91Èȱ¬

How would you describe Sol?

Sol is someone who is middle class, whose parents weren't super-rich but who worked very hard to give him an education. He's probably got a little bit of a chip on his shoulder because of that. He's a little bit ... I don't want to say 'flash' because that sort of gives the wrong image, but he's very self-confident, sharp and quick and bright, and really wants to test himself at the ultimate level for a barrister, which is a murder case. So when the Powell brief drops into his pigeon-hole he's very excited.

So when you saw the script, what was it that made you go 'Yes, I really want to do that'?

What I liked about it was that it was very character-based – the characters were clearly different and had their own voices. I couldn't guess what Tony's situation was by the end of the first script, so it made me want to read the second one. I liked the fact that Sol is flawed and vulnerable and interesting, rather than just a sort of cardboard cut-out of a brash lawyer type. He's got personal issues, things aren't brilliant in his married life, and that slowly starts to bleed into the story, especially in his relationship with the character Julie. I thought all of that was a challenge and a really well-rounded piece, and I liked the way the story was told.

When Sol gets this murder brief, he chooses Julie to assist him – a decision that Valerie doesn't necessarily think is the right one does she?

Valerie doesn't necessarily think it's the right one, and nor does Gordon, the clerk of the chambers. There is clearly an affinity between Sol and Julie from the start, but I think in Sol's mind there's nothing sleazy or predatory about it – she genuinely is the best junior in the chambers. She's on the up and people are talking about her. She's bright and confident and going places.

Sol has to defend Tony – he's charged with murder, he claims it's assisted suicide. Do you think Sol believes him or do you think he thinks he really is hiding something?

I think Sol sort of avoids the issue really, whether Tony is innocent or not. That's something that pre-occupies Julie, certainly more than Sol. There are several instances throughout the series where she speculates about it and he more or less says 'whether or not that's the case, that's not our problem – our job is to do the defending in court, and to counter the arguments of the prosecution'. I know it sounds really crass and calculating and dry, but I think that's quite accurate in terms of the legal profession.

What do you think about the drama tackling such a difficult subject matter?

Our series tries not to make moral judgements but presents a story as plausibly as possible so that the audience can then decide. We're just telling a story about people that could easily happen and may have happened, and that's what I think is interesting.

A lot of people will know you from Casualty; what's it like having finished working on a drama like that and coming to do this drama?

It's scary but ultimately a very good thing because as an actor you always want to keep things as fresh as you can. While I have an awful lot of affection for my Casualty character and the time I spent there with such a great bunch of people, four years is a decent run and I'm very pleased and proud to have been able to do that, but ultimately I think that one of the reasons that you become an actor is so that you don't have the same nine-to-five job every single day. You have to draw a line under it and move on to something new and completely different and challenging in a different way.

Sol is a different character to Adam Truman isn't he?

Yes, he is. Adam was kind of unlucky and semi-tragic while essentially a good person trying to thrive against the odds, whereas Sol is a go-getter and probably less caring about other people's feelings, but who at the same time is reaching a bit of a cul-de-sac moment in his life. He's examining himself objectively for the first time in a long time, and perhaps realises that there are issues that he has to face. In an emotional sense Sol is probably less mature than Adam Truman in Casualty.

The Case is the latest series for 91Èȱ¬ One Daytime, and the channel has got a reputation for producing good drama for the daytime audience. What do you think about the whole genre of daytime drama?

I welcome it completely; I think it's about time. The public want to be told stories, so I welcome the return of daytime drama in that respect. Also, with the revolution in digital media, you don't necessarily have to watch something at 2.30 in the afternoon or 11 in the morning. When a show goes out is less relevant than it was maybe five years ago, and I think people are cottoning onto that. I think that probably lets organisations like the 91Èȱ¬ maybe experiment a bit where they possibly wouldn't have been brave enough to do that a few years ago.

What else can you tell us about The Case?

Just that I love the script – I think it's a good story, well told. I think right up to the end it keeps the audience guessing, and that's a good thing. From my own point of view it's been the perfect job for me really, to come along after being in Casualty for the length of time I was, and to do something so different and to stretch my wings a bit. It's been a whirlwind but it's been a blast, and I think we're all really proud of it.