Olivia Colman reveals she was sick on the set of the final series...

The last ever series of Peep Show is almost upon us. It began back in 2003. Does that seem like a lifetime ago?

God yes, I didn't realise it was 2003! Yes. The pilot, I remember, we took our own costumes and we had a proper head-cam strapped to our heads. Long time ago!

Do you feel a proper fondness for Peep Show, as one of your first big TV roles?

Yeah, absolutely. And because it was with Rob and David, who I met when I was 19. It has a really special place in my heart for that. And because of Peep Show, I got so much other work. It really helped me.

You missed Series 8 of Peep Show - presumably that was because of work commitments?

Yeah, I was doing Broadchurch when it was being filmed. I wasn't in it for good reasons, I was lucky enough to be working. But it's always a shame when things clash, because you want to do everything you can. Particularly jobs you love.

You had a baby in August, and turned up to film Peep Show barely a month later. Are you absolutely mad?

Well, it was only three days. And actually, three days out of the house when you're going a bit nuts is actually quite nice. I wouldn't have taken on any more time than that. And my mum came with me, so it was fine, really.

How was the experience? Were you struggling to keep your eyes open, let alone remember your lines?

Yes! The main thing was, I got a bug on the last day. It was awful. So I was chucking up in the van. When I said goodbye to everyone, doing my final shots, I was feeling emotional anyway, doing my last ever shot on the last ever Peep Show, and then I was also struggling to not be sick. That was the hardest aspect. Having the baby there - she's so well behaved, and they're all so kind to people with babies. They all get it. She stayed in the green room with my mum.

After all these years, what do you think of Sophie?

She started off so sweet and nice - but I always felt she wasn't that nice, because she knew that Mark fancied her, and yet she was going to him whenever something didn't work out with Geoff or whoever. And I think that's the mark of someone who's not that nice. Someone nice wouldn't play with another person's emotions like that. I mentioned that to Sam and Jesse, and I think they quite liked the idea of her being like that, and she's progressed into something quite horrible, which I really enjoyed playing. The best roles are always the ones with a bit of edge to them.

What have been your favourite storylines in Peep Show over the years?

There are various scenes in particular that stick out as being funny. When Mark and Jeremy were hiding on the mezzanine floor bit of the church, and Jez weed. I love that. I love the eating the dog scene. I loved when Mark sang A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square on the pontoon in the river. And also their awkwardness in the face of a potential orgy.

What will you miss most about being part of Peep Show?

Just actually being part of it. We've all had such a lovely time over the years. We've changed so much, and we've all had children since then. Jesse's tiny boy was in the first series, and everyone's children have all grown up while this has been happening. It's lovely.

Of all the characters that you've played over the years, which do you think is the most like you?

Ooh, God. I don't know. They all have to have a bit of you in them, I think. If you're playing sad, it's a bit of sadness you can find somewhere. If you're playing angry, you do the same. And then you just heighten it or stretch it out or something. I can't think of a particular character that's most like me.

Apart from Sophie, which characters have you enjoyed playing the most?

I did This Is Jinsy, and played a really posh, old, massive-boobed, well-to-do countryside lady, and that was fun to do because it was so over the top. I loved being in The Accused, because Jimmy McGovern's writing is so brilliant. If anybody said his words, they'd look like a good actor. That was really, really great. My favourite job was Tyrannosaur.

You're recognised for drama as much as comedy these days. Do you see them as being different disciplines, in terms of how you approach them?

No, not at all. It's all acting. You take the job seriously, but not yourself, in both comedy and drama. I don't really approach it like that anyway, it's more just a matter of feeling your way.

Sum up your Peep Show experience. What has it meant to you, overall?

It's meant enormous friendship, it's meant more work for me, and lovely memories. It's a long time. And there's something lovely about knowing every year that you're going to get a job! I will always be incredibly affectionate towards Peep Show, and what's more, being in a job that you would genuinely want to watch anyway, because I found it so funny, that's brilliant.