'The Walking Dead' actor David Morrissey on premiere of upcoming season 3 second half

More than 10 million viewers watched the season three premiere of AMC's "The Walking Dead." The show was also one of the biggest of the fall season with younger audiences; beating all broadcast and cable entertainment series, including “The Voice”, “Modern Family”, “Two and a Half Men” and “The Big Bang Theory.”

The hit series chronicles groups of survivors in a world overrun by zombies. Actor David Morrissey plays "The Governor”, a Jim Jones cult-like figure leading some of the survivors to what he claims is a safe and secure location away from the walkers. This morning Morrissey joins “Starting Point” to discuss the show’s success and the second half of season 3 set to premiere in February.

Morrissey says he believes the show popularity is based on its ability to encourage people "to imagine what its like to be in a place of that type of danger...we like to be scared.” He adds that the show is bigger than the zombies because it also shows what humans will go through to survive in times of crisis.

"The Governor” is “somebody who’s trying to protect his people,” says Morrissey. He adds that his character realizes that all safety comes at a cost and therefore “manipulates his people by always telling them how dangerous it is out there.”

Morrissey says the heat and the humidity are the hardest to deal with on set. He adds, “You’re working sometimes 14 and 16 hour days and its very hot down there. Even at night time it can be very very hot.”

“The Walking Dead” returns on AMC Sunday February 10th at 9pm EST.