Tamzin Malleson (Penny)

Fans of Tamzin Malleson, who plays the gorgeous but manipulative Penny in Teachers, are in for a treat this autumn. Not only does Channel 4’s comedy drama return for a new series this month, but she appears on the BBC’s new drama, Bodies, as well, this time playing not Penny, but Polly. It would be confusing, except for the fact that the characters are not what you’d call identical.

“Polly is very hard-working, very, very good at her job, very likeable, very easy-going, a breath of fresh air,” explains Malleson. “Not absolutely the words that would first spring to mind for Penny.”

The new series of Teachers features wholesale changes in the staff room. Summerdown has merged with another school, and is now Wattkins Comprehensive. Remarkably, both Penny and Lindsay have held onto their jobs, but being accepted by their new colleagues proves an altogether tougher proposition. Ben, the atheist R.E. teacher, and Damien, the cynical teacher of food technology, are particularly hard nuts to crack. Then there’s Ewan, the super-sexy head of English, whom Penny wastes no time in attempting to seduce.

Did the “them and us” mentality on-screen persist off it, or did the new cast members receive a slightly more hospitable welcome? “I hope we were a bit more welcoming,” laughs Malleson. “Throughout my career, I’ve always been the newcomer, coming in and joining an established cast, so I’m very aware of what it’s like when you turn up in the second series. I’d like to think we were all very welcoming. We were all quite excited – it was a great idea, rather than bringing new people into Summerdown, to turn it on its head so that, in the series, we’re the new people.”

“It all worked fantastically well. The new guys were brilliant, and we’ve all got on very, very well socialising. We had a lot of great nights out, it’s been really, really good fun. And I think the show’s benefited from the new blood as well. It’s been fresher. And I love being thrown in with a group of people and just getting on with it.”

This gung-ho approach is just as well, as recently, she’s been required to do more than her share of passionate clinches on screen. Are they funny, terrifying or hideously embarrassing? “Generally they’re funny, though it can be embarrassing. You just have to dive into it. Up until two years ago, I’d never done any screen kissing or anything. Suddenly, since I did The Vice, every series I’ve been in I’ve had to jump into bed with somebody, or be in a broom cupboard or a stationary cupboard or a car. So I’m a bit of a dab hand at it now.”

Is there an etiquette to screen kissing? “No tongues – I think that’s the etiquette! No tongues. And no groping unless discussed. And obviously clean your teeth. And no garlic or curry the night before.”

Since she first appeared in Teachers, Malleson has seen her public profile considerably raised – she’s recognised more for Penny than any other role. “It depends how I leave the house, though. If I’ve made an effort, put on some make up, brushed my hair, and particularly if it’s tied up in a ponytail, then I tend to get recognised a lot more. But for the most part, because I’m such a scruff, people don’t associate me with Penny, who is so sleek and made up. It’s nice when people do recognise you, though, because the feedback for Teachers is so positive – people really love the show.”

Which is why it’s become the first ever Channel 4 drama to be given a fourth series. This year, there’s also a Christmas special. “It was like shooting a movie – and I think it must have had the budget of a movie. There’s a wedding, endless parties, nativity plays, we had an igloo built in the school field, the school dining staff dressed as elves and reindeer, we had penguins running around, it was absolute mayhem. Really good fun.”

As was the wrap party, by the sound of things. It’s three days later, and Malleson says she’s just recovered. “It went on for a couple of days,” is as much as she can groan about it.

Now, it’s time for a well-earned break. “Being an actress is a wonderful life, you get to explore new cities and meet new people all the time. But the being away from home can get tough. You might only get home once every fortnight. So now I’m looking forward to spending time resuming all my relationships and catching up on all the films and so on. I’ve been unable to read a book for the last five months – you just can’t concentrate on anything outside of work. So I’m going to get my entertainment guides and catch up with everything.”