With the offices of Buffy's spin-off show literally downstairs from Doug's own, it comes as no surprise that he has penned a few of the brooding vampire Angel's most enjoyable tales too. Given that there is a very different feel to the two series, however, switching between �Buffy mode� and �Angel mode� can take some effort.

�I do find it difficult but I find it very gratifying,� he admits. �I think that is a much more �film noir� style and some of us jump all over that and are great at it.

�I think I'm more comfortable in the world of Buffy. [But you can] then you have someone like Jane Espenson who can do Angel primarily when they do a light, comedic Angel - which occasionally they will do - she'll just write these very funny episodes of Angel.

�Angel is a very cool world and a very different world but it is a pretty big gear shift and I think some of us are better at it than others - but it's a great place to visit�.