We developed 'Sightseers' as a TV idea but didn't get anywhere with it because all the channels said it was too dark originally as an idea for television.

The film [Sightseers] is really the story of the journey of a relationship, so the killings are almost a metaphor for the trials they go through. We wanted people to identify with the experience of going on holiday and having a quarrel with your wife, boyfriend, whatever. We knew if we didn't crack that it would not be watchable as a film.

I think 99% of the whole thing is to have passion about the idea yourself. I think part of your job as a filmmaker is to tell someone that might not think it's going to work that, actually, it will work.

Manchester has a certain reputation of being cool.

If you can make someone believe that you believe in the idea then I think that's worth a lot.

I think it's very easy to get discouraged early on.

Ironically, there isn't much comedy film in Britain, which is quite surprising seeing that we're quite good at it.