You have been in some of the most critically-acclaimed TV dramas of recent years. Do you have a gut instinct when it comes to a script you are sent? What did your gut tell you about This City is Ours?

I knew I wanted to be in it straight away. I can honestly say it’s been an honour, and I’m not using that word lightly. I felt privileged to be offered a part in something that I really wanted to be a part of. And I really wanted to do it justice.

It’s got everything - loyalty, friendship, shock value, and the surprising key theme throughout of real love all set against a very real crime world.

I play Michael Kavanagh, who works for and with drug lord Ronnie Phelan, played by Sean Bean. They are life-long friends, but for the first time in his life, Michael falls in love – it’s never happened to him before now and that leads to him thinking about a crime-free future.

The dilemma is a life-changing one, whether he will he take over from Ronnie or not. Ronnie is hinting about retiring, and his son Jamie (Jack McMullen) wants the crown. There is a power struggle between Michael and Jamie, who have their own distinct plans. Real conflict.

You’ve played a number of unlikeable characters – violent men with no saving graces. Is Michael Kavanagh, despite being a hard man, a departure from these out and out villains?

Some of the people I have played are out and out nasty characters, but Michael has so many layers.

The complex character of Michael is someone I knew I could work on. I think viewers will like him and probably feel guilty about it after some of the things he has done.

He’s fallen in love for the first time, and he likes it. He wants it to work and needs it to work.

The truth is he wants to change, and the driving force is that he can see the bigger picture with a better life, but he has to weigh up the pros and the cons.

You say you enjoy surprising people, and that playing nasty characters is the flip side of you. Friends and colleagues say you are not remotely like some of the people you have played – is that accurate?

Yeah, I am the complete opposite. You won’t find a more sensitive person than me – so that’s a compliment when people meet me out and about and expect to see this horrible person.

It is proof that I am hopefully doing a decent job in playing characters, sometimes so far removed from me - an actor from Liverpool.

I do enjoy seeing people’s reaction when they expect to see this hard man in front of them.

I often go out walking down the street with my two little chihuahua dogs and people stop me and say hello. I really am one of the nicest people you could ever meet.

What was it about this drama that ticked your boxes? Was there any special elements that sold it to you?

I like cliffhangers – I want to be kept in anticipation. When we were discussing scripts with fellow cast members, it was always the same with all of us – we were all wondering what would happen next. A guessing game between us all.

We would predict scenes, but we were often way out with the story’s twists and turns. That’s bound to be good for viewers. After all, we are in it, and if we didn’t know what was coming next, then the audience certainly won’t. We would sit there, shake our heads, smile, and say at the same time, ‘Well, we didn’t see that coming.’

Are there aspects of Michael in your personality. Anything that you tapped into?

I am someone who learns by his mistakes and then acts upon it. We all make wrong decisions, and there are times when you have to rely on instinct.

I’m able to deal with embarrassments and laugh at myself – we all need that. We all need to put things and situations in perspective.

Michael has to make the biggest decision of his life and he knows the repercussions - he knows he could sink or swim. What could be this massive security could also be a liability. He is focused, and I have become focussed over the years with the help of a lot of people.

Michael’s resounding gamble in his life is turning his back on crime. Are you a risk taker?

I took risks at school that led me to where I am now. I wanted to impress my school teacher, and it worked out because she encouraged me to do drama. I could be myself in acting.

I remember doing a monologue about someone losing their dog. I grew in confidence and that confidence helped me at the Italia Conti drama school in London, which was good for me and opened many doors.

Do you believe in fate - is your destiny mapped out for you?

It’s all about being in the right place at the right time. Meeting inspirational people has without doubt inspired me along the way.

It was tough at the start of my acting career because I had to find the money to attend auditions. I did a lot of those – you keep at it. I have known Jack McMullen, who plays Jamie, for more than 10 years. He knows all about that side of acting, too.

We first met when we started a football team on Whatsapp for actors and musicians who were out of work. It was an 11-a-side team for friendly matches - so we had plenty of players.

It’s so good to look back on those days, two Scouse actors in London, and to see where we are now.

Everyone has praised the scripts. Are you a fan of your fellow Liverpudlian, Stephen Butchard

Stephen knows what he wants from his characters and what he wants them to do. Our craft is to convey that. He writes so well on any subject - you can see early on what shapes the characters.

What motivates these people actually motivates Stephen to produce first-class scripts. Quality runs throughout his pages.

Liverpool is renowned for a breadth of creative talent from writers to actors, directors and producers. Has it played a big part in your success to date?

It’s the best city in the world, and it is home.

Growing up I admired Jamie Carragher, and I wanted to be Liverpool FC captain. And there are actors like Stephen Graham, who is one of those people I look up to in life. He is all about encouragement. Stephen likes to pass on advice. He is a massive inspiration and I have been fortunate to work with him. He told me once that he’s always just a phone call away.

I know he’ll watch and support This City is Ours, and I look forward to hearing what he thinks about it. I want viewers to join us from episode one and stay with us. It will be worth the ride.