Best known to TV viewers as Hollyoaks’ menacing incel Eric Foster, Angus Castle-Doughty has been more likely to make us cry in despair rather than laughter.

But, the versatile actor and writer has dabbled in more than his fair share of comedic roles – with a new short film showing off every actor’s worst (and possibly relatable) nightmare.

Along with writing partner and co-star Andy Burse, Angus has launched the short Two’s A Crowd, introducing us to two pretty hapless actors who end up making a mess of the most cringe of auditions.

With every potential to be pitched as a long term series, the film makes a group of characters jump off the screen with very vivid personalities, ones which I would want to revisit again.

With a running time of 20 minutes, Two’s A Crowd pits two very different actors against each other, makes them hate each other, and then forces them into a situation where they need each other.

‘We came up with this idea of two people who became a double act against their will and from the moment they meet they despise each other,’ Angus told Metro.co.uk.

‘We were mainly exploring that, I guess, and then in the expanded TV show that we’ve written, it’s like an exercise in two people who believe they hate each other because they’re complete opposites.

‘They slowly realise that they’re the two people who really know each other in this industry, which can be quite surface-level at times.

‘The film is the first meetings of that, really, and then the insinuation is that they have to go off and be this delightful double act – when they can barely stay in the same room.’

The premise of a double act forming in an audition is not an alien concept to Angus; as this is how he and best friend Andy initially met.

Although, thankfully, they don’t hate each other like their newest characters.

‘Andy and I met in the chemistry audition and we were both cast, but we didn’t know who they’d cast as the other character until we got out to Budapest where we were filming it,’ he Angus recalled.

‘We clicked straight away and we ended up being quite inseparable for the duration of the shoot.’

Those watching the film, which can be watched on YouTube, won’t be able to deny the chemistry between Angus and Mark.

And it also boasts a plethora of supporting characters, with names including Hugo Speer, Shaparak Khorsandi, Kieran Urquhart, Ellen Chivers and even a cheeky Pam Ferris cameo.

It’s clear that, with the format and the characters in place, that eyes are ow on the prospect of further episodes.

‘We’ve written quite a few episodes of it,’ Angus confirmed to us. ‘It’s a thing we’d love to develop further. It’s also the first pilot or short film we’ve ever made, so I think we’re seeing it as an indication of the work we can do together.’

All actors have a memorable experience in an audition room that they’d rather forget – with Angus himself recalling a Hamlet performance which he was then asked to play as a ‘male stripper’, complete with no clothes.

With that level of relatability, it’s a concept that has an audience – with inspirations behind the writing including Episodes and Extras.

Although the actor admitted that not everyone agrees as he has been pitching.

‘I’ve had some feedback, that I didn’t necessarily agree with, from some production companies and networks, stuff about showbiz and the inner workings of TV might not be in vogue at the moment,’ he shared.

But if that were true – and I’m not sure I agree either – there’s always a back-up plan!

‘In response to that we wrote a version of it where they’re knights set during the mediaeval period. Finlay is a hopeful knight and Henry is a baker who, while delivering some cakes, accidentally steps into the knighting of Finlay and gets co-knighted with him.

‘It’s not really explored, we just left it quite open-ended. As much as it’s an example of ‘two’s a crowd’, I think Andy and I really enjoy working together so we’re hopeful that some people will agree and put us in a room together again.’

Many who will come to this film will do so through watching Angus in his role as Eric in Hollyoaks.

Angus has suggested that Eric’s story is far from over, and he credits his Hollyoaks stars as ‘some of the best actors out there.’

For those who associate Angus solely as Eric, his role of Finlay (Or Felix, as he is referred to by casting directors) will be a refreshing surprise.

‘I think they’re strings to the same bow, if that makes sense,’ he reflected. ‘It’s been interesting seeing people who watch Hollyoaks trying to put Finlay and Eric in the same room and wonder why they’d have the same face!

‘This week I’m doing a play at Vault festival that’s a sort of rip-roaring comedy. But when I write, I write comedy because I think when I’m exercising any story in my mind, the way I cope with it is to laugh at it and I feel like leaving the drama writing to the people who are better at it. It has been a nice little palate-cleanser.’

He added: ‘The nice thing about playing Eric is the challenge of getting into such an intense space and such an intense psyche, and the harrowing thing about playing a character like Finlay is that he’s probably all the worst parts of myself that I never wanted to admit are there.

‘We joke about this at Hollyoaks, when I’m getting into character before a scene I do, not the warm-ups that Finlay does, necessarily, but I can’t imagine it’s very comfortable for other people in the room because I’m just throwing myself into walls!’

For those who catch the film, you will know exactly the warm-ups Angus is referring to!

It’s a notable scene in the short, along with a deeply uncomfortable piece of improvisation, some absolute slander against hot chocolate, and the most offensive way to eat a Mars Bar I’ve ever seen.

While the panel they face in Two’s A Crowd may not (no spoilers!), I recommend you give these two characters a chance – you will be left wanting more of them.

You can watch Two’s A Crowd on YouTube here

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