Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge was 'reluctant' to write second series

Phoebe Waller-Bridge was "reluctant" to write a second series of \'Fleabag\'.

The 35-year-old star - who created, wrote and starred in the BBC comedy - was initially said to have reservations about penning a follow-up to the first season in 2016, according to Sian Clifford, who plays Claire on the show.

Speaking at the Virgin Media BAFTAs pre-ceremony, Sian said: "When we were round that table with our gang plus Andrew Scott, it was a really amazing feeling and I loved it!

"Absolutely amazing. I was one of the people who were encouraging a very reluctant Phoebe to even make a second series. She didn\'t want to do it."

Sian admitted Phoebe needed "time and space" to develop her ideas without the pressure of a tight deadline.

She explained: "Lucky for her, our producers gave her time and space. She just said, \'I\'m not doing it unless I have a good enough idea.\'

"She waited and she was able to buy some time because she had another project on. Not everyone is afforded that privilege but they let her do that and I think the project benefited from that."

The 38-year-old actress explained how she also improved as a performer thanks to a long break between series.

She added: "We all benefited from it because we all went off and learnt about ourselves. I was definitely a better actor when I came back.

"We\'d grown. There was definitely more confidence and that\'s to do with finding the actor I was in pre-drama school."

Although Phoebe has no plans to write another series, she is keen to work with the same cast in the future.

She recently said: "No. I think we have to let her go, she\'s exhausted. She\'s been through a lot.

"But we\'re all going to work together again, so there will be something of the \'Fleabag\' spirit to come back."