The Musketeers launched big last Sunday - but tomorrow night, our heroes will face a foe even more intimidating than Mr Selfridge - dastardly new villain Vadim, played by Jason Flemyng.
Digital Spy got on the phone to Jason for a frank chat about The Musketeers, why he's a lucky charm for Doctor Who actors and why he won't talk about Star Wars.
The Musketeers was devised by Adrian Hodges, who you previously worked with on Primeval...
"Yeah, he's a lovely guy - we've always got on really well. When I left Primeval, it was my choice - the contract came up [so I left, but] I went back and did one episode to get me out of the show.
"It was something that I was proud of but I missed doing my movies. I think that's really where my heart lies - not jobs that go on for years and years. I'm too nomadic to do that.
"Adrian was really sweet about it, 'cos it left him in the lurch a little bit. Obviously he didn't have the hump that badly 'cos he campaigned to get me onto The Musketeers, which I loved. Absolutely loved."
You don't do a lot of television - do you get offered many TV roles?
"No, not really. Given the choice, I'd rather do a movie than a TV show just because that's my passion. But as everyone's aware, television is getting better and better and film scripts are getting worse and worse! I think we're just a couple of years behind America where all the best drama [is happening].
"Artistically the writers and directors are given much more freedom to do their own thing in TV - hence [David] Fincher working almost exclusively for Netflix now - he hasn't made a movie since Dragon Tattoo and I think that speaks volumes about the state of the American industry and I think the British industry's just behind it.
"If a TV script's really good, I'm up for it. I'm not snobby about it at all. I've just got this thing [with movies]… I'm not hugely brilliant but I'm prolific. I'm trying to hit 100 movies - that's my stupid, childish goal."
How many are you on right now?
"92 - I should be able to do it before my legs give out. Once I hit 100, it means I got away with it 100 times."
You'll be approaching Christopher Lee level...
"He's on 272 - don't think I'm not counting!"
How would you describe your Musketeers character Vadim?
"He's a real proper old-school villain. It was great fun. I don't have a moustache… well, it's an invisible one that I'm allowed to tweak occasionally! I loved it and all the boys I just fell in love with. Luke Pasqualino is amazing - I'm meant to be his enemy but I didn't know whether to smack him in the face or kiss him on the lips."
Were you a fan of any previous Musketeers adaptations, like the 1970s films?
"I loved them all. Roy Kinnear was one of my favourite actors of all time and he tragically died on a Musketeers shoot. But Michael York, Oliver Reed… that was a cracker.
"Ol' Nick Moran did one recently with Orlando [Bloom] - the big Hollywood one which died a death. I think our one pisses on that, to be honest. I think our one's great."
You don't share any scenes with Peter Capaldi, but did you get to meet him on set?
"Yeah! I've got a really good little exclusive for you. When I was doing Quatermass Experiment live with David Tennant, we sang a song that went, 'It's crazy but it's true - Tennant's playing Doctor Who!' and that was the day he got the Doctor Who gig. The day that Capaldi got the Doctor Who gig... there I was again on-set. The Doctors always get their gigs when they're with Flem!"
Of course, your father Gordon Flemyng directed Peter Cushing in the two 1960s Dalek movies...
"That's the other Doctor Who story I've got to tell you - when [Christopher] Eccleston got Doctor Who, I phoned Wales immediately and said, 'Listen guys, I've got to speak to you about Doctor Who' and they're like, 'It's cast… you can't play Doctor Who' - I said, 'I'm not interested in playing Doctor Who but I need to be the noise of the Dalek ship as it takes off.'
"My father was the noise of the Dalek ship in 1966 movie Dr Who and the Daleks in technicolour so no-one else can do that noise except me.
"They were like, 'Um… the Daleks fly' and I went, 'That's the most f**king ridiculous thing I've ever heard' and I slammed the phone down. It's nonsense. Unless they bring back the Dalek ship that takes off with the noise, then Jason Flemyng is not interested in Doctor Who in any way!"
I have to ask you about Star Wars - you posted a picture online with your copy of an audition script...
"Can we just say that it was a slight misjudgement on the Flemyng behalf? Put it this way - I won't be spending next Christmas at the Lucas ranch. Some excrement definitely hit the electronic fan."
Did you enjoy reading the script?
"No comment. You cannot get me to talk about Star Wars - I will literally be killed. I've learnt my lesson!"
Jason Flemyng stars in The Musketeers tomorrow night (Sunday, January 26) at 9pm on BBC One.
