Among the many iconic moments from Fleabag, one of the most memorable was Claire's infamous 'pencil' haircut in series two.

In the penultimate episode, Claire gets in a panic after getting a disastrous haircut, declaring: "I look like a pencil!"

Actress Sian Clifford – who will soon be seen as Diana Ingram in ITV's Quiz – has admitted to Digital Spy that the scene was actually a "nightmare" to film.

fleabag season 2, episode 5 – sian clifford as claire
BBC

Related: Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge explains why a season 3 isn't likely to happen anytime soon

"It's weird because the things that have become iconic – I feel so embarrassed saying that word – but the things that people responded to the most, it's happened in hindsight," she said. "So for me to pick them out is weird because that wasn't my experience filming it.

"For example, the haircut scene was our second day and it was a nightmare to film that. There were people stopping us all the time, the sun was way too bright, the script wasn't quite... we couldn't find the rhythm of the opening.

"There were all sorts of things that went wrong with that day, so it's wonderful that people have gone like, 'This scene!', and I'm like, 'Yeah..." So it's easy to get very rose-tinted about these things."

Sian Clifford as Claire, Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Fleabag, Fleabag season 2
Luke Varley//BBC

Sian also recalled some of her slightly better memories from filming Fleabag, revealing: "One of my favourite moments was actually on my first day.

"There was a nice kind of kismet thing where on my last day of series one, I was at the cafe and it was actually a scene from episode two in series one, where I come in and basically say, 'Can I run my own surprise party?'

"And my first scene from season two was back at the cafe, and it was us saying... we were leaving that location, so there was just something nice about that and I was just so happy to be back on that set.

"And it's the scene with the Chatty Wednesday, which has also become this crazy moment, this crazy thing that people really love. And me and Phoebe [Waller-Bridge] were in hysterics filming that. But also you're very, very limited on time, so you've got to keep it together and – especially when re-writes are coming in last minute – you've got to get on with it."

matthew macfadyen and sian clifford as charles and diana ingram in itv's quiz
ITV

Related: Michael Sheen discusses his transformation into Chris Tarrant for Quiz

She added of creator and co-star Waller-Bridge: "I think Phoebe and I trust each other so much and we went to drama school together, so we can't be embarrassed in front of one another.

"And we're happy to fail and happy to do whatever. So in a way when we need to focus and concentrate, we can. But that first day back was magic. It just felt so good to be back in her shoes."

Quiz, which follows the true story of Charles and Diana Ingram – the couple found guilty of cheating their way to a million pounds on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? – will air later this year on ITV.

Fleabag is available to watch on BBC iPlayer and Amazon Prime.


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Sam Warner

Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International.  Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.