David Duchovny returns soon to UK screens as one half of power-dressing FBI special agent couple Mulder and Scully - but he admits those sharp suits made him think twice about the reboot.

The X-Files, starring David and Gillian Anderson, resurfaces for a new six-part series on Channel 5, 14 years after time was called on the hit sci-fi series, but the actor’s hatred of Mulder’s wardrobe has not abated.

David Duchovny Gillian AndersonThat suit and tie nearly spelt the end for David’s return (Frank Ockenfels/Fox/PA)

 

“I always wanted to be engaged, creative and imaginative – and not have to go into an office every day. That was the life I wanted. I didn’t want to wear a suit and tie, which is the f*****-up thing about having to play Mulder again,” he told Radio Times.

He admitted he had also “really screwed myself” with new Charles Manson crime drama Aquarius, in which he spends his time in – you guessed it – a suit and tie.

The X-Files was the longest running sci-fi show in US TV history with 202 episodes under its belt in 2002, but its lead stars became embroiled in rumours of fractious on-set arguments towards the end.

Gillian Anderson and David DuchovnyGillian and David are firm friends again now (Omar Vega/AP/PA)

 

David said: “We’d spent eight or nine years working together 12 to 14 hours a day. On top of that, we went from complete obscurity to worldwide stardom. Not just America. I think we both went somewhat crazy.”

It is not Gillian that David now has to worry about on set, but his children – 16-year-old Madelaine and 13-year-old Kyd, with ex-wife Tea Leoni.

He said he had enlisted Madelaine’s boyfriend to help him on the show, but he had a tougher time convincing her that the cult series could compete with fan favourite Game Of Thrones when she visited.

David Duchovny and Madelaine DuchovnyDavid’s working hard to sell the show to his children, including daughter Madelaine (Kathy Willens/AP/PA)

 

“I kept telling her, ‘We’re just as good as they are’,” he said.

Part of the show’s appeal was its conspiracy theories, mainly that the US government was hiding the existence of extraterrestrials on Earth, but David is not convinced by the speculation.

“I find it hard to believe they’re keeping aliens from us because it’s pretty juicy… There are too many people, too many secrets to keep. It’s not human nature,” he said.

Chris Carter, Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny The Emmy and Golden Globe-winning show became a cult hit and spawned plenty of conspiracy theories (Mark J Terrill/AP/PA)

 

But he is surprised how successful he has ended up as an actor, something he never expected as a child.

“I was always afraid that I’d end up in the gutter. That was our fear growing up – not to have any money and to end up homeless,” he admitted.

The X-Files begins on February 8 on Channel 5 at 9pm. Read the full interview with David in the Radio Times, out now.