What can you tell us about where your character Ben is at going into Season 2 (if you can remember)?
The guys have to find themselves a new place pronto, but, despite that stress, Ben finds himself in a better situation in his life, in general. Life is looking pretty good for him. He takes it upon himself to find the best house he can and he manages to talk them into buying a renovator’s dream. So then he’s under pressure to make it habitable.
Why is this show special to you?
The cast is incredible, they’re just a top bunch of people. I think we’ve got a really good chemistry between the five of us. I also think Michael Lucas and Christine Bartlett, who lead the writers, are just phenomenal. The scripts are clever, witty and natural and if you start with a good script, then you’re onto a winner.
How do you feel about the response to the show?
It’s awesome! I’m not on social media so I don’t see the comments about it, but they do get passed on to me. I know Five Bedrooms has been really well-received in the UK and America, too. That’s the cool thing about TV and streaming now. If you’ve got a really cool show in Australia, there’s every chance that the world will get to see it.
You spent some time in the US. Are you based back in Australia now?
Yes, [actress wife] Bridgette [Sneddon] and I came back from LA at the end of 2019. Since then, I’ve been incredibly lucky to work more in the past two years, which I don’t take for granted at all.
You’ve already had some success in the US with roles in films like Me Before You (with Emilia Clarke) and Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (with Tina Fey). Will you move back there at some point?
Maybe, you can never say never, but the industry is so strong here in Australia right now so it’s good to be here. I love working in our cities but after growing up in [NSW’s] Dubbo, I feel most at home in the country here, too.
What’s downtime like for you?
I’m fine if I can find a national park and go for a big walk for a day. Otherwise, I’m out in my garden. I’ve also been watching some incredible Australian TV. Mr Inbetween [on Foxtel], which I’ve watched twice recently, is one of the best things I’ve ever seen!
Five Bedrooms streams exclusively from Aug. 11 on Paramount Plus
WATCH BELOW: Stephen Peacocke admits he was almost in 50 Shades of Grey!
In addition to Five Bedrooms, Peacocke will hit our screens in two other dramas this month. He will appear in the ’80s ABC series The Newsreader (starring Anna Torv and Sam Reid), and leads the cast as a flight nurse on Channel Seven’s new flying doctor series RFDS.
“I went from filming Five Bedrooms in Melbourne to working in Broken Hill on RFDS,” he says.
“I spent three months in the outback on that, which I loved. Then I came back to Melbourne to do The Newsreader. I’m not sure where home is right now!”
(RFDS premieres Aug. 11, 8.40pm on Channel Seven. The Newsreader premieres Aug. 15, 8.30pm on ABC)