It’s been almost a year since the second season of Fleabag hit our screens - but we’re still just as obsessed. And now, Phoebe Waller-Bridge{
But she’s revealed that that declaration of love from The Hot Priest very nearly didn’t happen.
Talking about the heartbreaking final scene, Phoebe said that Andrew Scott helped decided what THP replied. ‘That ["I love you too"] wasn't in the script actually,’ she said. ‘I was debating whether or not he should say it back for a while and then when we got on set, [Andrew] was like, “He has to say it back! Because 'it will pass'" being the last thing he says could be a bit harsh.’
‘I think it was important because it was the first time that he said something to her that was just purely about his own emotional state and how he felt about her outside of his faith, outside of religion, just about their connection,’ she added. ‘And there’s something so pure about those words when they're used properly. There was something about the symmetry of them saying it to each other [that] made it feel equal.’
Another part of the series that Phoebe spoke about was the infamous hair speech, when her sister, Claire, gets a disastrous haircut - which she says she was surprised resonated with some people. ‘I had a conversation with my sister where I was like, “Why is hair so stressful? And why does it feel like it's everything?”' she said. ‘We had such a sense of relief talking to each other about it, and then that goes away but a kernel of it stays in the back of my mind. Then I think, “Oh I’ll just write a little bit about that, just as a nod to that conversation I had with her” - or just because it feels a little bit true. And those are always the ones that surprise you and blow up because they're these little truisms. When that happens, that's when I just feel a little bit less alone in the world, because I'm just like, ‘“You too? Oh thank god!”.’
The writer also said she was ‘inspired’ by foxes, which regularly appeared in the series. (‘There's such a swaggering sexiness about the foxes in London - they own the city, it's theirs.’) She mentions that she started to write the fox speech, by The Hot Priest, to make herself laugh, and that she couldn’t wait to send it to Andrew. ‘I’m always thinking about the actors [when I’m writing],’ she said. ‘I want them to read it and go, "oh! I can't wait, I can't wait, I can't wait.”’
Look through the best moments between Fleabag and The Hot Priest below.
All The Best Moments Between Fleabag And The Hot Priest - Slider
1 of 31'So hot!'
Where it all began... Fleabag and her sister agreeing that The Hot Priest is in fact hot after the first time they meet him.
2 of 31'So you're a cool priest now then?'
'So you're a cool priest now then?'
3 of 31THP then inviting over Fleabag for a cup of tea, only then to crack out the M&S canned G&T. (The store has since said sales have gone up by 24%)
THP then inviting over Fleabag for a cup of tea, only then to crack out the M&S canned G&T. (The store has since said sales have gone up by 24%)
4 of 31The first sign they were meant to be... 'I haven't been asked a question in 45 minutes' cue The Hot Priest asking, 'So, what do you do?' before she can even finish her sentence.
The first sign they were meant to be... 'I haven't been asked a question in 45 minutes' cue The Hot Priest asking, 'So, what do you do?' before she can even finish her sentence.
5 of 31Absolute power move, flirting with The Hot Priest after going to church literally just to see him.
Absolute power move, flirting with The Hot Priest after going to church literally just to see him.
6 of 31The painting falling down when she says she doesn't believe in God.
The painting falling down when she says she doesn't believe in God. Cue THP shouting, 'I love it when he does that!'
7 of 31THP: 'You were in my prayers last night.' Fleabag: 'Likewise.'
THP: 'You were in my prayers last night.'Fleabag: 'Likewise.'
8 of 31The look of realisation when she utters: 'Oh God, I fancy a priest'
The look of realisation when she utters: 'Oh God, I fancy a priest'
9 of 31THE INVESTIGATION AS TO WHETHER PRIESTS CAN HAVE SEX BEGINS.
THE INVESTIGATION AS TO WHETHER PRIESTS CAN HAVE SEX BEGINS.
10 of 31'Do you really want to fuck the priest, or do you want to fuck God?'
