91Èȱ¬

PA – Midge (Annabel Scholey)

He may be married to Evie, the daughter of head honcho Leo Hartmann, but that still doesn't make Simon what you'd call a devoted husband.

Yes, he enjoys the kudos and status that marrying the boss's daughter brings, but monogamous and loving are not words often used when describing this notoriously ruthless and cold-hearted vice-president.

"He's a terrible Lothario and if there were such a thing as a professional Lothario then I think he'd be the one doing diplomas in it and probably running courses in it as well," laughs Darren.

"His sexual prowess is something he is noted for so I don't think his marriage is especially high on his list of priorities. But I do think that's where a certain level of his arrogance comes from because he's basically family.

"He has married himself into the position he holds and is well aware of the status that gives him over his peers within the company. It's all about money and wealth for Simon and being able to display that money and wealth for all to see.

"In a way you can only admire him, because anyone who has half the attitude and indifference he does, to be that unapologetic for who you are is pretty impressive."

But, as well as having a reputation as an emotion-free serial adulterer, Simon is also in love with Midge (Annabel Scholey), his PA.

Despite his numerous affairs and indiscretions he'd never make a move on her. He genuinely loves Midge and couldn't bear to corrupt her in any way.

"For Simon probably the closest to any real human emotion he has is for his own PA. So his normal approach is very much turned on its head when it comes to dealing with this particular individual.

"I think Simon has feelings for Midge on a level hitherto unknown by him and that makes for a very possessive side to his relationship with her," explains Darren.

If Simon can't have Midge, he doesn't want anyone else to either. So when his fame-hungry PA is offered a place in the final 12 of TV talent show, unbeknownst to Midge he makes a sneaky call to the show's producers to ensure her musical dream doesn't become a reality.

"These feelings are not something he makes known to Midge for fear of upsetting the status quo. And maybe because he doesn't know how to make his feelings known, which would be unlike him in any other area of his life because he is a very smart and calculating person.

"With Midge he sees someone who is pure and such purity and innocence are long gone in his time on this planet. He inhabits a very cynical place in this world albeit a very successful one."

With ten years under his belt of both writing and starring in comedies such as Smack The Pony, Kiss Me Kate, Green Wing and Saxondale, plus a stint in the US in the NBC sitcom Watching Ellie with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Steve Carell, Darren knows a good script when he sees one.

"The first episode of Personal Affairs is probably one of the fastest moving and high paced scripts I've ever read. It takes off and doesn't stop.

"I can't think of anything I've read for a while that really grabs you like a good book, where you want to keep turning the page with that burning desire to know what happens next.

"It's a very slick, fast moving thing, with lots of surprises and it gets very uncomfortable and messy for most of the people involved," laughs Darren.

However, the 35 year old actor admits there is one downside to working on Personal Affairs – it has made him feel old before his time.

"We have such a fresh, vibrant, young cast which is a great energy to be around, but at the same time it's strange to suddenly realise you are now one of the oldies. Now I hear them all talking and there are so many film and music references that I just don't get or understand.

"On one of the first days I was chatting in between scenes with one of the younger actresses when I happened to mention the film A Fistful Of Dollars and she didn't have the faintest idea what I was talking about.

"At that point I suddenly felt for the first time on the wrong side of 30... .what happened?" he adds, with a sigh.

"I used to be the fresh-faced young buck. Where did all the time go?"