It's so different from anything I've done before

AS HE TAKES THE ROLE OF A SINISTER MALE NANNY IN MALICE, JACK WHITEHALL JOINS CO-STAR DAVID DUCHOVNY TO DISCUSS THE NEW PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER. BY LYNN RUSK

- LYNN RUSK

JACK Whitehall, known for his sarcastic, self-deprecating stand-up style, has been taking on comedic roles since the early days of his career.

In the university comedy series Fresh Meat, he played an upper-class, arrogant student, and in Bad Education, which he also co-wrote, he was an incompetent yet fun-loving teacher.

Now 37, Jack is stepping into new territory with his first thriller series, Malice, written by James Wood.

Filmed in London and Greece, and directed by Mike Barker and Leonora Lonsdale, the series sees Jack play Adam Healey, a charming 'manny', male nanny, who infiltrates the brash, wealthy Tanner family in order to destroy them.

The six-episode series also stars The X-Files' David Duchovny as Jamie Tanner, Game of Thrones' Carice van Houten as his wife Nat, Hijack's Christine Adams as Nat's best friend Jules, and Homeland's Raza Jaffrey as Jules's husband, Damien.

Jack, whose character is capable of real kindness particularly with the children he cares for, but also of extreme violence says he jumped at the chance to play a darker role.

"I really relish the opportunity to play a part that's so different from anything I've done before," explains the London-born star.

"Getting to lose myself in a character and flex acting muscles I've never used before was great.

"That's what's amazing about this job, when you get the chance to really challenge yourself."

James, who won a BAFTA for his sitcom Rev, says he wrote the series around Jack.