The Syndicate star Melanie Hill has revealed she considered playing the numbers in the show for real, as they felt lucky.

The Coronation Street actress stars in the latest series of Kay Mellor’s hit show, which this time sees the staff at a stately home win millions after playing the numbers worked out by gardener Godfrey (Lenny Henry).

Melanie said: “We kept saying as a cast, ‘We have to put these numbers on because we’re bound to win’, but none of us arranged that which is a shame.

Melanie Hill plays cook Julie (Rollem Productions/BBC)
Melanie Hill plays cook Julie (Rollem Productions/BBC)

“Can you imagine if our numbers had come up – that would be a good story wouldn’t it?”

Writer Kay also revealed she and the production crew all formed a syndicate while making the show and were convinced they could win the jackpot.

Kay said: “I had to play the lottery to understand what was involved. And then we, the crew, all did the lottery.

This is the third series of The Sydicate (Rollem Productions/BBC)
This is the third series of The Syndicate (Rollem Productions/BBC)

“Kirsten, our Focus Puller, organised it and we all got terribly excited and felt sure that
somebody would win because she put forty something lines on, and of course we didn’t and
we were all mortified, but I suppose that’s how it is… all or nothing, you know!”

The Syndicate begins on BBC One on Tuesday June 2.