Succession: Matthew Macfadyen says he ‘almost choked on chicken’ while filming finale

Actor had laughing fit during comfort-eating scene

Succession star Matthew Macfadyen has revealed he “almost choked” on a “really big bit” of chicken breast while filming the season two finale.

The scene in question sees Macfadyen’s character Tom Wambsgans comfort-eating chicken off his father-in-law Logan’s (Brian Cox) plate after his wife Shiv (Sarah Snook) insists on extending their open marriage into having a threesome.

Recalling shooting the scene, Macfadyen said: “The first time I did it, I grabbed a really big bit of breast of the chicken off Brian’s plate and I almost choked.”

He told Vulture: “We managed for about two and a half seconds and then we just cracked up. He rarely giggles, so if he goes, that’s it. Game’s over.

“I had to really concentrate, and I took a smaller bite of the leg. I ended up with a drumstick, but I had quite a lot of chicken."

He added: “It’s so batty and odd and so Succession, that moment. Tom’s really at a low ebb. He thinks, ’F*** it, you know?’”

The sun-drenched season two finale of Succession, which is set on the Logan family’s yacht in the Mediterranean and was awarded five stars by our critic, is currently available to stream on NOW TV.