We're feeling a little bit distraught here at Digital Spy. Why? Because the last two episodes of Borgen air tomorrow on BBC Four, and we're really going to miss it.

Sure, it's a bit of a cliché to be a fan of Danish drama at the moment (yes, I'm wearing a woolly jumper but I'm cold, not trying to be Sarah Lund, honest.) But Borgen has been a delight - gripping, emotional, witty and always entertaining. It's even helped me understand Danish politics. Sort of.

In celebration of the series, we decided to dedicate this week's Friday Fiver to the best political TV shows on the box. Read on to find out what we picked (sorry, Commander in Chief fans...)

Last night, Digital Spy was lucky enough to get a sneak peek at the first two episodes of ABC's much-anticipated horror series The River - debuting in the US on Tuesday, February 7 at 9/8c and in the UK just a day later via iTunes.

We had high hopes for the show - it's from Oren Peli and Michael R Perry, the brains behind cinematic scare-fest Paranormal Activity after all. But would The River match our expectations, or would this trek down the Amazon lead us down a path to disappointment?

In the event, we're happy to see that The River is a very strong show indeed - one of the better US dramas to emerge from the 2011-12 television season. When beloved explorer and television host Emmet Cole (Star Trek's Bruce Greenwood) goes missing, his wife Tess (Leslie Hope) drags estranged son Lincoln (Joe Anderson) deep into the Amazon to find him.

Their every move is charted by a documentary team, led by unscrupulous TV producer Clark Quietly (Paul Blackthorne) - like Paranormal Activity and a string of other horror hits, the series adopts the 'found footage' format.

But can The River hope to match its cinematic counterparts on the fear factor scale? Granted, our own experiences may have been influenced by watching the first two episodes on the big screen, but our initial feeling is yes - this show can bring the scares.



There's a foreboding atmosphere throughout and, while the pilot contains plenty of Blair Witch-style 'terrified running and heavy breathing' moments, it's with the second instalment 'The Marbeley' that the influence of Peli and Perry is really felt. We're treated to an unsettling possession which recalls similar scenes in Paranormal Activity and a terrifically creepy sequence involving a batch of children's dolls - and who doesn't find them scary?

Of course, a viewer can only become involved in the drama if we care about our cast of characters, and here The River also comes up trumps. Though his American accent occasionally wavers, Brit actor Joe Anderson makes for a distinctive and likeable lead, while Bruce Greenwood is perfectly cast as Emmet Cole - who's glimpsed through vintage clips and footage - and Paul Blackthorne is brilliantly slimy as the boorish Clark. These are the stand-outs, but there's not a weak performance here.

But that's not to say that The River is flawless, with much of the show's problems being inherent in its format. A certain amount of tension is eradicated by the knowledge that, unlike a horror film, an ongoing series is unlikely to kill off its lead characters indiscriminately. The show provides plenty of fun scares, but never engenders outright terror.

And while it's a neat idea to produce a TV series using the 'found footage' format, never for one moment is the viewer convinced that The River is a real documentary. Credibility is simply stretched far too far on a number of occasions and frequently you wonder why a character is filming the horrific events they're witnessing, rather than dropping the camera and pitching in to help.

That said, this show is so much fun that you forgive it these small issues. Our final quibble - which is in fact a compliment - is that the first season of The River will only run to eight episodes. In many ways, that's a good thing - maintaining the show's premise over multiple episodes could prove tricky, so a shorter season could be a boon. We just hope that the limited episode order isn't a sign of a lack of faith in the project. When it comes to The River, ABC should be very happy indeed.

The River debuts on ABC on Tuesday, February 7 at 9/8c and is available to pre-order on iTunes now, with the first two episodes debuting in the UK on February 8. A full season pass is available from £12.99 (in HD) or £9.99 (in SD). Single episodes are priced at £1.89 (SD) and £2.49 (HD).

Being Human returns for a fourth series with the epic 'Eve of the War' - expect dark twists, high emotion, a few laughs and - yes - a few tears...

