comes complete with kitchen, bar, office and not forgetting the ill-advised pine furniture Stephen’s introduced as part of a refurbishment that hasn’t proved popular. Simon Blackwell’s scripts are terrific and if we’ve done them justice Back will be a great show. We just hope viewers give it a chance and don’t just say, ‘It’s not as good as Peep Show, is it?’