Pictured: Steve (David Gyasi) and Adam (Julian Morris)

What attracted you to Man In An Orange Shirt?
It felt like a narrative I hadn’t seen before, certainly on TV. The themes that were addressed may be out there, but I hadn’t seen them and that made me feel like this was a story worth exploring and trying to do justice to.

Tell us about Steve
Steve is really interesting; of all the characters I have played he is the most similar to me. Literally the only difference is our sexuality. In terms of what he believes - in terms of a relationship being a commitment, and the attempt for it to be a lifelong commitment - we’re very similar. He seems to be someone who looks for the good in people - I can see that and I certainly try to do that. And he seems to be able to cut through all of the white noise of the facades that we put up and say, "this is who you are and this is who I believe in”.

Steve’s an architect. Adam (Julian Morris) becomes a client of his and - without giving too much away - then presents Steve with an amazing opportunity that’s the most exciting blank canvas. This is the point in Steve’s life where the stars align: Adam not only appeals to him as a client, but as a person he really appeals to where Steve’s at in his life.

Tell us more about Adam and Steve’s relationship
Steve meets Adam and there is an intrigue from both sides, I think. Certainly from Steve there is an intrigue where he wants to cut through this kind of ‘wall’ that Adam has put up emotionally. I think Steve really wants to check out if his instinct is right about Adam, and they begin a relationship. But that doesn’t come without its bumps in the road, shall we say. They meet, they fall in love - but love for them is something that is precious and is kind of mysterious. They have to approach it gently.

What do you hope viewers will get from Man In An Orange Shirt?
I hope that there will be more of an empathetic response to love in all of its guises and shapes and forms. I think in our world - in our sort of media bubble - that already exists, but there are different corners of our society where that doesn’t exist, and so hopefully that will be challenged by this series. Julian’s character portrays the plight of someone who is - it seems crazy to say - but someone who is coming to terms with his sexuality and how society might view that. I think there is a lot for us as a society that we can look into, there is a lot that we can learn from that.