Digital Spy has had a sneak preview of the ep, so here's our round of traditional teasers to see you through until the weekend! Brace yourselves - it's going to be a *very* bumpy ride!

Being Human is back on Sunday, February 5 at 9pm on BBC Three.

> Being Human Lenora Crichlow Q&A: 'Annie has grown up a lot'
> Being Human Damien Molony Q&A: 'I was nervous about joining the show'
> Being Human Russell Tovey Q&A: 'Aidan Turner's exit was emotional'

1. Expect a very dark episode, but with a refreshing strain of humour throughout.

2. "There's nothing nice in this house anymore…"

3. Nina's fate is revealed within the first five minutes.

4. We also learn what happened to powerful 'Old One' vampire Wyndham (Lee Ingleby).

5. There's references to both Superman and Batman.

6. "With you like this, they've already won."

7. Annie invents a brilliant new word.

8. "They put up quite a fight, but we slit their throats and stamped on their bones all the same."

9. We find out what happens to old Werewolves.

10. If you're not in tears by the final scenes, you have a heart of stone!

What do you make of our Being Human teasers? Let us know below!

If you've got questions, we've got answers! Yes, it's Thursday again, so time for some more Tube Talk Q&A action. We've got gossip on everything from Fringe to Pan Am to Arrow to The Walking Dead, so read on and then leave us your questions in the box below!

Any news on when Glee's coming back? I miss it!


Ooh, we couldn't possibly say. But maybe if you come back to Digital Spy at 9pm we'll have some exclusive news for you about when the show's coming back. You know, maybe. (If you're not so good with the hints, we will definitely be confirming the return date at 9pm tonight! We're a little bit excited.)

When exactly is Fringe coming back to Sky?


Good news! Sky1 confirmed earlier this week that Olivia, the Bishops and co. will return to UK screens on Wednesday, February 8 at 10pm! And the sci-fi drama's fourth season comes back strong with the fantastic 'Back To Where You've Never Been'.

What else have Fringe fans got to look forward to? How about (*spoilers*) an emotional meeting between the two versions of Astrid (Jasika Nicole), a guest spot from character actor Michael Massee - who specialises in creepy roles - and a visit to a terrifying town from which there is no escape!

I love The Walking Dead - is it back soon?


Yup - for US viewers, season two resumes on Sunday, February 12 at 9/8c. And UK fans won't have long to wait either - FX will transmit midseason premiere 'Nebraska' just five days later, on Friday, February 17 at 10pm.

We've also had a few enquiries from viewers who can't get FX and want to know if Channel 5 will be airing season two, as it did with the first season. Our understanding is that it will, but that its current contract doesn't allow it to air new episodes until April. Hope that helps!

Why has The CW dropped Justin Hartley from its new Green Arrow show? Dumb decision.


Well, it's all a bit complex really - you're referring to the in-development pilot Arrow which is based on the DC Comics Green Arrow character, but which is crucially *not* a spinoff from Smallville (in which Hartley played the emerald archer).

The brains behind Arrow want their show to establish its own identity, so presumably felt that casting Hartley would only have confused matters! In the event, Vampire Diaries actor Stephen Amell will be the new Oliver Queen, and we're sure that he'll do just fine!

Grace is dead? Oh my GOD! Give me some Skins gossip now!


I know, right? If you haven't checked out our post-episode Q&A with Alex Arnold, you can read it here now. But let's look to the future - in next week's episode we meet brand new character Alex, who quickly has a pretty strong connection with Liv (though perhaps not in the way you're expecting). He might be just what the group needs - they're understandably pretty blue.

But shall we give you a bit of episode four info? Since you've been so good, we'll treat you. We were recently chatting to Sean Teale, who plays Nick, and he told us that we can expect a new crush, "a lot of unsavoury characters", and "very extreme" moments. "Franky's gone off the rails a little," he teased. Exciting!

I know everyone else has given up on Pan Am, but I'm so glad it's back! What's coming up this week? And is it definitely going to be cancelled?


