Jack Whitehall talks his dark new psychopath role and his plans for an all-new sitcom

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Most new parents fill their homes with the sounds of children’s songs, TV shows like CBeebies, and calming music. But comedian Jack Whitehall had a unique experience – while getting to know his newborn daughter Elsie, he was also preparing for a very different role: playing a sinister nanny in the thriller film, Malice. You definitely won’t find that in any parenting guide!

Preparing for the role was a bit unsettling for him, creating a strange contrast with his happy home life with his fiancée, Roxy Horner. He was researching characters who initially seem charming but are actually dangerously unstable. “The weeks before rehearsals started were really odd,” he says. “I was enjoying a wonderful time with the baby, but also trying to get my head around this dark character.”

One day, Roxy popped over while Elsie and I were watching the movie Psycho. Elsie was probably a little young for it, especially with Anthony Perkins in it, but Roxy was so small I figured it would be okay!

Just two weeks after Elsie was born, James Wood, who wrote the show, gave me a strange gift: a book about a French serial killer, along with some flowers. He congratulated me on the baby, then handed me a story about a man who murdered his whole family. That’s what I ended up reading during my first month as a new father.

Jack Whitehall didn’t just read the script and watch movies to prepare for his role. In the series ‘The Tutor,’ his character, Adam, quickly wins over the wealthy Tanner family (played by David Duchovny and Carice van Houten) while vacationing in Greece. To convincingly portray Adam’s charm, Whitehall had to learn skills like cooking, bartending, dancing, and swimming. “Adam is skilled at everything, which was a real challenge!” Whitehall jokes. “I usually play characters who aren’t very good at things, so this was harder.”

Throughout the show, it’s revealed that Adam is not who he seems. He’s secretly intent on destroying the family, and the reason behind his actions isn’t fully understood until the very last episode.

At 37, actor Edward Whitehall landed a dream role playing a compelling villain. With a theatrical family – his parents were a theatre agent and an actor, and he counts Nigel Havers and Richard Griffiths as godfathers – he says he’d always been passionate about acting. However, despite a few minor TV appearances as a child, he doubted his abilities and ultimately pursued a career in stand-up comedy instead.

At just 21 years old, he quickly gained recognition in the comedy world, winning the Best Newcomer award at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards for his first show. He continued to receive praise, including being highlighted as a rising star by Variety magazine. While he’s also acted in popular shows like Fresh Meat and Bad Education (which he helped create and write), he’s always wanted a role like the one he now plays as Adam.

I practically grew up on 80s and 90s American movies, and I always noticed it was the British actors who just owned every villain role. Alan Rickman as the Sheriff of Nottingham in ‘Robin Hood’ completely blew me away – I was obsessed! Then I saw ‘Malice,’ which is a totally different vibe, but honestly, part of me was rooting for Adam to mess with that family. They were just so over-the-top and… well, strangely appealing, you know?

It’s amusing to watch him playfully tease them, though sometimes he takes it too far. You find yourself thinking, ‘He could have just kept it lighthearted, he didn’t need to cause so much chaos.’

With scenes shot on location in the beautiful Greek island of Paros – home to the Tanners’ stunning white villa – “Malice” is visually appealing. It’s already being compared to the popular American series “The White Lotus” because of its blend of drama, mystery, and comedy.

Whitehall notes that television is currently full of lavish and extravagant settings, which viewers seem to enjoy. However, he also points out that there’s a certain appeal in seeing wealthy or privileged characters face difficulties and challenges.

Writers like Mike White and Jesse Armstrong are skilled at blending comedy and drama in their work. White, known for both humorous and dramatic writing, and Armstrong, who moved from the comedy ‘Peep Show’ to the acclaimed drama ‘Succession,’ demonstrate this ability well. This blurring of genres actually mirrors how we experience life, where funny and serious moments often coexist.

Jack Whitehall is continuing to pursue both comedy and drama. He still tours as a stand-up comedian to sold-out crowds and is well-known for shows like A League of Their Own. He explains that after starting comedy at age 17, he was ready for something new. “I’ve been doing comedy for a long time, and while I still enjoy it, I need to keep challenging myself, which is why I was so excited about this opportunity.”

As a film and TV enthusiast, I’m really excited about the projects I’m juggling right now. I’m actually writing a sitcom, which is a fun change of pace. I’m also collaborating with other writers on a couple of movies – one’s a big, silly comedy, and the other is leaning more towards drama. Honestly, I just love the variety and always want to push myself with new creative challenges.

Of course, balancing work and being a father was a challenge. While filming in Greece, Whitehall was accompanied by his daughters, Roxy and Elsie, as his character, Adam, began escalating his torment of the Tanner family – starting with small acts of cruelty and escalating to serious revenge plots.

It’s been a bit odd switching between filming really intense scenes and then going home to take care of my baby. But honestly, it could be a lot worse. It was great to see everyone so supportive of me playing such a dark character – they all came out to cheer on ‘Daddy the psychopath!’

James Wood created Malice with his star in mind

I’ve always been captivated by James Wood’s writing, especially his brilliant comedy ‘Rev,’ which starred Tom Hollander as a vicar. It was amazing how he and Tom collaborated to build that character, Adam Smallbone. Knowing that, it makes perfect sense he wrote ‘Malice’ with Jack Whitehall in mind – it feels like that same close, character-focused approach.

Wood fondly remembers writing the series ‘Rev’ with Tom. They often met with priests together during the process. She explains that working with someone you connect with on a personal and creative level can be a truly enjoyable experience.

I’ve always liked creating a character specifically with an actor in mind, and with Malice, Jack participated in some of the initial script discussions.

We came up with the idea of having a nanny who was a bit of a wildcard, and Jack immediately seemed like the perfect fit. He’s naturally charismatic and hilarious, and we thought he’d be great at keeping kids entertained. Plus, it would be really interesting – and funny – to see him play a character who’s a little bit unpredictable.

Since Chris Whitehead is famous for his comedy, was he concerned that audiences wouldn’t believe him playing a frightening character in a serious, suspenseful drama?

I’ve always loved how comedians surprise you by taking on roles you wouldn’t expect. Think about Robin Williams or Peter Sellers – they were masters of it! To me, the key is creating something that feels real and heartfelt, but still manages to be funny and original. It’s about finding that sweet spot where it’s both emotionally honest and genuinely entertaining.

Originally, they considered a well-known actor for the role of Adam in ‘Malice,’ and that could have worked well. But Jack really brings the character to life. It also feels like audiences today are drawn to stories about deception, as we’ve seen with the popularity of shows like ‘The Tinder Swindler,’ ‘Baby Reindeer,’ and ‘Traitors’.

All six episodes of Malice will be available to watch on Friday 14th November on Prime Video.

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2025-11-11 20:43