Character: Stan Davies
Actor: John McArdle
Episode: Invasion

John McArdle jumped at the chance of playing air raid warden Stan Davies in Foyle's War because it's a rare character role.

"Stan is a good, honest, solid man. He's doing his bit for the war effort in civil defence by fighting fires. He's only in his late 40s but he's a pipe, slippers and cardigan man because middle-aged men in that era were considered a lot older and dressed that way.

"Normally I get tough police guys and this was a venture into a character part with a different accent, which was amazing for me. I loved working with Michael Kitchen again - we met on A&E and it was a pleasure to work with Keith Barron and Jane Wood as Stan's wife."

Stan is questioned by Foyle after the murder of his daughter Susan (Zoë Tapper).

"He worships his daughter and wants the best for her, though he accepts she's a bit wayward. When he hears of her death he tries to hold it together. He has the strength men had in those days, carrying the pride of a generation - they had to show they were real men. My dad was a bit like that," says John.

"I've done costume dramas before, The Cazalets and Seaforth, but what I like about Foyle's War is that you forget that crime was going on during the war - there were murders and robberies all around."

John made his name as Billy Corkhill in Brookside and has since played a number of policemen in Prime Suspect, Merseybeat and, most recently, The Bill. His other credits include Out of Hours, Gifted, Dalziel and Pascoe, My Fragile Heart and Finney.

"I know I will always be known as Billy Corkhill but I can't complain about my career because as soon as I left Brookside I got lots of offers. I don't necessarily get offered the cheeky chappy parts any more because I'm meeting a generation of young directors who have never seen Brookside.

"I'm playing the new commander on The Bill and it's a great drama. I've done it three times before, playing villains, and now I'm a high ranking policeman. I started off as a PC in Seaforth, was a DC in Coronation Street, a DCI in Prime Suspect, then I dropped down to an Inspector in Merseybeat and then rose to Superintendent at the end of the series. I reckon I should get a police pension!"

John is now starring in a film for the British Council called London to Brighton.

"I play a psychopath, the complete opposite of Stan in Foyle's War and it's a great challenge, but I'm very pleased to be doing it."