Don't worry, you're not alone - we're still flying the flag for Pan Am! And there are some fun episodes coming up, too. On Saturday, expect a surprising kiss, arrested stewardesses... and will Dean and Colette sort things out after Bridget's return? You'll find out! Plus, in episodes to come, expect a very famous historical event to have a big impact on Maggie and Laura to catch the eye of a certain artist...

As for whether Pan Am will survive? We'd love a second season with our favourite stewardesses, but we'll be honest - we're not holding our breath. ABC has insisted that the decision hasn't been made yet, but with poor ratings in the States and a short, 14-episode order, that's basically just a technicality right now. We're willing to be proved wrong (we're hoping to be proved wrong), but you should probably make the most of these last few season one episodes.

I caught The Lying Game on 5* the other day and I think I'm obsessed! What's coming up next week?

Ooh, yes, we're enjoying The Lying Game too - it's like Ringer with teenagers! Although, we'll be honest - it gets pretty confusing. Just us? Anyway, we don't want to give too much away because the joy's in the surprises, so we'll leave it at this - the next episode will include: an alcohol-fuelled fight, a confusing phone call, some dance lessons, the identity of the laptop thief and some Emma-Sutton contact. The show certainly seems to be keeping the action up!

I've heard really good things about Friday Night Lights and someone said it was going to be on Sky. When?


You are well-informed! Friday Night Lights is indeed coming to Sky - Sky Atlantic, to be precise - and it is really, really good. And we have a date, too - Sky Atlantic confirmed recently that the show will begin on February 14. Screw Valentine's Day - this is worth staying in for!

Sure, watching a show based on the trials and tribulations of a high school American football team doesn't sound like something a lot of Brits will be interested in, but by the end of the pilot you'll be hooked. (I write about TV for a living. Sport's not my strong point. And I still love it.) The show's got wonderful relationships (you'll fall for Eric and Tami, believe us), fabulous drawling Southern accents, and beautiful, realistic cinematography. A must-see. We're just keeping our fingers crossed that Sky Atlantic keeps airing the show - so far, they've only picked up the first two seasons.

Drop your questions for Tube Talk at the bottom of the page!

The 100th episode of any show should be a celebration. To make it to that milestone after the gruelling pilot process and the ratings struggles and the politics of time slots is an achievement and should be duly rewarded.

Gossip Girl was determined to mark the occasion, and delivered - its centenary episode, which aired on The CW on Monday, was chock full of betrayals, romance, emotion, shocks and twists. So why was my overriding feeling throughout the instalment: "Boy, is this going to p*ss off the Chair fans"?

I'm sure it wasn't ever thus. Television has always been good for giving us those watercooler moments - storylines and characters we could agree upon or argue about. But lately, things seem to have taken a different - and nastier - turn.

Being engaged with television shows is a wonderful thing. It's an art form - yes, even Gossip Girl - and when it affects you is when you know it's working. But to start writing sweary messages to people who disagree with your points of view? To track down the showrunners and writers on Twitter and abuse them for their judgements about where the story should go? Surely that's losing some sense of perspective.

To single out Gossip Girl is unfair - Glee, Grey's Anatomy and The Vampire Diaries are all examples of other shows which have found themselves at the receiving end of furious fans (and the familiar refrain: "I'm never watching again").



The problem is that this is counter-intuitive. The internet has provided us with wonderful opportunities to get closer to the people making our favourite series - people we might not have had access to otherwise. But they must begin to question the point of further engagement if they keep getting abuse.

Take Shonda Rhimes - the executive producer of Grey's Anatomy - who wearily rebuts fan complaints on a regular basis (largely based on the fact that Meredith and Derek aren't getting enough screen time, or that a viewer's favourite couple are facing problems). The fact that she's added the motto: "Remember, it's not real, okay?" to her Twitter biography is a good sign of what she has to face.

Or let's return to Gossip Girl, where the writers have set up a special account to keep fans up to date and provide extra information and spoilers. A great idea, right? They live-tweeted the 100th episode - lovely. And yet people still called them "asses" and told them to "go to hell". They must wonder what the point is. (Executive producer Josh Schwartz even joked to E! Online that he was planning to avoid going online that night).



