Greg Davies 'honoured' to work with his hero, Rik Mayall

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Comedian Greg Davies says he's thrilled his hero Rik Mayall is playing his dad in his new Channel 4 sitcom Man Down.

The Inbetweeners actor, who stars as drama teacher Dan, tells TV Times he's always been a huge fan of Rik.

"Without wanting to sound too creepy about it, I felt honoured to be in Rik's presence.

"He's one of my heroes. He's a lovely man and a serious professional. He doesn't come in and go, 'Let's be wacky and hit each other,' he goes, 'Let's get this right.'"

After being a drama and English teacher for 13 years and playing sixth form head Mr Gilbert in The Inbetweeners, Greg was adamant he wouldn't write a comedy about a teacher.

"But then when I started writing it, it felt like a lie. So I thought, 'Sod it, make him a teacher.'"

Man Down starts on Friday, October 18 on Channel 4. 

David Hollingsworth
David Hollingsworth
Editor

David is the What To Watch Editor and has over 20 years of experience in television journalism. He is currently writing about the latest television and film news for What To Watch.

Before working for What To Watch, David spent many years working for TV Times magazine, interviewing some of television's most famous stars including Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland, singer Lionel Richie and wildlife legend Sir David Attenborough. 

David started out as a writer for TV Times before becoming the title's deputy features editor and then features editor. During his time on TV Times, David also helped run the annual TV Times Awards. David is a huge Death in Paradise fan, although he's still failed to solve a case before the show's detective! He also loves James Bond and controversially thinks that Timothy Dalton was an excellent 007.

Other than watching and writing about telly, David loves playing cricket, going to the cinema, trying to improve his tennis and chasing about after his kids!