“We’re best friends in real life!”

Guy reveals the secret behind his on-screen chemistry with co-star Paul…

When we chat, Guy has a cold and needs a real doctor – but he’s still happy to wax lyrical about his cast mate Paul Mcgann, aka Gaskell!

Did you know from the start what was planned for Hanssen and Gaskell?

No – we were given the idea that he wasn’t going to be a goody, but I don’t think we realised how dark it would be. I was at the chemist in Tooting the other day, and Jo from behind the counter said, “It’s been riveting – like something out of a horror film”!

What can you tell us about the location for their final showdown?

Well, let’s just say that Paul was up to his nadgers in water – and I was up to mine in duck poo! We filmed it in the height of the summer, and it was genuinely exciting to do some real emotional stuff with Paul, as he and I were at drama school together nearly 40 years ago.

Did Holby chiefs know that when they cast Paul for this story?

No! We were best friends and in the same term at RADA. I absolutely adored him – he would come home with me to my parents’ house at the weekend and we would drink all of my father’s whisky!

In a sense, there was no acting required for this story. Well, apart from the murdering aspect. Paul is a perfectly nice gentleman and has never behaved as dastardly as Gaskell has – not that I’m aware, anyway. And if I was, I would deny it, of course!

What did you think of the actors who were cast to play your young selves in the flashback episode?

I thought the lad who played me [Harley Viveash] was really wonderful. I thought it was quite interesting that

Hanssen was the one smoking and drinking vodka – and that he was the naughty one. The bosses must have taken inspiration from me!