Sid Talks Primeval, Return to TV

Unreality TV talked to Alexander Siddig about his co-starring role in Primeval, premiering New Year’s day in the UK and US. This marks his return to sci-fi television, 11 years after Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Primeval with a brand new character. What can you tell us about Philip? Philip is one of those guys who donates loads of money to a political party and gets a peerage or something. He’s clearly really close to the political powers-that-be, so he’s their representative on Earth. But he’s an entrepreneur; a scientific entrepreneur to be exact. He’s invented loads of stuff and become a billionaire as a result. He sees the ARC as his new playground. And he’s coming to play.

How does he rule the ARC?

It’s his toy. He’s a consummate politician and he’s excellent with people. Well, he thinks he is. He’s forever manipulating people, albeit in a benign way, to get them to do what he wants.

How do the established members of the ARC react to him?

Ben Miller’s character is quietly tolerant of him, because there’s a touch of the Labrador about Lester. Philip sees him as a domesticated animal, so he kind of eats him for lunch. Obviously Connor is a little bit different and Philip targets him and starts to groom him. He realises how important Connor could be, and he sees him as kind of a genius. Philip really starts to encourage him and sees him as a real hope for the future. Of course, Abby is pretty annoyed about that. I don’t think Philip really knows why and maybe it’s because he’s taken her boyfriend away, or maybe she thinks his suits are too well pressed.

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