Aidan Gillen talks about taking on the role of the 'sit-down stand-up', Dave Allen, in the BBC biopic.

Hi Aidan. Could we start off by asking you to introduce what Dave Allen At Peace will focus on?

It's a kind of biopic which covers him from birth, literally, if you believe he was born in a manger.

It covers his formative years under the loving care of the nuns, right up through his Butlins Redcoat days, into his sitting in the back garden painting days. More than anything, it aims to catch the spirit of the man and the times.

Do you remember when you first saw Dave Allen?

It was long enough ago that I didn't know what it was all about. It was on Irish TV on - I think - The Late Late Show, and Dave was on as a guest. I remember the finger and some talk about atheism maybe, the vague notion that this man was seen as dangerous in some way, causing some frisson within the studio audience.

I never saw much of his actual show at all, for various reasons. We only intermittently had the UK channels at our house in Dublin. I know my father loved him though.

Did you do much research for the role? Were you looking to mimic his mannerisms and speech, or have you come up with your own interpretation?

As much as I could, it's about finding common ground I think. The parts you can get away with going after because you have to impersonate a little bit at least, if not a lot.

You're cast 'cos you might already have some of the attributes, but also for your own personality (or lack of one). And in watching of all the shows and documentaries you're looking to identify the essential attributes; like in his case melancholy, thoughtfulness, warmth, a certain dissatisfaction.

What was filming like? Presumably you were surrounded by period detail?

Like lots of smoke and drink? Yes! Seriously though, production design was great and we shot some of the sketch and monologue scenes on Super 16mm film which is a rarity nowadays.

It's always good to have proper help from your surroundings, especially in the age of green-screen.

Also the team who performed in all the sketches are a team in real life - some of them are even married to each other- so that made it easier, because you have to knock that stuff out fast.

On a different topic, in 2019 it'll be 20 years since Queer As Folk burst on to screens. Time for a reunion to see what the character are up to now?

Still Rimming After all These Years? Actually scrub that. Yeah, dunno. I had thought about it. It could be interesting to review events of the last 20 years through the filter of those characters.

We managed to get through this whole interview without asking you about Game Of Thrones. Presumably that show dominates so many conversations you have?

Well, I don't know. It used to. You'd be surprised how quickly people switch to something or someone else. I've never minded talking about it though.

What are your plans for 2018?

Mostly work related, unfortunately. I'm about 2 months into a 5 month TV series shoot in Vancouver. The good news is that it has flying saucers in it. It's called Blue Book and I'm playing J. Allen Hynek, the man who wrote the book that inspired Spielberg to make Close Encounters.

Then there's plans to play James Joyce, have some kind of break in between, maybe do a bit of house painting, put the bins out, and then sharpen some knives and grow my hair really long again for Peaky Blinders Series 5.