No, I have done some before. I did a thing called Andra in Australia a few years ago which was genuinely terrible.

Essentially it's a case of Rygel being in many ways the most human of the characters, although he's a Hynerian and only 2 foot 8 or whatever. He is a commentary on humanity I guess.

Because he is free to be an alien, he can be greedy and selfish and generous and heroic, and all those things that all of us are if we get in the right position. So in many ways, because he is so flawed and in many ways so great, I guess he is an archetypal human being. And I love him, he's a sweet little guy.

What were your favourite aspects of Rygel's character?

I like it when he bites people, and when he farts helium.

But I love the way he is like humanity unmasked. He's capable of greatness and capable of incredible selfishness, and yet capable of real sacrifice when needed. The great thing, for all this, when he was actually in trouble in the series, the other characters came and rescued him when he was being abducted. All those characters on the ship, while they are the best of enemies, they are really bonded and very loyal to each other.

It's been more than just a job. And we've had some great writing on it too, which helps enormously.