Zooey: I picked the guys I liked

Zooey Deschanel has revealed she gets on so well with her New Girl co-stars because she helped pick the actors she liked best.

The (500) Days of Summer star plays Jess in the Channel 4 sitcom about a teacher who moves in with three male housemates - played by Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield and Lamorne Morris.

Zooey revealed she helped audition them to make sure the guys she got on best with got the part.

She said: "We get along great. I was very fortunate that when I signed on to do the show I volunteered to read with everybody who came in.

"So I saw all these guys when they first came in and I felt like if we cast people that all get along then that would translate, and it really has because I get along so well with these guys."

Lamorne, who plays roommate Winston, said he was delighted the show has been commissioned for season two, and was surprised the show had lots of macho fans.

He said: "I constantly meet manly men who say, 'I'm not going to lie to you, at first I was like I'm not going to watch that show, but then I started watching the show and it's actually pretty cool, don't tell anybody I said that.'

"And then this 7' 5" guy, 500 pounds walks away, drinking a beer, who tells me how much he loves my show. Which is great. Footballers watch it, all kinds of people."

New Girl returns to Channel 4 next month.