Emily Mortimer gushes about starring alongside Fleabag’s Andrew Scott in The Pursuit of Love

‘Forget Hot Priest, it’s Hot Merlin now’: Emily Mortimer gushes about starring alongside Fleabag’s Andrew Scott in her new The Pursuit of Love adaption

Emily Mortimer has gushed about sharing the screen with Fleabag’s Andrew Scott in her new three-part adaptation of Nancy Mitford’s novel The Pursuit of Love.

The series is 49-year-old Emily’s directorial debut, and as well as being behind the camera, she will portray a promiscuous mother named The Bolter, while Andrew, 44, steps into the flamboyant role of Lord Merlin – a wealthy neighbour of the plot’s central Radlett family.

Speaking about Andrew, Emily even revealed she ‘has a crush’ on the talented Irishman.

Sweet: Emily Mortimer, 49, has gushed about sharing the screen with Fleabag’s Andrew Scott, 44, in her new three-part adaptation of Nancy Mitford’s novel The Pursuit of Love

Emily made the confession while in conversation with the Radio Times. After being asked whether or not she has a crush on the actor, Emily replied: ‘Who doesn’t?’

Responding to the joke ‘forget Hot Priest, it’s Hot Merlin from now on,’ she gushed: ‘Totally! And if you were to meet him, you’d fall much more in love with him.’

Touching upon her upcoming adaptation – which takes place between the First and Second World War and follows the romantic adventures of Linda Radlett (played by Lily James) – Emily said it’s about ‘living as if there’s no tomorrow, because there might not be’.

Cheeky: Speaking about Andrew, Emily even revealed she 'has a crush' on the talented Irishman (pictured: Andrew in character as Fleabag's Hot Priest)

Cheeky: Speaking about Andrew, Emily even revealed she ‘has a crush’ on the talented Irishman (pictured: Andrew in character as Fleabag’s Hot Priest)

Lily’s character Linda is the second-oldest daughter of an upper-class family.

Radio Times: Read Emily's full interview in this week's Radio Times, out now

Radio Times: Read Emily’s full interview in this week’s Radio Times, out now

Emily Beecham will also star as Linda’s cousin and best friend, while Dominic West and Dolly Wells portray Linda’s parents.

Lily, 32, and Dominic grew close on the series’ set, and shortly after filming caused controversy when they embarked on a secret romantic getaway.

They were seen enjoying something of a racy weekend in Rome in October, despite Dominic being married to Catherine FitzGerald.

Following the release of some very cosy snaps of Lily and Dominic, the actor and his wife Catherine, 49, assured the public they were still together – with the latter later banning her husband from working with Lily again.

It is believed that part of Dominic and Catherine’s agreement is that he won’t do any promo with Lily for the series, in a bid to save their marriage – which BBC bosses have apparently reluctantly agreed to.

Rome: Dominic West, 51, caused controversy when photographs that showed him flirting with Lily while on a secret trip to Rome were released (Pictured: West and James in Italy last year)

Rome: Dominic West, 51, caused controversy when photographs that showed him flirting with Lily while on a secret trip to Rome were released (Pictured: West and James in Italy last year)

The Wests even discussed renewing their wedding vows to rebuild their ten-year marriage, The Mail on Sunday recently reported.

‘The idea of remarrying was talked about,’ says a friend of the couple.

‘Nothing was decided, or has been yet, but Catherine brought up the idea and it was much discussed. It shows how far things have come since those photographs.’

United front: Catherine FitzGerald was humiliated when pictures of her actor husband Dominic cavorting with Lily surfaced

United front: Catherine FitzGerald was humiliated when pictures of her actor husband Dominic cavorting with Lily surfaced