Warren Brown stars in The Responder on BBC One

The five-part drama, three episodes of which have aired, is written by former Merseyside Police officer Tony Schumacher, who was a first responder in Liverpool for 10 years.

Warren says this helps provide an ‘absolute authenticity’ to the script, which focuses on Chris Carson, played by Martin Freeman, and the stresses of his job which are getting to him when taking on night shifts in the city.

Warren plays Ray Mullen, who we don’t know too much about early on but he emerges as a policeman with a strong dislike for Chris’ character to the point where he is focused on bringing him down and destroying him professionally.

The 43-year-old also has an interest in Chris’ wife and that is another layer to the hatred to destroy him personally too.

Warren, who has been based in London for 12 years, said: “It’s a great character. You have to like your character and not a lot of people like this character which was quite interesting.

“The first response for The Responder seems to be brilliant.”

The Shameless and Hollyoaks star had a break during coronavirus, a part of which he spent with his mum in Paddington.

“The opportunity to get back to work was amazing working with the calibre of people in the show, but also to get back up north and be filming in Liverpool was brilliant.

“I had been super full-on filming that and I was anticipating carrying on that steamroller after Strike Back.

“It’s just great to get back to work on a great script with brilliant people and being back up north was a bonus.”

Martin Freeman stars in The Responder

Warren is pleased that there is a particular focus on mental health and the underlying messages that are portrayed.

He continued: “What really appealed to me was that it doesn’t really focus on the procedural.

“Martin Freeman is a phenomenal actor and in this he is unbelievable and we don’t shy away from the fact he is having therapy as well.

“It’s important, now more than ever and not just in the police force, and it doesn’t get spoken about enough.

“The pressures that staff in the police are under and the toll that takes are highlighted. If that gets a conversation started that’s great.

“Going one step further and looking outside of the police force after the past 18 months we have had, the conversations about mental health, seeking help and talking about it are more important than ever.

“It’s entertainment but if that gets a conversation going then that’s brilliant as well.”

Warren acknowledges that it hasn’t always been commonplace to discuss these issues, but he is proud to be a part of the change.

“Coming from Warrington and a working-class background, we’re brought up in a place where you don’t show your emotions and you don’t talk about your feelings – hopefully it’s getting better and better – but in these last few years people are talking and seeking help.

“This drama isn’t setting out to do that, but with any high-profile show, there are talking points so if some people do talk about it, it’s a bonus.”