Outlaw creator Stephen Merchant admits filming during Covid was a ‘nightmare’

The BBC comedy Outlaws will soon air a second season but the filming is no joke according to creator Stephen Merchant, who claims he has low-grade PTSD after fearing star Christopher Walken would catch him Covid

Fans of the BBC comedy Outlaws can look forward to a second season next month but filming during the pandemic is nothing short of laughable.

Creator Stephen Merchant says he was terrified Hollywood star Christopher Walken, 79, would catch Covid, who now has low-grade PTSD.

“It turns out that shooting under a pandemic is a nightmare and I suggest no one does it,” Stephen said.

He added to fans at the British Film Institute and Radio Times Drama Festival this weekend, on London’s South Shore: “Every day you’re in a state of hoping he doesn’t have Covid.

“If someone even looks like they’re going to sneeze near him, try and jump in front of him like you’re taking a bullet for the president.

“There was a slight sense of PTSD going through it.”

The show, which also stars Eleanor Tomlinson and EastEnder Nina Wadia of Poldark, is about seven very different characters brought together by community service.

Stephen, 47, has been a producer, director, screenwriter and actor on the series so being the bodyguard of Oscar-winning Christopher is also a high order.

Luckily, Stephen is 6ft 7in tall.