Steve Coogan has said he is bound by “strict instructions” to keep details of his role in the next series of The White Lotus under wraps.
The actor, 60, is among a newly announced cast that includes Helena Bonham Carter, Max Greenfield, Vincent Cassel and Ari Graynor, alongside Caleb Jonte Edwards, Alexander Ludwig and AJ Michalka.
However, plot details and character information for the Mike White-written and directed series remain closely guarded apart from its location, the South of France.
Speaking at Sky’s Up Next showcase at Freemasons’ Hall in London, Coogan confirmed his involvement but made clear he could say little more.
“I can't say,” he tells the Standard. “I'm under strict instructions not to speak to anyone about it apart from that I am in it, and I've not filmed it yet.”
Asked how he prepares for such projects, he added with typical wit: “And as for preparations, I mean, what I do is I read the script on the plane, get to the hotel, learn my lines then we film it.”
His long-time collaborator Rob Brydon, who appeared alongside him at the event, joked about the attention surrounding the HBO series.
“I'm a little upset you haven't asked me about the Yellow Daffodil, a new Welsh series that I'm looking forward to making,” he joked. “He's getting all the attention over The White Lotus.”
Coogan quipped back: “The Black Crocus?”
The pair also shared their thoughts on the forthcoming UK version of Saturday Night Live, launching this weekend with Tina Fey.
Coogan said he hoped it would champion new talent but warned against closely imitating the US original, which gave the likes of Amy Poehler, Will Ferrell, Jimmy Fallon, Eddie Murphy, Bill Murray and Adam Sandler their start.
“If it tries to [mimic] the American version, I don't think that's a probably a very good idea, I'm sure it isn't,” he said.
Praising the live television element of the show, he added: “Live is good. It keeps you on your toes.
“And I think the audience is going to cut you a bit of slack if things aren't quite as refined, because you have to think on your feet. There's probably people a little scared of live TV these days, its great it keeps things interesting here.”
Meanwhile, Coogan and Brydon are set to reunite on screen for The Trip to the Northern Lights, the fifth instalment of their long-running Sky comedy series.
Directed by Michael Winterbottom, the new chapter follows the pair across Scandinavia in search of food, conversation and the elusive natural phenomenon, five years after their last series.
Brydon said: “I'm so pleased to be heading out on a Trip once again, this time to beautiful Scandinavia. And how lovely to do it while Steve Coogan, Michael Winterbottom and I still have most of our faculties.”
Coogan added: “I'm delighted that Michael Winterbottom has managed to persuade me at the age of 59 to join Rob, aged 60, to squeeze the last few drops of comedy from a bottle that we both thought was pretty much empty.”
