Best known as Justin in Desperate Housewives, actor Ryan Carnes plays a pig-man who tackles the Daleks in a two-part Doctor Who, now screening. Here, he talks to whatsontv.co.uk about taking on the Doctor's most famous nemeses... How did you become involved in the Doctor's latest adventure? "Basically, I'd been to see the producers about another part in another episode and they said I was too young. But a little while after they called my agent and said: 'We have a pig character. Perfect! Ryan can be a pig'." A pig? "Well, I actually start out very human, very normal but something goes awry and I end up being caught between heaven and hell; the human world and the swine world. I fall somewhere in between." How does your character cross paths with the evil Daleks? "In the beginning, I am victimised by them. But after meeting the Doctor and his assistant and some of the other characters, we all come together in an effort to overpower the Daleks and bring them down." What was it like for you coming face to face with the Daleks for the first time? "I saw an episode of Doctor Who featuring the Daleks before I went to film and I couldn't help but think to myself ‘how can they possibly be threatening, what’s the big deal?’ But the second I got on set and one of those things rolled out and started moving its arms I thought ‘OK, now I get it, they’re pretty scary’. It's weird that an upside-down trash can with a plunger and an egg-beater for arms could be that scary but they really are frightening." In this episode, the Daleks invade 1930s New York. Tell us more... "The story is set right in the midst of the Great Depression. The Daleks, being the power-hungry immortals that they are, realise that because of the Depression people are desperate, poor and hungry, and that's generally a time when power can take over. And that's what brings the Daleks to New York.” What happens between the Daleks and the pig-men? "Well, once in New York the Daleks start corrupting and taking advantage of people's desperation and it's not until I meet the Doctor and his assistant and explain what the Daleks have done to me that they realise we all really must do something. So, myself, my girlfriend, the Doctor and Martha all conspire to bring the Daleks down. And it's quite an adventure." Sounds like it. Was the episode a lot of fun to film? "Yes, it was. And it was hard to leave. Well, it was and it wasn’t. I was certainly ready to leave behind the weather in Wales. When I got back to LA I'd never been so happy to see sunshine in my life. But when you're somewhere for five weeks that's enough time to really bond with people. To just walk away from that is difficult." What was it like working with David Tennant? "I think David is a supremely talented, charming and generous person. And I got the sense that David is just a very down to earth ego-less guy. And I learned a lot from watching him perform." Are you a fan of Doctor Who? “Truthfully, I didn't know too much about it. But I did some research before I went and learned more about the show but it really wasn't until I'd been in Wales shooting for a while that I really realised that Doctor Who is huge in the UK. And since I've come back to the States, I've found it's quite popular here too.” What can people expect from this episode? “There's a lot of pathos, a lot of human tragedy and a lot about the tragedy of the machines. What becomes clear as the stories unfold is that these machines that believe themselves to be perfect and invincible, are fallible just like humans are. I hope that it does offer all of that – as well as a fair amount of pyrotechnics, destruction and all those cool things.” Most people know you best for your role as Justin in Desperate Housewives. Do you think you'll ever return to the show? “Well, my character's not dead and he hasn't been banished from Wisteria Lane - he's still alive so I'd say I'll be back at some point – whether it's for one episode or 10. I owe a lot to that show so I'd like to go back and make an appearance – and hopefully have some twisted sick surprise in store."
