Overall, looking at the stories [Black Mirror], almost every story we've ever done is concerned with authenticity or reality in some way.

"Be Right Back," in which Hayley Atwell brings Domhnall Gleeson back from the dead using his social-media profile, sprang out of an unrelated conversation. Other stories you thrash away at for weeks and weeks.

There's something I find very satisfying about a nice ironic twist.

The biggest teenage taboo is being strait-laced. It's easy to tell a researcher you went to a house party that turned into an orgy. It's less easy to say you like eating toast and watching QI.

I'm a worrier. In the UK, if I'm known for anything, it's sort of for being cynical.

I'm trying to think overall. Some of our stories [Black Mirror], I think you're right in that they don't tend to have a message.

What happens often is the script is written and once the director comes on board you have lots of conversations and it mutates again.