Not only does this overzealous attitude deter the stars and crew of our favourite shows engaging more with fans, but it also appears to blind people to just how great those series can be.

Fans of Gossip Girl who focus solely on the status of Blair's romance with Chuck and/or Dan seem to be missing the wit and compelling plots and intrigue in the problems in those relationships. Viewers who complained about Cristina and Owen's massive fight in the last episode of Grey's... did they miss the absolutely stunning acting turned out by Sandra Oh and Kevin McKidd?

Or take Glee - fans of Kurt and Blaine's romance are furious with the arrival of Sebastian, who's rather attracted to Blaine (and this is despite the fact that Blaine's loyally stuck by his boyfriend's side, at least up to now). Rumours that he could become a series regular next season were met with dismay. But Grant Gustin, who plays Sebastian, has added some much needed spice and snark to the show, and has turned out a consistently entertaining performance so far. Let's focus on that, instead.



Plus, of course, the idea about long form television is that there needs to be somewhere to go. The often-mentioned Moonlighting curse is naturally not always true - Chuck and Bones both seem to be shows that successfully got their couples together - but the point is one worth considering.

These shows are about the long game - how boring would things get if everything skipped along with no problems whatsoever? Happy marriages can work on television - take the magnificent Eric and Tami on Friday Night Lights - but even those characters have their issues.

There's a lot to be said for delayed gratification - when things do happen, they have so much more impact (see, for example, [SPOILER] that Damon-Elena kiss). You've got to take the rough with the smooth, after all.

Let me be clear - I am by no means accusing all fans of this, or libelling all television viewers in one fell swoop. In fact, the internet has provided some great opportunities for positive engagement with showrunners. Just the other day, Rhimes was thrilled when a fan revealed that watching Grey's has inspired them to become a surgeon. And Vampire Diaries exec Julie Plec often drools all over fan-made videos praising the show's couples - she's so pleased that people enjoy the series, it's adorable to see.



That kind of thing is wonderful - passion and opinions are brilliant. And in no way am I saying that you have to agree with writers' decisions all the time - sometimes, they're just plain bad for storytelling reasons. But these shows wouldn't exist without those people sweating it out in offices, so if fans are going to complain, I'd hope they'd consider doing so with at least a modicum of respect. (Though it should be said that this is my issue - as far as I'm aware, the writers themselves haven't explicitly complained about this, and I don't want to speak for them).

After all, it would be a shame if showrunners and stars retreated and pulled back from fans, deciding it's more trouble than it's worth. And it would be a shame if viewers missed some stunning moments because the blinkers were on. Being completely and utterly invested in a show? Wonderful. Abusing the writers and other fans? Well, let's try and stop that, shall we?

What do you make of fan wars? Do you agree that we should live and let live? Or do you think showrunners should accept criticism from fans? Leave your comments below!

Digital Spy readers were split today over news that ABC's new paranormal drama The River will make its UK debut not via a traditional broadcaster, but on iTunes. Single episodes will be priced at £1.89 (SD) and £2.49 (HD), while a season pass is available from £12.99 (in HD) or £9.99 (in SD).

"Having the option to download [shows] legally and pay my dues to the production company is always good, and this is a reasonable price to pay," said Simon Grierson.

However, Andrew Dott argued: "I'll happily pay money to watch something online if it's the only way I'll be able to see it, but if it's a case of paying for something that will eventually be available on DVD... then I'll just wait and buy the physical boxset."

It's clear that premiering television shows online is a growing trend. Hot on the heels of the River announcement came the news that the first six seasons of cult US comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia have been made available to stream on Netflix, with the seventh run to follow on February 13.



Netflix is even branching out into original content - a new season of axed Fox comedy Arrested Development will be made available to subscribers of the movie rental service in the US in 2013. One of the bastions of UK broadcasting, Channel 4, is also getting in on the act, making the first episode of US comedy New Girl and the Skins sixth series premiere available via their 4oD service, ahead of their television debut.

