Character: James Collier
Actor: Nicholas Farrell
Episode: The Funk Hole

Nicholas Farrell was pleased to be reunited with Michael Kitchen in Foyle's War - even though he plays a rival to Foyle."My character John (sic) Collier comes down and suspends Foyle from duty on suspicion of sedition. He appears to be a very good detective, an affable man who is ambitious for his career. But he's not all he appears, due to a wartime tragedy of which there must have been many.

"He is an interesting character because he shows initiative and takes a few risks. He doesn't get on well with Sam and sends her back to her old job in the mechanised transport division. Although he likes Milner, he is surprised and disappointed when the sergeant goes behind his back to talk to Foyle.

"I worked with Michael in To Play The King. He played the Prince and I was his private secretary so we worked quite closely. I really admire him and think he's one of the best actors of his generation. I like to think that we got on well - we talked all the scenes through beforehand, particularly the tough ones, so that we were coming from the same aeroplane."

Nicholas also enjoyed the period clothing.

"I wore double breasted suits, all browns, light and dark. They were good period colours and a contrast with what Michael was wearing. I love that period and the costume, it's a flattering style for men. I also loved the house, Chilworth Manor near Guildford, where we filmed. They had fantastic gardens and we were there in the heatwave - it was as nice a place as you could wish to be in 85 degrees!"

Nicholas is back to the 21st century for his next two roles.

"I play a health minister in Absolute Power - a man who claims to be urban fox watching at two in the morning. It's good fun and most of my scenes are with Stephen Fry. Of course, playing a cabinet minister touting on the heath has absolutely no connection to anyone in real life.

"I'm also in Reversals for ITV1, playing the head of the medical school in Manchester who finds himself falling in lust with the woman doctor who comes to see him - but unfortunately this is really Marc Warren in drag!"

His other TV credits include Rockface, Spooks, The Jury, Sex Chips & Rock'n'Roll, Sharpe, Bramwell, The Riff Raff Element and Lipstick On Your Collar, and he has appeared in the films Charlotte Grey, Pearl Harbor, Hamlet, In The Bleak Midwinter and Chariots of Fire.