Nick Blood on Twenty Twenty Six, his Agents of SHIELD reunion – and his name’s origin

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Actor Nick Blood spoke with TopMob about the new show Twenty Twenty Six, a sequel to W1A. He plays Phil Plank, a former footballer who now enforces rules on the sports field.

RT: Do you get a lot of comments on your name?

People often think my name is a stage name, something I made up, but it’s actually what my parents named me. It’s a bit of a double-edged sword – it’s easy to remember, which is great, but sometimes I’d prefer to be less recognizable.

The story goes that the term ‘blood’ in ‘Captain Blood’ comes from pirates – there were many captains with that nickname, not just the fictional one. But it’s more likely the name simply came from someone who worked with blood, like a butcher.

Honestly, before I started working on Twenty Twenty Six, I was already a huge fan of Ian Fletcher’s work! I’d been following his stuff for a while, and I was so excited to get the chance to contribute to this world he’s created – it’s quickly becoming known as the ‘Ian Fletcher-verse,’ which I think is a really cool name!

I’ve been following their work from the beginning, and I think the humor appeals to everyone. It really captures how much public relations and careful maneuvering dominate our world, especially for people working in public roles. It’s just entertaining to watch them attempt to fix issues while trying to please so many different people.

Did you struggle at all with John Morton’s notoriously tricky scripts?

The show feels so realistic that you’d think a lot of the dialogue is made up on the spot. But when you actually see the scripts, you realize every little pause and filler word is carefully written. It wasn’t until I read the complete scripts that I fully understood how difficult it is to create that natural feel.

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It’s surprising, but the most exhausting parts of acting aren’t the big action scenes or emotionally intense moments. Instead, it’s the mental strain of sitting for hours in a stuffy room, trying to recall your lines without stumbling – that really wears you out.

It’s definitely a good job to have, especially when you consider others have much tougher roles. Still, it’s incredibly mentally exhausting. Hugh Bonneville and I even resorted to buying oxygen canisters online and using them throughout the day just to stay alert. And John is very attentive – he’ll immediately notice if you stumble over your words or use too many filler words like ‘um’.

You play ex-footballer Phil Plank. Was he influenced by any real-life figures?

I love football and listen to a ton of podcasts about it. Honestly, that’s all I really need to stay entertained. I even keep a running list on my phone of funny or strange things football commentators say.

It’s unfair to assume footballers aren’t intelligent. Often, they’re put in front of cameras and microphones without any media training, and sometimes they say surprisingly insightful things. I was particularly thinking about Gary Neville, who always approaches things with a lot of seriousness and dedication.

He’s likely a popular subject for memes – probably because of his expressive face and tendency to strongly react to what he sees as right or wrong behavior from football players.

Was it stressful to do ‘Keepie-Uppies’ in front of a full crew?

It’s exciting to think about so many people watching on television! I was really nervous, though. Practicing in the dressing room is one thing, but having a camera focused on you is completely different. It felt like being back in school, with everyone challenging you to perform.

Were you disappointed that Twenty Twenty Six isn’t actually filmed in Florida, where it’s set?

I was really let down by that. I kept hoping, ‘It’s a BBC comedy, so maybe they couldn’t afford it…’ But no, we ended up filming in Mill Hill during the hottest time of year with no air conditioning.

As a film buff, I always appreciate attention to detail, and the way they created the Miami atmosphere in that movie was actually pretty clever. They just didn’t use air conditioning! It got incredibly hot on set, honestly sweltering. I remember they’d wheel in these massive fans between shots, trying to get some relief for everyone.

Honestly, the commute to Mill Hill and back felt just as long and frustrating as a trip to Miami!

You’re known for playing very different characters. How do you manage to avoid being typecast after a role like the one in ‘The Day of the Jackal’?

I believe I understand. When someone becomes famous for just one thing, it can be difficult for people to see them as capable of anything else – they get stuck with that label.

I do try to be intentional about choosing projects, especially those that push me outside my comfort zone. I want to keep challenging myself and avoid getting stuck in a rut, because doing the same thing repeatedly can get boring. Hopefully, I can maintain that flexibility and continue to take on diverse roles.

Something I’ve really appreciated throughout my career is the ability to reinvent myself. It’s been easy to change how people perceive me – a simple change in appearance is enough to create a fresh impression.

It was great working with Iain De Caestecker again! We recently collaborated on a short film, and it was a fun experience.

Iain and I have been best friends for years – he was even my best man! We’ve always talked about working together, and recently started brainstorming ideas. This short film is actually a stepping stone towards a larger feature film we’d like to make, and a way for us to gain more directing experience.

This story is a bit quirky, but it deals with important issues. It follows a man in the Scottish wilderness who initially intends to end his life, but instead finds a path toward healing and learns how to survive.

We were just discussing some other projects we’re interested in, and we really enjoy making short films because they allow us complete creative freedom. If this short film does well, we’d love to keep working together on similar projects.

Would you play Phil Plank again in a W1A-style continuation of Twenty Twenty Six?

I really enjoyed playing Phil Plank! I think there’s a lot of potential for comedic moments with that character. He often confuses Ian Fletcher, and I’d definitely be interested in developing that dynamic further.

Which other Ian Fletcher-verse characters would you like to share a scene with?

As a film buff, I’m a huge admirer of Olivia Colman. Her performance in Twenty Twelve really stuck with me – the way she portrayed all that hidden longing and the sadness of her character, Sally Owen, was just phenomenal. I often think about how fascinating it would be to see her share a scene with Phil Plank; they’d be such an unexpectedly quirky pairing!

Twenty Twenty Six premieres on BBC Two and iPlayer on Wednesday 8 April 2026.

Don’t miss ‘Twenty Twenty Six’! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob ‘What to Watch’ app. Download the app now for daily TV recommendations and exclusive content.

Authors

David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig writes about television and streaming drama and comedy for TopMob. Before joining them, he worked at Starburst Magazine and hosted The Winter King Podcast on ITVX. He has a journalism degree from the University of Sheffield.

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2026-04-08 19:11