So what are the benefits of releasing programming on the internet? The long gap between the US and UK broadcast of certain shows has become a problem for broadcasters, leading some impatient fans to embrace online piracy.

This gap has dramatically narrowed of late - many US shows now air in the UK just days after they've premiered Stateside, but this new system is not without its problems. UK broadcasters are essentially subject to the scheduling whims of the US networks, leaving UK viewers - unused to American television's haphazard scheduling - baffled as shows like Glee vanish for weeks on end.

With online content, users are able to pick and choose the shows they watch, essentially designing their own TV schedule. Aside from the obvious time benefit this provides, allowing users to arrange their television watching around their busy schedules, legitimate online broadcasting could strike a real blow to the heart of TV piracy.



Many online television portals - such as Hulu - currently have geographical barriers in place, but is it outside the realms of possibility to imagine a region-free online broadcaster, particularly with original online content on the rise? With funding available through advertising and subscription fees, could a system be established that allows users across the globe simultaneous access to shows?

There's certainly no doubt that broadcasting original content online has helped to make television production a more democratic process. Though they tend to receive less coverage than their traditionally-televised counterparts, web series are positively thriving at the moment, with big-name actors - Kiefer Sutherland, Supernatural's Misha Collins - signing up to star.

A solid example of how the online system can help raw, untapped talent to emerge is the 11-episode comedy web series We Need Girlfriends. Originally filmed on a small budget and uploaded to YouTube from 2006 to 2007, the concept was later picked up by Sony Pictures and CBS for development as a television series. Online broadcasters may not be ready to wholly replace traditional television channels just yet, but clearly they are already a viable alternative.

Is online the future of television? Is a region-free online broadcaster a real possibility? Share your thoughts below!

After 23 seasons and more belly laughs than you can shake a sprinkles-coated doughnut at, The Simpsons celebrates its 500th episode next month.

From its sketch show beginnings on The Tracey Ullman Show in 1987 to landing a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a blockbuster movie, Matt Groening's animated franchise is one of the most incredible TV stories of all time.

The Simpsons has been heralded as many things during its 25 years on air. A cultural phenomenon. The greatest comedy TV show of all time. Even the greatest TV show of all time.

Whatever your views on the show (or critique about its latter seasons), the fact that an animated sitcom about an ordinary family has lasted 500 episodes is well worth pulling some party poppers for and saluting.



Digital Spy wants to mark the show's 500th episode landmark by finding out your definitive 'Best Ever Simpsons Episode'. We'll be running a (highly scientific) poll to help you pick your favourites, but first of all we want your help in narrowing down the choices from a hefty 498-episode longlist.

Did it ever get better than the Monorail (Monorail! Monorail! Monorail!) episode? Do you still find yourself quoting lines from 'Deep Space Homer' ("De-fault. The two sweetest words in the English language")?

Would 'The Cartridge Family' ("A gun is not a weapon, Marge, it's a tool. Like a butcher knife, or a harpoon, or... or an alligator") top your list? Maybe you stand behind 'Last Exit To Springfield' (Dental plan!)? Or maybe you have your own personal favourite that rarely gets mentioned - let us know!

What is your favourite ever Simpsons episode? Is it an early '90s classic or a more surreal '00s outing? Let us know below!

OK. Here's your fair warning. If you haven't seen last night's episode of Skins yet, turn round, leave this article and do not come back until you've had a watch! Done? Good!

So, how are we feeling? Last night's Skins was a mind-bending, emotional tearjerker... and we found out that Grace has died. What on Earth is Rich going to do now? Or the rest of the group, for that matter?

Well, there's one man who can help us out with that - Alex Arnold, who plays Rich! Alex was determined not to give too much away, but we had a chat about last night's heartbreaking episode and managed to squeeze out a tease or two...

So, last night's episode - have you figured out what's real and what's not?
"[laughs] I don't know, really. There's lots of ways I look at it. One is that the character knew all along, or one is that he was mad. I think that's what's so good about it - that you don't know and it's ambiguous. I had to think of it one of those ways - how I was going to play it - but seeing it from an objective point of view, you can see it in so many different ways, so I don't want to spoil it for anyone."

