Game of Thrones star talks "awkward" 'penis measuring' scene in BBC drama
Men Up minor spoilers follow.
Game of Thrones star Iwan Rheon has addressed the "awkward" 'penis measuring' scene in new BBC drama Men Up.
The film, which is produced by Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies, dramatises the first-ever clinical trials for sexual enhancement drug Viagra in Wales in the 1990s.
Rheon's character, Meurig Jenkins, is one of the men taking part in the study in the hopes of resolving his sexless marriage.
As part of his storyline, there's a humorous scene where Meurig has his 'penis' measured during a consultation with Dr Dylan Pearce — played by Rheon's old friend, 1899 star Aneurin Barnard.
Related: Game of Thrones star Iwan Rheon joins Doctor Who boss's Viagra drama series
"You've got to be professional," he told Digital Spy of the sensitive scene. "Well, it's funny, because Aneurin and I have got a long history. We pretty much did our first job together in drama school in London, on stage, in Spring Awakening. We hadn't actually worked together since then, which was about 15 years now. He was definitely trying to make me laugh.
"It was fun. It was really nice to get to work with him again. It was a funny, awkward scene. Obviously you have to try to respect what's going on, and play it truthfully. We had a lot of fun filming this. It was one of those films where everything felt… There was a great company of actors, and great producers, and a beautiful script, and a great director who we felt really safe with. Everything kind of came together."
Rheon also told us that the balance of gentle humour and frank discussion of sexual health made Men Up particularly important.
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"[My character] needs this so much. He needs this to work. He feels that this is how to save his relationship with his wife, who he loves so much. It's huge for him, for this to work," Rheon said.
"That's how he played the scene, and he's talking to [his penis]. There's all this stuff that he's been told. It shows that what position you get yourself into – if you have a major issue and you don't talk about it, and you don't deal with it, you end up doing some weird stuff [laughs]. You just have to try and really remember what it's about."
Men Up is now available to stream on the BBC iPlayer.
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