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Would it be right to say that Daphne du Maurier’s book Rebecca was the main inspiration for Hunderby?

That was definitely the original inspiration for it. There’s a real mix of things. There’s the Mrs Danvers thing. There’s a letter being unread which is a bit Tess Of The D’Urbervilles.

It’s riddled with double entendres and euphemisms. Were you struggling to think of Victorian words for rude parts after a while?

Not really. I was just trying to think of as many different ways of saying something… I wasn’t that worried about whether the language was entirely accurate. It’s certainly not entirely accurate to that era. In some places it’s somewhat medieval. It’s more just having fun with that.

How much of yourself do you put into your characters?

I just try to put myself in the minds of all the characters. In this, you’ve got the very vulnerable, innocent woman, which exists within me. Then you’ve got the romantic Dr Foggerty character and I like imagining being him.

You don’t do many interviews. Do you dislike being in the spotlight?

I think most people, including me, like to read gossipy things about others; revealing things that I love to read, but I don’t really want known about me. For that reason, any answers you give are going to be quite measured. Also, because I always get asked, “Why is your stuff so dark?” and I don’t really have an answer.

Do you ever shock yourself?

Certainly not when I come up with it. Sometimes, yes, I’ve occasionally looked back on things and felt like it’s not really come from me, in a weird way. If I sit and watch it with relatives, I spend a lot of time cringing.

Are you one to make inappropriate jokes in real life?

No. I’m quite tactful, actually. I worry about whether people are all right. With my friends, obviously, conversations are quite free and uncensored, but I would never enjoy making someone feel uncomfortable at all.

There’s a vast pool of British comedy talent at the moment. Do you think we should be making films to rival the likes of Bridesmaids?

I wish we were. I’m not really sure why we’re not. Maybe it’s their approach where they put together big teams of writers. The only person really doing that might be Armando Iannucci [creator of The Thick Of It and Veep].

Would you like success in the US?

I do think with Hunderby, ‘Will anyone in America like it?’ I’d love it if they did. I know they love Downton Abbey.

Lizzie and Sarah got a great reception, but the BBC didn’t commission it. Do you think they got scared of anything too risqué after the Russell Brand/Jonathan ross affair?

I’d say a lot of it is down to controllers and commissioners who change, and the personality of those people who choose what they like. Also, shows like Miranda. I know her very well. I love what she does. That’s a much warmer kind of comedy. People loved it. And it starts a trend where they go, “We like this. We want more.” So, then, how’s a show like Lizzie And Sarah going to fit in?

Interview: Julia Davis