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

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.

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"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.

"I've been lucky enough to get to know Jack through a few projects, like Decline and Fall and some others that haven't happened yet but I got to know him fairly well," says the writer.

"The moment we met, we definitely built a natural rapport and chemistry," he explains.

"It was a bit strange having to then, in a way, forget that, because in most of the scenes, we're adversaries, and I'm meant to hold this real rage and malice toward his character.

"I had to put aside the effortlessly charming, real-life David and focus on this burning rage in every scene we shared.

"But he was fantastic and a great scene partner, really thoughtful and committed."

David, 65, who also starred in the raunchy TV comedy Californication, says he was drawn to Malice because of its thriller elements.