'EVERY SERIES SURPRISED US'

As Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith prepare to go Inside No 9 for the last time, they reflect on a decade of dark comedy and the joys and challenges of creating 55 different worlds to delight viewers

- LAUREN MORRIS

From playing murderous Cambridge professors and cat burglars to killer magicians and call centre employees, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith have taken on all kinds of twisted characters throughout Inside No 9’s run.

Now, the double act are retiring their award-winning dark comedy after one last series – which fittingly happens to be the ninth.

“We’re not treating it too differently to any of the series really – it’s always manic,” says Steve, 56, of the anthology series. “People keep asking us how we feel, but we’re just focusing on making this. I think filming the last episode will be hard.”

Reece, 54, adds, “These scripts have been in our heads for a long time, so it’s nice when you finally get to do them. It probably hasn’t dawned on us yet that it’s the last one.”

Despite picking up multiple Baftas and a steady rise in ratings, the duo know it’s “ the right time” to officially close the door to No 9.

“We feel really lucky to have got to nine,” says Steve. “We don’t have any doubts that it’s the right time to leave it while people are still enjoying it and finding it surprising. The moment a show becomes predictable, it’s dead for us.”