Did you always know Grace was going to die?
"Actually, the first time I heard, it was very near the beginning, obviously, but it was kind of late near the beginning - probably about a month, maybe, before we started filming. We were doing workshops and the producer called us in and told us and I just... I felt like somebody real had died. I seriously did, because you grow so attached to these people, and it was like, 'Oh my God'.

"I wasn't thinking about my performance or anything like what would happen and stuff. I was just thinking, 'Wow, this is really going to affect some people'. It's going to shed a lot of tears, hopefully, because I think people really like the character of Grace and I think people have grown attached to the relationship between Rich and Grace as well."

The final scene you did with Chris Addison was amazing. How did you feel doing that?
"I think that was the last thing Chris Addison did [on this series of Skins], and Chris really prepared for it. I don't know how long we were filming it for, but I didn't talk to him the whole time. I thought, 'Give him space'. But he was always preparing for it. Sometimes you just joke around on set and stuff, but this was a really important bit.

"I mean, he gives an incredible performance at the end. It's weird to say it was good fun, but it was good fun because we did it in lots of different ways. It wasn't just always one way of doing it. It was very challenging and hard to get your head round it. It was good fun. It's very sad!"

Can you tell us anything about how Rich will react to Grace's death in upcoming episodes?
"I really want to leave that because I think people are going to be a bit like, 'Oh right!' People are going to be like, 'OK, what's going on?' I want to leave it really because I want to let people react how they react to it."



Do you think they'll be surprised?
"Yeah, they might be actually. I think they might be. I think people are going to definitely still think the best of Rich, want him to have the best and stuff, hopefully. His friends are there to help him. But I think the audience are going to still be thinking, 'Oh, I hope he's alright!'"

In the 'Next Week' clip at the end of the episode, it looked like we may see Grace's funeral next week. Is that right?
"In episode three, there's a thing at school - a memorial at school. But Rich goes away for a little bit and doesn't come back for a little bit - he doesn't go away for very long but he goes away for a little bit, so my character's not in episode three. But yeah, that's quite a good scene as well. That's Liv and Franky and Mini - I think it's a very touching scene."

Obviously Rich saw Grace when we know she was dead - does Grace come back again?
"She could do or she couldn't do! I think in the trailer you see glimpses of her in up-and-coming episodes, but whether that takes place in the past or present I'm not going to let out. She could appear. She appears, but whether it's in the present moment of year 13... it could be year 12, you know what I mean?"

What else can we expect for Rich in the next few episodes?
"It's hard... I'm just really protective of the storyline! I think Rich gets caught up in what happens more to his other friends and how they deal with it as well. He's there to talk about it as well, so he's maybe there for support, but at the same time maybe he has his own problems. I don't want to give it away!

"But he gets caught up in a lot of the other issues, because this whole storyline through Grace's death is all about grief. We all deal with it in certain way - Mini's one is maybe to sort of, I don't know, avoid it and have lots of sex with Alo, Franky's is whatever. We all deal with it in certain ways and Rich's is just one of them. He gets caught up in a lot of the other issues, a lot of the issues the characters have to deal with with the theme of grief and the impact of Grace's death."

Can we expect more shocks and surprises in the episodes to come?
"Yeah! There's a ton load! There's a lot. And that's what the second series is about. There's a lot more to come and I think it's going to surprise people. It's going to be exciting, actually!"

Skins airs on Mondays at 10pm on E4.

Let's recap: The Skins all went to Morocco and had a great time... until a horrible, hand-to-mouth car crash turned things sour, and left poor Gracie in a coma.

So what's next? Well, it's all about Rich this week - he's desperate to spend time with Grace, but Professor Blood's still banning him from the hospital. Will he be able to get reunited with his loved one?

We needed some pre-show gossip so we called Alex Arnold - who plays Rich - to find out more about the episode. Read on to see what he had to say, and then get back here at 9am tomorrow morning for some after-show chat!

