GLAD TO BE BACK

Chris O'Dowd on why his family left Hollywood for London - and what he and his friend Louis Theroux might get up to next

- INTERVIEW: OLIVIA BUXTON

From The IT Crowd to Bridesmaids, Chris O'Dowd has carved out a niche as one of our most charming, down-to-earth stars.

Now, the Irish actor, 45, has swapped life in Hollywood for leafy Richmond in southwest London, returning to the UK with his wife, the author and broadcaster Dawn O'Porter, 46, and their sons, Art, ten, and Valentine, eight.

The couple, who met in 2009 at Dawn's 30th birthday party, got engaged in December 2011 and married in London the following year.

Here, Chris reflects on fame, fatherhood and his narration of the BBC's popular animated series Puffin Rock, which returns for a third series this month.

Chris, how are you finding life back in London? spend a lot of time in Richmond Park. It's peaceful and I can be in and out of town easily.”

What do you and Dawn do for fun?

“We went to Wimbledon this year. We had a great time in the Evian suite, but had to dash back to relieve the babysitter. I've been going for years. I used to queue for day tickets when I was a student. I took my ten-year-old this year, too. He's tennis-mad.”

Might your boys follow you into acting?