What drew you to the role of Mr Bennet?

The script. Sorry to state the obvious, but it’s always the script. When it arrived one evening I thought I’d flick through the opening episode, read up until the first commercial break and then read it properly the next day. I couldn’t put it down and I missed dinner. Quite simply I had to know what happened next. Guy Andrews’ Mr Bennet is endearing and irritating in equal measure; he’s a properly complex character and that’s a very attractive proposition for any actor.

How does your Mr Bennet compare to those that have gone before?

Any resemblance between my portrayal of Mr Bennet and that of Benjamin Whitrow (in the BBC’s 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice) is purely intentional. Always steal from the best.

How did you find working with Alex Kingston?

I’ve known Alex for over 25 years, as we were in the National Youth Theatre together. She hasn’t changed a bit. She’s full of good humour, utterly lacking in guile but nobody’s fool – after all, she’s played Boudicca! Our children are the same age so we’d witter on about them most of the time, boring the young singletons of the cast to tears.

Do you feel that Lost in Austen is true to the world of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice?

Guy Andrews’ passion for all things Georgian and for Jane Austen in particular resonates in every scene. If you know the book you will relish the mishaps that befall these iconic characters. If you’ve never read a word of Austen you will quickly find yourself involved in a wonderful literary adventure.

How does Claude feel about life in the Bennet household?

Almost everything about the Bennet household exasperates dear Claude. The number of women, the constant quest for society and above all the noise. Oh dear God, the noise. His study, a world of books and spheres and reflection and untroubled snores, is the haven to which he habitually retreats. I think there’s a bit of a Mr Bennet in most men who, if they don’t have a study, probably have a shed.

Does Mr Bennet worry about Mrs Bennet’s plans for his daughters?

Claude thinks little of his wife’s ambition for his daughters’ futures for the simple reason he can’t make sense of what she’s banging on about most of the time. It’s all so much white noise. Too often he retreats to his study in times of crisis, shirking his responsibilities as a parent. Finally, he is forced into action and I think a little part of him grows up at long last.

How does Mr Bennet feel about Amanda Price? Does he like the effect she has on his family?

Lizzie is clearly Claude’s favourite daughter, the brightest spark. And in Amanda Price he sees many of the same qualities. She may wear very peculiar clothes, speak in an urban vernacular the like of which he has never heard, but her effervescent spirit and evident good sense makes her a natural ally during Lizzie’s temporary absence. As far as Claude is concerned, Amanda is the only woman in Longbourn who occasionally manages to think before speaking; his brood could do well to learn from her.

Does Amanda change the story of Pride and Prejudice for the better?

As to Amanda’s effect on the story of Pride and Prejudice, who knows? Maybe the story isn’t over.

How did you find working with Jemima Rooper?

Jemima and I did a play a few years ago at Hampstead and got on famously. She’s captivating as Amanda and I think will win the audience’s collective heart in an instant. Her Amanda is by turns, romantic and spunky, lonely and the passionate life and soul of the party. Audiences will feel they know her, care about her, are her, even. You can’t help but smile when you’re in her company – on screen and off to be honest – so I think viewers will love going on this roller coaster ride with her.

Can you share your most memorable moment from filming?

We were filming in the dank, dreary days of November. Mud everywhere. To protect the delicate shoes of the Bennet family women the costume department provided them all with pink Ugg boots. Mr Bennet alone had boring old wellies to get him from the unit base to the set. Mr Bennet went into something of a blue funk, metaphorically shutting his study door for days on end. But then one drizzly morning he came into work to find that his green wellies had been painted bright pink, and he smiled. So I want to thank the costume department for making this Mr Bennet feel part of his family once more.