So after that big shock last week, how's Rich reacting to Grace being in hospital?
"Rich's episode basically chronicles the relationship Rich and Grace have together. There's a lot of things that happen, that swing one way and then it swings another.

"It's quite a spooky episode in a way - not spooky as in horror film, but it's always on edge. And so Rich's reaction is to be there all the time and to do whatever he can to be with Grace. That's the thing that matters the most to him at that moment in his life.

"It's kind of make or break. It's kind of either the making of something great in his character, or the decline. [The episode] affects who he becomes later on and what he'll get from life afterwards. So he's on constant edge, and that's really how he reacts."

And Professor Blood's still banning him from the hospital, isn't he?
"That's right. There's 'Wanted' posters and flyers! Rich tries to sneak in and sort of befriends Isy Suttie's character, who's a nurse who looks after Grace. He has to use her, almost, as a person to give stuff to Grace or talk to Grace. But then he makes a very swift decision to just finally go in and try and see her."

You mentioned Isy and Chris Addison obviously plays Blood. But Liza Tarbuck plays your mum in this episode as well. What was it like working with all those guests?
"They're all amazing comedy actors and I guess I spent a good length of time with each of them. I knew Chris from series five. But yeah, they're amazing - they're an amazing bunch of people themselves. They're really nice people. Liza's really quite funny. And I'm a fan of Isy's from Peep Show. They're amazing actors and very talented individuals."

Alo and Rich start a band in this episode - did you enjoy that?
"Yeah, that was really fun. I didn't play anything before. I'm with my mate - we tried to start a little band but it didn't quite work out! But I used to sing and write the lyrics. But yeah, I picked up the bass and learnt a few things like the Pixies, Joy Division.

"Will [Merrick, who plays Alo] could already play the guitar - he'd played for four years or something. But we had some help from two great guys - Paul Childs taught us the guitar parts along with Matty Simpson, who does the theme song. They both composed the song and wrote the lyrics and we played.

"That was really good fun and something I've never done before. It was kind of an excuse to pick up an instrument and start playing. To film it was incredible, because we do a gig in a house and it felt like you're actually playing a gig because the crowd was going mental. Although it was kind of pretend, it felt real, and you felt like you were God on stage! It was really good fun."



But Rich and Alo's friendship gets tested in the episode, doesn't it?
"Yeah, it does actually. If there was a second part to the story, it would be the relationship between Rich and Alo. People have said it's kind of like a buddy movie... it feels like kind of a buddy story. It's not all sorrow and sadness - a lot of it is really great humour, and that's from the scripts. We have a little fight in the episode and that was quite funny to do and quite fun to film. I had a really good time with Will, actually, filming the episode. We both really enjoyed it."

It is quite an emotional episode - were you nervous about filming it at all?
"There was quite a big weight. I think that's for everyone, though, this series - a big weight on the sort of drama of it all. I would be lying if I said I didn't have any pressure. I wanted to give a really good performance.

"But I was supported by so many good people - the director Sam Donovan; Neil Duncan, who's the script supervisor; Dan Lovett, who actually wrote the script. I was with great actors like Will, Laya [Lewis].

"I actually had a really good, fun time doing it even though it was quite heavy stuff. In preparation, I didn't see my girlfriend for almost two weeks because I wanted to sort of know what that was like. I wouldn't know what it's like to have a girlfriend in a coma but to not be able to see her, that's the sort of thing that's really at the heart of it and that's what I thought would help my performance, and something I could use and think about. I was supported by so many great-minded people."

So why should people watch the episode?
"I think it's different to anything that happened last year, and that goes for the whole series, really. But there's some great moments in it like the band stuff, there's a good little bit of pathetic child fighting from me and Will Merrick! It's quite a touching episode really, and I think people are going to be sort of like, 'What?' Because it leaves it in a definite sort of place, like a final conclusion, but at the same time it leaves a lot of questions.

"I think [watch it] if you want to be tested, because I felt clever reading the script! It is a really clever script. I think it's going to make people think. So that's why I think you should watch it."

Skins airs tonight (January 30) at 10pm on E4.