McKenzie: 'Southland isn't like US TV'

Benjamin McKenzie has revealed that he signed up to Southland because it does not "spoonfeed" the audience.

Speaking to PA, the actor explained that he had not planned on joining another television show after finishing The O.C.

"I really loved doing The O.C. but I was just burnt out from that schedule, which was very intense, and I had a couple of films to do and I was hoping I could do some more theatre," he said. "So I hadn't read any scripts for television but then my agent sent me this and I really loved the writing."

He continued: "It's very detailed and very unlike a lot of American television, where they really spoonfeed the audience the plotline and emotions."

However, McKenzie explained that he could not be a police officer like his character Ben Sherman.

"I don't think I would be strong enough," he said. "They see a lot of really bad stuff, they see people behaving badly to each other all the time, to me that's too... I need to be around a positive environment. But I respect the hell out of them for doing it."

Southland was recently renewed for a third season. The first run premieres in the UK on July 1 at 10pm on More4.