Doctor Foster actor Bertie Carvel DEFENDS cheating character: 'It's complex'

The nation has been gripped by BBC drama Doctor Foster for weeks as viewers see power slowly slip from his grasp and his scorned wife Gemma [Suranne Jones] seek revenge.

But actor Bertie Carvel thinks the outpouring of vitriol aimed at the philander is misplaced, saying: “He has redeeming features…is this guy a villain or is there a nuanced three-dimensional person in there?

“He hates [Gemma], he loves her. He loves to hate her. It’s complex. He’s angry with Gemma, he’s angry with himself. All of these things that make a complex human being. I was persuading myself this isn’t a two-dimensional bad guy.”

Millions have recoiled at the sight of the bearded businessman in the smash hit psychological thriller, but today Bertie, 40, appeared on This Morning clean shaven, looking nothing like the cold hearted cheat he portrays on screen.

Of the series he told hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield: “It’s about justice. It’s about revenge and what should happen when things go wrong.

The series, written by Mike Barlett, has gripped audiences who have been transfixed as Gemma comes to terms with her husband’s infidelity, the end of her marriage and his wedding to the woman he cheated on.

Doctor Foster has consistently drawn six million viewers each episode with a further three million watching on catch up.

Despite the massive success of the second series, actor Bertie said he had to think hard about playing the part, adding: “I always think carefully about whether or not I’ve got something I want to say, whether I think I can do something special, and I think carefully about that.

“I love Mike’s plays, and it was a great part. Mike is writing something in conversation with the nation’s appetite for revenge. I would like to think redemption is possible for anyone at any stage.”

The programme has been such a success here that it is now being remade in Russia.

BBC Worldwide has sold the scripted format to production company Star Media for broadcast next year in a series starring actress Kseniya Rappoport.