Entertainment

James Nesbitt to star in new crime thriller for Channel 4

He will play a veteran detective desperate to find out what happened to his estranged daughter.
He will play a veteran detective desperate to find out what happened to his estranged daughter. He will play a veteran detective desperate to find out what happened to his estranged daughter.

James Nesbitt, Richard E Grant, and Joely Richardson will star in a new crime thriller for Channel 4.

The eight-part series will also feature Outlander actor Sam Heughan, Bridgerton’s Ben Miller and Shameless actress Anne-Marie Duff.

The drama, which has a working title of Suspect, is an adaptation of a Danish series and follows veteran detective Danny Frater (Nesbitt), who turns up at a hospital mortuary for what he thinks is a routine ID check on a young woman’s body, and gets a devastating shock when the corpse turns out to be his estranged daughter.

British Academy Scottish Awards
British Academy Scottish Awards Sam Heughan will also star in the series (Jane Barlow/PA)

The post-mortem report finds that Christina, played by Imogen King, has taken her own life but Danny refuses to accept this and sets out on a mission for the truth, retracing her last days and hours, to discover what really happened to his only child.

He meets those closes to her, her partner, Nicola (played by Niamh Algar), her best friend, Maia (played by Antonia Thomas), her business partner, Jaisal (played by Sacha Dhawan), her godfather, Ryan (played by Heughan), her mentor, Harry (played by Grant) and finally her mother, Susannah, who is Danny’s ex-wife (played by Duff).

Danny learns about his daughter’s descent into delinquency and is forced to confront his own failings as a father.

EE British Academy Film Awards 2020 – Arrivals – London
EE British Academy Film Awards 2020 – Arrivals – London Niamh Algar will play Danny’s daughter’s partner (Matt Crossick/PA)

Richardson will play Jackie, the pathologist who carries out the post mortem on Christina’s body, while Miller plays Richard, Danny’s boss.

The show has been written and adapted by Before We Die’s Matt Baker and will be directed by Dries Vos.

Nesbitt said: “I could relate to Danny, with his flaws, vulnerabilities and the devastating situation he faces, from the very first moment I picked up the script.

“Each episode of Suspect is an intensely theatrical double-hander, a psychological battle of wits between Danny and another character who may know something about his daughter’s untimely death, and I really can’t wait to lock horns with my fellow cast members and to lead this incredible array of acting talent.”

65th Evening Standard Theatre Awards – London
65th Evening Standard Theatre Awards – London Anne-Marie Duff will also feature (Ian West/PA)

Caroline Hollick, head of drama at Channel 4, added: “I am absolutely delighted to welcome James Nesbitt back to Channel 4 to take the lead in this gripping, visceral thriller.

“It’s a testament to James’ star power and Matt’s gripping scripts that Suspect (w/t) has attracted such a sensationally stellar ensemble cast.”

The series will be filmed in the autumn.