LOVE/HATE ACTOR Tom Vaughan Lawlor has revealed that he didn’t keep the infamous ‘King Nidge’ runners from Sunday night’s finale, saying it’s part of “letting go” of the character.

Speaking to Pat Kenny on Newstalk this morning, the actor said he would miss Nidge “terribly”, but he has no intention of keeping the runners as a souvenir.

“It’s an amazing legacy to have. It’s a relief to finish, just to get to the end of the line, but I’m terribly sad as well for it to end,” he said. “It’s just the most amazing bunch of actors.”

I’ll miss [Nidge] terribly too. It’s the gift you get of the scenes, those challenges you get as an actor. Getting my head shaved and putting on the runners and the gear… I’ll miss the swagger of the man.

He said he never discussed leaving the show with writer Stuart Carolan – but the arc seemed right.

The doors were closing in on him and there was only so many times he could escape. It was brilliant the pressure applied to him from so many aspects – Patrick, Fran, Terence. It was kind of coming.

Bernard Walsh / RTÉ Bernard Walsh / RTÉ / RTÉ

But why were the audience rooting for gang boss Nidge until the end? Vaughan Lawlor reckons he was a “seductive” character to watch.

He would give you money to buy a bag of crisps, but equally he would have no compunction with supplying drugs to you. It’s never black and white and that’s what makes the character fascinating and complex.

Tom Vaughan Lawlor is currently starring in Mark O’Rowe’s Howie the Rookie in Dublin’s Olympia Theatre, ahead of runs London and New York.

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