The Great Train Robbery: First Look

“THIS is not just a robbery. This is an attack on the very cornerstone of England.”

The Great Train Robbery is a new two-part BBC1 drama which tells the story of the crime of the century from both sides.

Feature length A Robber’s Tale and A Copper’s Tale star Luke Evans as robbery mastermind Bruce Reynolds and Jim Broadbent as the detective who caught him.

Writer Chris Chibnall details for the first time on screen the minute by minute drama of the 1963 robbery, along with the story of how it was planned – and what went wrong.

Then turning his attention to the specially assembled squad of Scotland Yard detectives and the investigation that tracked down the gang and brought them to justice.

It’s a story of one man taking on the Establishment….and losing.

Along with a gripping tale of two teams of men both intent on achieving their goals on different sides of the law.

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Exile: Jim Broadbent

“I couldn’t have a better time than I’m having now.”

Jim Broadbent was nominated for another BAFTA TV Award this week, for his role in Any Human Heart.

I met up with him again back in January to talk about his latest TV project – BBC1’s Exile.

Our round table chat included a look back at his career and his next part, alongside Meryl Streep.

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Exile: John Simm Extras

“WHO invented this?”

Tom Ronstadt, played by John Simm, is in a pub, unimpressed with the world of karaoke.

“Have you any Smiths, Leonard Cohen?” he asks his screen sister Nancy (Olivia Colman), perusing the songbook in three-part BBC1 thriller Exile.

Who then proceeds to treat the locals to her version of Britney Spears’ Toxic.

There is much to love about Danny Brocklehurst’s drama, with a script as fresh as the day Morrissey first waved gladioli on Top Of The Pops while singing This Charming Man.

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Exile: John Simm

“DON’T measure me against him. He’s won an Oscar,” smiles John Simm.

We’re sat in a conference room at BBC TV Centre in west London, where a few days before I’d also interviewed Jim Broadbent.

John and Jim co-star in superb new BBC1 drama Exile, to be screened over three consecutive nights from Sunday May 1.

Relaxed in a grey V-neck jumper, white T-shirt and blue jeans, an unshaven John was in good spirits during the small round table chat back in January.

Where the conversation ranged from Hamlet to Harry and Paul via Exile, Doctor Who and Sam Tyler.

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