Amanda Redman interview

Amanda was delighted to return to the role of Sandra Pullman, a tough cookie who heads up unsolved case squad UCOS. "We all had such a ball on the pilot and it was great to do a series. I love working with Jimmy, Alun and Dennis, although we laugh like naughty kids and get into terrible trouble. Alun is the worst - I keep cracking up while he somehow manages to keep straight-faced! The laughter starts in the make-up bus every morning and it's a joy to go into work."

The friendship between the actors reflects how their characters have bonded as a police team. "At the beginning, Pullman viewed the retired detectives as dinosaurs. They're very old school policemen while she operates completely by the book. Sometimes the modern approach wins out and sometimes the old one does. Pullman is married to work for a bit but eventually she stops fighting the others all the time and even begins to learn from them. I think there's lots of mileage to be had from it."

Working with the guest stars on New Tricks added to the enjoyment of the role for Amanda. "Anthony Head and Patrick Baladi have come in to play Pullman's boyfriends, which has been lovely," she says.

Amanda trained at the Bristol Old Vic School and her career has gone from strength to strength in such roles as At Home with the Braithwaites, Hope & Glory, Blonde Bombshell, Close Relations, Suspicion, Dangerfield and Beck. Her film credits include Sexy Beast, For Queen and Country and Mike Bassett: England Manager.

In her spare time, Amanda helps the next generation of actors by organising workshops and master classes at the Artists Theatre School at Ealing Film Studios. She lives in London and has a 16-year-old daughter.