Steve Pemberton has confessed he had to pinch himself every day on the set of Mapp And Lucia, because the project was such a dream come true for him.

The Benidorm star plays the flamboyant Georgie Pillson in the new BBC adaptation of the classic EF Benson stories which he also wrote. Mapp And Lucia stars Miranda Richardson and Anna Chancellor in the title roles as the two social queens of a small seaside town in the 1920s.

Asked to name his favourite scene of the series, Steve revealed: “All the scenes for me, I love the books so much and all the characters I’m just pinching myself for every day, a) that we’re here in Rye in Benson’s house and garden but b) that I’ve had the opportunity not only to play this character but adapted the scripts as well, it’s very rewarding.”
The League Of Gentlemen star also revealed a little of what viewers can expect from his role.

Steve Pemberton as Georgie Pillson in Mapp and Lucia
Steve Pemberton as Georgie Pillson in Mapp And Lucia (BBC)

He said: “My character Georgie Pillson is Lucia’s right-hand man, if she’s the queen then Georgie would be her chief courtier. Lucia arrives and then moves herself straight into Mallards and installs herself at the top of the tree and that has a knock on effect with everybody else.

“Mapp who has been queen of Tilling up until this point is dethroned by Lucia and Georgie, like everybody else – all these lovely characters surrounding these two amazing women – just loves the whole battle going on. He’s very much on Lucia’s side and in her corner.”

The cast of Mapp and Lucia
(BBC)

Mapp And Lucia begins on BBC One on December 29.