Fiona Shaw making a guest apperance from Killing Eve as Fleabag's therapist.'Do you really want to fuck the priest, or do you want to fuck God?' 'Can you fuck God?''Oh yes.'(She correctly predicts what is going to happen too, all powers to Fiona Shaw.)
11 of 31Fleabag: 'She orgasmed when she finished it.' The Hot Priest: 'Whatever gets you there.'
Fleabag: 'Don't say it, don't say it. She actually orgasmed when she finished it. I just said it, appaently.'The Hot Priest: 'Whatever gets you there.'
12 of 31'Arm touch, oooh.'
'Arm touch, oooh.'
13 of 31'I can't believe I’m asking this, but can I get that coconut back? They’re actually on hire. I’m not sure if all of them are real, which is morally a bit dubious actually.'
'I can't believe I'm asking this, but can I get that coconut back? They're actually on hire. I'm not sure if all of them are real, which is morally a bit dubious actually.' (The disappointment on her face that he hasn't asked for something else is v sad.)
14 of 31The Hot Priest being scared of foxes.
The Hot Priest being scared of foxes.
15 of 31WHEN HE BREAKS THE FIFTH WALL AND NOTICES FLEABAG TALKING TO THE AUDIENCE. ALL THE PROOF THAT THEY ARE MEANT TO BE. Also excruciatingly awkward.
WHEN HE BREAKS THE FIFTH WALL AND NOTICES FLEABAG TALKING TO THE AUDIENCE. ALL THE PROOF THAT THEY ARE MEANT TO BE. Also excruciatingly awkward.
16 of 31Fleabag helping The Hot Priest choose his robes. Couple goals.
Fleabag helping The Hot Priest choose his robes. Couple goals.
17 of 31'HIS NECK!'
'HIS NECK!'
18 of 31The Hot Priest laughing to himself after Fleabag gets up to say 'I sometimes worry I wouldn't be much of a feminist if I had bigger tits.'
The Hot Priest laughing to himself after Fleabag gets up to say 'I sometimes worry I wouldn't be much of a feminist if I had bigger tits.'
19 of 31'And then, for some reason, I was thinking about your tits which kind of ruined it.'
'And then, for some reason, I was thinking about your tits which kind of ruined it.'
20 of 31'I think you played with my guinea pig quite enough.'
'I think you played with my guinea pig quite enough.'
21 of 31'I can't read a Winnie The Pooh quote without crying. Fuck.'
'I can't read a Winnie The Pooh quote without crying. Fuck.'
22 of 31Piglet.
Piglet.
23 of 31'Sometimes, I worry I'm only in it for the outfits.'
'Sometimes, I worry I'm only in it for the outfits.'
24 of 31That confession scene.
That confession scene.
25 of 31When the sexual tension is finally broken, only for Fleabag to freak out whether he is wearing a skirt AND trousers.
When the sexual tension is finally broken, only for Fleabag to freak out whether he is wearing a skirt AND trousers.
26 of 31Olivia Colman eloquently shrieking that The Hot Priest a cunt (as soon as he leaves, obviously) when he says he can't officiate their weddding.
Olivia Colman eloquently shrieking that The Hot Priest a cunt (as soon as he leaves, obviously) when he says he can't officiate their weddding.
27 of 31'Please don't come to the church, I mean that with the greatest of compliments.'
'Please don't come to the church, I mean that with the greatest of compliments.'
28 of 31'Nine times?'
'Nine times?'
29 of 31'I can't have sex with you because I'll fall in love with, and while I won't burst into flames, my life will be fucked.'
'I can't have sex with you because I'll fall in love with, and while I won't burst into flames, my life will be fucked.'
30 of 31'We're going to have sex, aren't we? Mm, yeah'
'We're going to have sex, aren't we? Mm, yeah'
31 of 31The inevitable happens, obviously. Oh God.
The inevitable happens, obviously. Oh God.
READ MORE: The Secret Behind Phoebe Waller Bridge’s New Risk- Taking Looks