How do synths work in Humans and how do the actors learn to play the robot assistants?

SYNTHS are the sophisticated robots in the Channel 4 series Humans.
Here is everything you need to know about them as the sci-fi show gears up for a third season…

How do synths work in Humans?

In Humans, synths, (short for synthetics) are artificially intelligent robots.

Like David in the Spielberg film AI, the synths in Humans are made to look like real people.

However they are clearly identified as robots due to their demeanour, bright green eyes and the fact they don’t breathe.

People can purchase synths to act as assistants who can help them with daily tasks such as shopping.

However things go awry when the synths start to take on their own personalities and display behaviours they’re not supposed to.

The synths in season three include Mia (Gemma Chan), Niska (Emily Berrington) and the conscious half man/half synth Leo Elster (Colin Morgan).

How did the actors in Humans learn to play the role of the synths?

The actors in synths all went to “synth boot camp” so they could learn how to play robots.

Dan O’Neill, a choreographer and movement director taught them how to appear as sentient androids.

Speaking to the he said: “Normally I do a lot of research, but in this instance, I realized it would be fatal to be infected by other ideas,”

“We decided they would be very unobtrusive, a bit like a refrigerator, humming away. The characters have to show they are machines, with an energy that wasn’t like ours.”

Things are made even more complicated by synths pretending to be human and humans posing as synths!

When does Humans series three start on Channel 4?

Humans series three will return to Channel 4 on May 17, 2018.

The new season will have eight episodes.

Beth Willis, head of drama at Channel 4, said: “I can’t wait to see what the extraordinarily talented [writers] Sam [Vincent] and Jon [Brackley] do next with this show

“No doubt it will be as insightful, surprising and addictive as ever.”