Count Arthur Strong creator and star Steve Delaney, and co-writer and director Graham Linehan, talk about the sitcom returning to television for a third series...

The last series ended with Count Arthur flying to the US. How do you think the Americans would cope with his madcap ways?

Graham: We weren't able to figure out the answer to that question so we just pretended it hadn't happened! We thought we'd figure it out and write something as we go along. The only thing that came close to it was we had an idea of Arthur being one of the people who sits in to replace celebrities at awards shows and he turns up to pick up an award. Unfortunately Seinfeld did exactly the same plot so we had to chuck that one.

In what way is this new series different from the last?

Steve: I would say our remit is the same. We're trying to make brilliant episodes for every series.

There is a new regular character in Series 3. Tell us a little about Birdie, played by Bronagh Gallagher?

Graham: Birdie is a homeless person who is coming into the café for the same reasons as everyone else, for a bit of warmth. We're always looking for a replacement for the wonderful Katya (Ruth Posner) from Series 1 and Birdie was the one.

Graham, how has your writing relationship with Steve evolved over the past three series?

Graham: It's stayed the same really. We work apart at first and write separate drafts that bring it on a certain amount but then when we get together and Arthur starts speaking, the final draft is where we really start having some fun.

How is the character of Arthur evolving with each series?

Steve: He's pretty much fully evolved. Arthur straddles all mediums. Live, Radio, and the TV. It would be confusing for the people watching and listening if he was changing, morphing into something else.

For me what works, what interests me about Arthur, is how someone so defined will react in different situations. Arthur's starting point at the beginning of each episode is always the same. He's simply himself!

Is it becoming harder to dream up the bizarre schemes Arthur finds himself embroiled in?

Graham: It's a long process and it starts off slow and then as we work together, we talk, the ideas start to tumble in. It's always difficult at the start but once we get into it, Arthur's voice starts taking over and suddenly it just starts working.

The characters feel like they've become a family - was that intentional or something that's happened organically?

Steve: Well it was the intention yes, but that original idea has developed organically. Both the actors and the characters they play have meshed. I think we all genuinely like and enjoy working with each other and that's possibly something of a rarity in a television sitcom?

How did it feel when you heard the TV series was voted fourth in the Radio Times Best Sitcoms of the 21st Century poll?

Steve: It was flattering. A little more flattering than coming fifth. But not as flattering as coming third. I'm generally a little bit wary of things people vote for. Donald Trump being an example of how wrong all that can go.

The Count has a huge and ever growing fan-base. Steve, do you find yourself getting recognised in public?

Steve: I'm occasionally recognised as Arthur. But not often. Frankly I'm a bit miffed when people recognise me. I mean, in my head I'm still a virile young man with his whole life ahead of him. Either way, it's not something that I particularly seek. I think I'd rather come and go as I please. Like Greta Garbo!

We hear you make a cameo in the new series Graham. What should eagle eyed viewers look out for?

Graham: Only because it was too difficult to find someone to do this one line. That's usually the reason I do cameos. It's too hard to cast them so I just popped in. It's always embarrassing but I think we got away with it. It's a necessary evil let me put it that way. I've done a cameo in nearly everything I've done, I'm often to be seen unfortunately!

Who would be Arthur's dream dinner party guests?

Steve: Brian Blessed, Geoffrey Boycott, Anita Harris, Mike Brewer and Ed China (off Wheeler Dealers), and Laurence Olivier (if he isn't dead).

What's your all-time favourite malapropism of Arthur's?

Graham: From the new series, when Arthur is talking about religious cults, he says: "they're very influential, their testicles are everywhere." I think that's definitely the best one we've done.

An extra bit with Count Arthur Strong himself

Here Arthur provides us with some "things you didn't know you needed to know and still don't need to know about me and my career"...

- I won the West Yorkshire Foundry's 'Knobbly Knees' contest three years on the bounce: 1968-70. Had to 'retire hurt' due to a knobbly knee related injury at the 1970 event, during which the police were called.

- I have a tattoo of a fresh pineapple somewhere private.

- I'm in the Guinness Book of Records for having the most failed record attempts.

- I'm still on the books of Leeds United AFC and, as far as I'm aware, eligible to play. I could do a lot sodding better than some of the current shower in the first team.

- My singing voice is that of natural bass baritone. Just like Robert Mitchum. However, unlike Robert Mitchum, I am still alive and available for weddings etcetera. Contact Larry Trafalgar of Larry Trafalgar Associates.

- I can count to 19 in Turkish. (Forwards when sober, backwards when drunk).