Long days off while filming on the other side of the Atlantic were put to good use by Dartford-raised Mackenzie Crook, who wrote his own sitcom which is now on the verge of its TV debut.

Beautifully observed, funny and wonderfully tender, six-part series Detectorists will be on BBC Four on Thursdays at 10pm from October 2.

The former Wilmington Grammar School for Boys pupil  – best known for playing nerdy no-hoper Gareth Keenan in The Office and his wooden-eyed pirate in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise – also directed and stars in the show which focuses on the relationship between Andy and Lance, a pair of enthusiastic metal detectorists.

At an intimate screening in central London, Mackenzie, 42, said: “It has been an exciting process.

“Before, in acting jobs I have done, I have not felt particularly involved.

“Here, to have an idea and see it through to today and seeing it on the screen has been an absolute joy and I’d like to do more of it.”

Mackenzie had the idea for a sitcom about a pair of metal detectorists a ‘couple of years ago’ but said he ‘sat on it’ for a year before writing a script.

Much of the writing was done during the long days off Mackenzie had to fill during the filming of US hit sci fi/crime drama Almost Human, in which he played technician Rudy Lom.

He said: “Then I worked with Toby (Jones, famous for playing Truman Capote in Infamous as well as roles in Finding Neverland and the Harry Potter series), on the Muppets movie last year and realised he would be the perfect Lance.

“I asked him to have a look at the script and as soon as he spoke favourably of the script and was positive about it, then things started to move.”

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Mackenzie Crook and Toby Jones star as Andy and Lance in Detectorists

Far from the nightmares you hear from some writers trying to get their work made, 42-year-old dad-of-two Mackenzie found it fairly plain sailing.

He said: “It is strange, it has been such a relatively easy process. You hear so many horror stories about writers struggling and losing control.”

The actor-turned-writer dabbled in detecting for research – his best find was a small silver coin – but, like any good television or film drama, the show is more about the lives of its characters and is humane and gently written.

He said: “This could be swapped for a different hobby – fishing or whatever – it’s about the way people spend their spare time.

“I never considered this to be taking the mickey out of detectorists and I want detectorists out there to enjoy this.

“Toby said to me very early on that there is a tendency in this country to take the mickey out of anything that isn’t sport related - if it isn’t football then you must be an anorak, you must be sad and you must have no friends – it’s not the case.

“So many people have these hobbies and past times that they escape into and there’s nothing sad about that. It’s fascinating that you become an expert in a particular field.”

As well as starring Toby Jones, Detectorists features a cast assembled largely by Mackenzie including former EastEnders actress Lucy Benjamin who plays Lance’s ex-wife Maggie.

Mackenzie said: “I worked with her 20 years ago and I knew she was a brilliant comedy actress.

“I worked with her when I was stage crew at the theatre in Dartford and she was in the pantomime.”

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While Mackenzie surely had little trouble acting in the show, he admits he found his debut directing gig a challenge.

He said: “The greatest challenge was probably directing the scenes I was in. (Producer) Adam (Tandy) helped me out. I asked him early on if he would give me notes on my performance.

“I’ve got to admit that I enjoyed directing the scenes that I wasn’t in. That’s when I felt I was properly directing.”

Mackenzie is excited about unleashing the show on the world and believes BBC Four is a natural home for it.

He said: “I have got no idea how it will be received. I know that I am really happy with it.

“It has turned out exactly how I wanted it to turn out, so I can’t ask for anything more.

“I’m sure there are people out there like me that will enjoy it. I can’t think that I’m that much of a freak that I’ll be the only one.

“It’s not that I’m brazenly confident, but I think there are people out there that will enjoy it.”

Next up, Mackenzie is preparing to film the BBC One drama Ordinary Lies and he has all-but ruled out the possibility of reprising the role that made his name, The Office’s Gareth, when Ricky Gervais makes his new David Brent movie.

Mackenzie said: “I know as much about that as you do, from the internet.

“I can’t imagine that the David Brent movie will go back and revisit the people he used to work with at Wernham Hogg.

“I can’t imagine that will be the case, and I certainly don’t want to get that haircut again.”

Detectorists will be shown on BBC Four on Thursdays at 10pm from October 2.