C'est MAGNIFIQUE!

ROBIN ASKWITH and SUE HOLDERNESS on why life in the French town of Sainte Victoire couldn't be better

- ROBIN ASKWITH and SUE HOLDERNESS

THE MADAME BLANC MYSTERIES
THURSDAY, 9PM, 5 DRAMA

As Sue Holderness and Robin Askwith join TV Times for an exclusive chat, we quickly deduce that they're every bit as fun-loving in real life as their characters, wealthy chateau owners Judith and Jeremy Lloyd James, in 5's hit whodunnit The Madame Blanc Mysteries.

'We're very assiduous about our time off when we're filming,' says Sue, 75, with a twinkle in her eyes. 'We make sure we have meals together often, because that's how we bond - and a little bit of Prosecco somehow helps.'

'It is slightly more complicated than that - we have piles of scripts with us,' adds Robin, 74. 'Some would say our lines become less coherent as the evening goes on, but with more confidence thrown in!'

In this week's instalment of the sun-soaked fourth series, Judith and Jeremy showcase their own sleuthing skills to catch some con artists who have been staging car accidents near the fictional French town of Sainte Victoire, and pursuing drivers for compensation.

But can they catch the culprits red-handed?

Here, original cast members Sue and Robin talk chemistry, clothes and capers...

Did you enjoy Judith and Jeremy playing detective in this episode?

SUE Yes, I got to drive a 1960s Mercedes convertible and I didn't want to get out of it! Usually Robin gets to do the driving, but I whizzed around in the car, which was very thrilling.

ROBIN It was very hot though, Sue, if you remember? In the scenes where we were in a van, I was in the back with Sir Tony Robinson [who plays Patrick], Paul Chuckle [who returns this week as Trevor] and a camera crew, in 35-degree heat...