Character: Arthur Ellis
Actor: Paul Brooke
Episode: The White Feather

Paul Brooke enjoyed working with the special effects team in Foyle's War.

"There is a scene in the dining room of the hotel where my character Arthur Ellis works and a gun goes off in the darkness. The only light is from my pipe, which was a special effect. As I put the pipe down, there was a wire up my arm that was lighting the bowl of the pipe.

"It's a crucial part of the storyline and I had to move my arm at the right angle. It's all very technical and takes a long time to set up, but it was really interesting to watch and take part in.

"Arthur Ellis runs a hotel with his wife Margaret and he is quiet and downtrodden. My wife's family run hotels and pubs and I know it is hard work. I felt sympathetic towards him - he has a tough life and Margaret gives him a hard time."Paul enjoyed being reunited with Maggie Steed who plays his wife. "We've been friends for a long time and played husband and wife in 1980 in The History Man. So we settled into our roles quite easily.

"It was also good to work on such an interesting script, set in a particular milieu. The idea of doing the story against the war background, with the Dunkirk landings forming part of the plot, gives it a spice."

Paul's TV credits include Bertie and Elizabeth, The Relic Hunter, The Scold's Bridle, A Dance to the Music of Time, The Moonstone, Ain't Misbehavin' and The Kit Curran Radio Show. For Your Eyes Only, Return of the Jedi, Greystoke, Scandal, Splitting Heirs, Saving Grace and Bridget Jones's Diary are among his films.

"I've had a great career - over the years I have worked with several of my idols, travelled all over the world and kept working. As a character actor that is the most important thing. I have only ever murdered twice - but there is a long list of people I'd love to murder in the friendliest sort of way!"

September 2002; Publicity Release