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TV Quickfire: Jane Horrocks on the return of medical comedy drama Bloods

Bloods: Samson Kayo as Maleek and Jane Horrocks as Wendy
Bloods: Samson Kayo as Maleek and Jane Horrocks as Wendy

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM BLOODS SERIES TWO?

WENDY and Maleek (Samson Kayo) have a massive challenge. It will be interesting to know where the audience learns and whether Wendy has done the right thing. Whether she's let her partner down, or whether she's actually done what is ethically right. But then their friendship is still as solid as ever. It goes through highs and lows and so it has become more like a comedy drama actually.

They are just like the other half of each other really – a complete partnership, even though they kind of drive each other mad. I know that Maleek is still very irritated by Wendy and her old lady ways. But in the end, he feels very comfortable with her.

WHAT'S IT LIKE WORKING WITH CO-STAR AND SERIES CREATOR SAMSON KAYO?

It was quite interesting actually, because us as actors, Samson and Jane, when we were acting with other people, it's like we pined for each other. And we couldn't wait to get back to doing scenes together. It really works as a relationship on and off screen and it's developed in a really beautiful way, actually. I love working with Samson. He's just so easy and fun. He's very different from other actors that I've worked with…

IN WHAT WAY?

He's not precious about anything, he just allows it to happen, I think, because of the way he got into acting. He just joined a queue, a casting queue, and tried his luck and actually got the part. So I think that's the way Samson operates and he's just really zen and laid back to work with. It's brilliant.

IS IT HARD TO KEEP YOUR COMPOSURE?

In the first series, we were appalling, actually. Corpsing and wasting a lot of filming time by being rather foolish. We just laugh at the same sort of things; we're quite childish both of us. There are scenes where I think, "oh, gosh, that's a danger zone"; where I look at a scene and I think, "oh, it's gonna be really hard for me to get through that one". And I just start to think "I'm not going to discuss that with Samson". I'm not going to say "this is going to be hard" because it'll be even harder then.

THIS SERIES ALSO TACKLES SOME SERIOUS SUBJECTS TOO...

There's such serious elements about mental health and what's ethically right in the paramedic world. There are quite a lot of dramatic moments in it, but also some really good fun moments. I mean, Wendy's son is also part of the series, he came in towards the end of the first series, and he plays a big part in the second series – and he's very annoying. But he's played by Nathan Foad and he's brilliant, absolutely brilliant as Wendy's son and very much rises to the challenge.

WOULD YOU DO A THIRD SERIES?

I'm so pleased that there may be talk of more, hopefully. She's such a positive human being. She makes me feel good about me. And I think it's made me really shy away from miserable characters even more as a result of playing Wendy. I come home without any issues and I can keep her with me, but it is in a really healthy way – whereas previous characters that I've played, sometimes when they stay with you, it's not that healthy, and it's not not that great for you. So yeah, I really do have a sentimental attachment to her. I think she's lovely.

:: Bloods season 2 starts March 16 on Sky Comedy and streaming service NOW.