NINE LIVES

ON SET FOR THE FINAL SERIES OF INSIDE NO 9. STEVE PEMBERTON AND REECE SHEARSMITH REFLECT ON THE TYRANNY OF THE TWIST

- DARREN SCOTT

LATE JANUARY, AND SFX IS AT another vast stately home in England for filming on a gothic production. “Joanna Lumley said ‘Fuck off’ in this room,” Steve Ryde, executive producer of Inside No 9, tells us. Not that she’s appearing in the ninth, and final, series of the iconic British anthology show – that we know of, at least. We’re informed that Arley Hall in

Cheshire, where their penultimate week of filming is taking place, has also recently been used for Netflix’s Fool Me Once, as well as Peaky Blinders. We’re in a library, which is almost floor to ceiling with books. Right in front of us is the famous No 9 hare, sitting opposite a bust of one of the guest actors. “We’ll probably give it to him,” Ryde says of the sculpture. The hare – which makes a hidden appearance in every episode – is one of many copies, we’re told. Fact fans: it has blue felt underneath.

Outside the bay window there are a large number of vans filled with production essentials. Someone is painting a strange wooden shape bright green…

BITTERSWEET SYMPHONY

Adjourning to the dining room, via those pesky creaking floorboards that plague almost every period production, crew are stoking the fireplace as Steve Pemberton gets direction. Lillian the maid (Hayley Squires) is taking position. Reece Shearsmith appears to be holding an aged piece of paper. The crew bring in plates of leftover food. Pemberton takes his seat, his collar is dishevelled.