Joe Gilgun's dad died of alcoholism during filming for the second series of 'Brassic'.

Joe Gilgun

Joe Gilgun

Danny Brocklehurst, the co-creator of the Sky One show, has revealed how the real-life tragedy influenced the latest series of the comedy programme.

He said: "In the second series, we deal with the terrible effects of alcoholism. That's not particularly funny, but it's important, and it's important to Joe.

"His dad sadly died of alcoholism during the filming of series two. But before his dad died, he felt he wanted to deal with that, and show it, and show the effects of it, so that's what we've done with series two."

Danny also revealed viewers can expect to see more of Michelle Keegan's character Erin in the new series.

During the second season of the show, Erin finds herself at the centre of a sexual assault plot.

Danny - who created the show alongside Joe - told BT.com: "I can't remember the starting point of Erin's assault storyline. It felt like we wanted her to have a particular arc in series two.

"So when you're thinking about how the arc's going to develop, certain ideas come to the fore, and this idea leapt forward.

"I think some of the other people on the show were nervous about it, but I was reasonably confident we could pull it off, and for it to be dealt with sensitively."

Meanwhile, Joe recently claimed that working-class people are often unfairly portrayed on TV.

The actor - who plays a petty criminal in 'Brassic' - said: "In my experience working-class people are f***ing heroes.

"You know them young girls you see pushing babies in prams? They are not physically or mentally ready for a baby, yet there they are, and their lad's gone, or nine times out of 10 he has.

"Or you look at those old ladies who are all hunched over their trollies with all them shopping bags, so heavy they're turning their fingers white - they are f***ing heroes, dude."