David Schwimmer: A Friends reunion lie detector test? I wouldn’t answer the question…

David Schwimmer is thinking about whether he would crack under pressure should he ever have to take a lie detector test.

He doesn’t have to ponder for long. No, is his answer. He reckons he’d fare pretty well.

This might seem like an odd subject to be discussing with David Schwimmer, a man who despite being one of TV’s most recognisable faces as Ross Geller in Friends has lived his life untroubled by the kind of tabloid scandal that might require him to give good poker face, but there is a reason.

His new show, workplace comedy Intelligence, is set in the heart of GCHQ – described as a “weedier, geekier version of MI5” – focusing on a team that fights cybercrime.

Schwimmer plays brash, pompous NSA agent Jerry, who has arrived to join the team from the US, while show creator, British comedian Nick Mohammed, plays the rather inept computer analyst Joseph.

They describe it as a buddy comedy, a “bromance” between the two, which has spilled over into real life.

And GCHQ got in touch when they heard about the show, says Mohammed.

“They were curious,” says Schwimmer. “I hope they enjoy it. I think they wanted to make sure – and we were doing this anyway – that we were handling the institution with respect and taking the work they do very seriously, which we do.

“We’re not making fun of that institution. If anything, the characters, the individuals, are the ones who are occasionally inept and reckless, or power hungry, in my character’s case. But you always feel when you watch the show that everyone else is doing quite serious and quite good work.”

Jerry is unintentionally racist, homophobic, sexist, “all of it”, says Mohammed.

Schwimmer appears to have a dig at both Donald Trump and Boris Johnson, saying it was “quite cathartic” to vent frustrations about the current climate through his character.

“These people exist and are unfortunately in positions of power, you know, in both our countries. And to be able to play a guy who is naively or intentionally – which he’s not intentionally, he’s more naively homophobic, misogynist, racist, power hungry, a narcissist.

“He’s deeply flawed. But I think it was fun to play that kind of a guy, especially in this show in which we never actually feel like the joke is on the injured party. You’re always feeling like the joke’s on him.

“You’re always laughing at this guy, my character, because he’s so ignorant or naive or… he’s just out of touch in many ways.”

Polygraphs, browsing history searches and intelligence tests all come up in the first few episodes, so both Schwimmer and Mohammed are ready for an interrogation, of sorts.

“I do feel like I’d do okay with a polygraph under pressure like that,” says Schwimmer.

What skills could they bring to the table should they ever find themselves offered real work for a spy organisation?

“I’m good with a broom,” Schwimmer jokes. “I’d be cleaning. And I’m pretty good at answering phones.”

“I’ve got the GCHQ puzzle book and I just find it impossible,” says Mohammed.

“It’s really hard,” Schwimmer agrees. “I only got through, like, three quarters of it.

“I’m kidding. Yeah, I don’t think we’d really stand a chance.”

What about their browsing history? In Intelligence, viewers learn Mohammed’s character seems to have a soft spot for Oscar-winning star Matthew McConaughey. What would we uncover should we get to see theirs?

“Matthew McConaughey, sure,” Schwimmer answers straight away.

“Tonnes of Matthew McConaughey,” says Mohammed. “And… Classic FM. I like listening to classical music a lot. Sadly nothing exciting. Kids toys, for my two boys.

“Yeah… clothes for my daughter,” says Schwimmer. “It’s really exciting stuff.”

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Next to the fancy central London hotel room which has been set up for interviews, a polygraph machine has actually been placed for effect outside.

But let’s pretend they are hooked up inside. The one question everyone wants to ask Schwimmer right now is about the much longed for Friends reunion.

Speculation has peaked over the last few months thanks to excitement over the show’s 25th anniversary in September, stars Jennifer Aniston and Matthew Perry joining Instagram, and reports in the US that a deal on a one-off special is almost done.

Schwimmer has said in recent interviews that he is not keen on reviving the characters, despite the recent headlines. But what if he couldn’t hide the truth?

It seems he has learned enough from his GCHQ training not to give anything away.

“Well, I wouldn’t… I’d just not answer the question,” he says, politely.

And that’s as much as he’s giving on that subject.

Does Mohammed know?

“Oh, Nick knows,” Schwimmer says.

“Yeah, I can spill the beans on everything.”

Intelligence is out from 9pm on Friday 21 February on Sky One and Now TV

(c) Sky News 2020: David Schwimmer: A Friends reunion lie detector test? I wouldn’t answer the question…