'Skins': Laya Lewis previews the premiere

So, will you be tuning in tonight? Skins is back with a brand new series, and the gang are partying it up in Morocco. But it turns out that things might not go exactly to plan...

We've already brought you chats from the cast on set, but we can never have enough Skins! So we called up Laya Lewis - who plays Liv - to have a little chat about tonight's opening episode.

Read on to find out what you can expect from the instalment... and then check back tomorrow for some gossip about what's coming up in the next few episodes!

Are you excited about people seeing the first episode?
"Yeah, I'm really, really excited. It's already out on 4OD and it's had a really good reception, so I can't wait for it to come out on E4."

What was it like for you to watch it?
"I was just really, really proud. We had so much fun in Morocco, and it definitely shows on screen."

What was it like filming in Morocco? There's a party on the beach and some scenes on motorbikes that look like great fun.
"Yeah! I mean all those scenes took hours and hours, and it was so hot. So it was basically just as much work but in boiling hot weather! But still, because it's Morocco it just didn't feel like we were working, not too much."

Did it feel like you'd just gone on holiday together?
"Yeah. I mean, up until [a certain point in the episode] there's no particularly heavy stuff in Morocco. It's all kind of fun, so it wasn't really emotionally draining or anything, it was just a laugh."



What's going on with Liv in the episode?
"She's literally just being herself. I think after all the stuff last year, all the drama and stuff, she's completely forgotten about it, and I think she's grown up. They've all grown up, and they're just having fun. I think it's not really a complicated episode - not the beginning of it, anyway. They're literally just a group of friends finally just having fun without the drama, really."

You mentioned that Liv's grown up - how do you think she's changed?
"I think last series she was all about chasing Matty and stuff, and for me, I thought that was such a shame because that shouldn't be the kind of girl she is - she comes across as being quite independent. I think she's grown up in that sense. And also, she's not a little Mini follower anymore. She doesn't do that this series, which is nice."

You mentioned Matty - his relationship with Franky isn't going that well, is it?
"No, not at all. But I don't think Liv's particularly bothered by that. I think Franky's just too... too special. I don't think she can be held down by one guy. I think they've got a very odd relationship."

So for people who haven't watched episode one yet, why should they tune in tonight?
"Because it's kind of like a Skins favourite for me. My favourite episodes were always the ones where you just saw a group of friends having fun with each other and actually liking each other, instead of arguing. Those were always my favourite episodes.

"And also it's shocking at the end. I'm not sure, even if you do expect it, you don't know how it's going to happen. So it's great - it's got everything. It's got fun, it's got the emotional stuff, and yeah, I just think it's one of the best."

Skins returns tonight (Monday, January 23) at 10pm on E4. You can watch the first episode now on 4OD.