Laurie: 'Dr House is pretty damaged'

Hugh Laurie has admitted that his titular character on House is "pretty damaged".

Talking to ET Online, Laurie also teased details of the Fox show's upcoming sixth season.

"He is pretty damaged," Laurie said. "He is pretty much where he was at the end of season five. In this case, the season picks up only a matter of days after season five ended and House is going through a pretty harrowing medical and psychiatric experience."

He added: "He is trying to keep himself in check, curb his acerbic tongue and connect with people in a way he hadn't done previously. How long it will last remains to be seen. I have my doubts."

Discussing House's apparent hallucination at the end of series five - in which he slept with Cuddy - Laurie joked: "It will be addressed, but teasingly, and it will probably take four and a half years."

He also revealed that as a result of the mental illness storyline, the series has become affiliated with the National Alliance on Mental Illness.