Sean Astin, known to moviegoers as the sturdy Hobbit sidekick Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings has just directed his first ever episode of Angel.

Astin makes his debut with series four's Soulless. The job came about through his connection with former Angel executive producer David Greenwalt.

"I expressed to David when I got back from Lord of the Rings my fervent desire to be directing episodic television. I said that I'd love to do an episode of Angel, and he said, 'Well, you have to come out and get to know everybody, see if they're comfortable with you.'"

Astin shadowed Greenwalt and fellow Angel executive producer Tim Minear for a couple of weeks last season, after swotting up by watching several episodes.

When the directing nod came this season, Astin says, "I just felt it was my job not to drive the wagon off the trail while I had the reins in my hand. I was mindful of it every second. I want my association with the show to only benefit the show. I feel so protective over it."