Vienna Blood’s Star Conleth Hill Talks About Its Third Season

Keeping It In The Family

Vienna Blood‘s third season will air on BBC Two in December and here’s one of its stars Conleth Hill talking about it…

Where do we find Mendel at the start of the third season?

At the beginning of our third season, we find Mendel with a new work partner who turns out to be his daughter Leah, played by the brilliant Charlene McKenna. I think it’s quite progressive for the time. Mendel’s given up on Max ever joining the business now. Leah can be quite hard on him, but I think Mendel’s come to terms with Max not joining the family business. If people work with family, it can go one of two ways. I suppose it can go many ways. The way I’d put it is that I think Leah is definitely in charge. She seems to be running the place brilliantly. I think he’s lucky to get Leah.

How would you characterise the Liebermann household?

It’s a house of love, definitely, the Liebermann household and the family. I believe that the family serves a useful purpose in the series. I think most of the work is done by Juergen and Matthew, but I think Steve has written a beautiful safe harbour for Max to go back to. It’s not always easy because they will be very honest about the disapproval of how he lives sometimes or what he’s up to. It’s kind of close to real families and certainly my memories of mine, where there’s love. It’s full of love, but there’s also criticism there. It’s a lovely dynamic. And from day one, back in 2019, we all got on very well. I love the family that I work with, and it’s been, nine brilliant films.

Would you say Mendel’s attitude to the world of crime solving has changed this series?

It’s a whole different side of life. And I think any father would worry about his son in this situation. But funnily enough, in these three films, Mendel gets involved a little more in Max and Oskar’s work. It’s a bit of a departure for him.

I think he finds Max’s life amazingly different, and he gets into areas that no one has been over before, let alone Max. It’s all very new and he’s trying to keep up with it all. But some of it definitely goes above Mendel’s head.

What’s been your favourite set so far?

I loved filming in the Natural History Museum last time we filmed in Vienna. It’s like a childhood dream, having a museum to yourself and just to wander around it and no one else. It was a big thrill.