paranoid_episode1_-06

“YOU start thinking, ‘Is this going to be about small town cops investigating a brutal murder?

‘Or is it going to be something more than that?’

“And it turns out to be something far more than that.”

Robert Glenister talking to me about new eight-part ITV drama Paranoid, made by the Red Production Company.

A truly gripping story filmed in Cheshire and Germany starting at 9pm this Thursday (Sept 22).

Starring Robert as veteran cop Bobby Day, Indira Varma and Dino Fetscher as police colleagues Nina Suresh and Alec Wayfield, Neil Stuke as their boss Michael Niles and Lesley Sharp as murder eyewitness Lucy Cannonbury.

8116465-high-500

“THAT’S happening all round the country to 41-year-olds who look like me.

“But nobody gets to see that on the telly.”

Sally Lindsay is talking about her main storyline in new BBC1 six-part drama series Ordinary Lies.

Written by Danny Brocklehurst and made by Red Productions.

One sentence alone that should have you tuning in to the opening episode at 9pm next Tuesday (March 17).

Sarah Lancashire as Catherine Cawood.
Sarah Lancashire as Catherine Cawood.

“I’LL make a note of the fact that you apologised profusely…in tears.”

Sarah Lancashire as Sergeant Catherine Cawood in tonight’s Happy Valley episode three. (BBC1 9pm)

Sally Wainwright’s brilliant script matched, yet again, by Sarah’s work on screen.

In a series reminding us that Sally’s writing CV includes dramas like Unforgiven, as well as Last Tango In Halifax, Scott and Bailey and At Home With The Braithwaites.

Back in March I attended the London launch of this six-part drama, followed by a Q&A.

A few hours later I wrote the story further down this page, which has not gone online – so best put that right now.

PREY_EPISODE2_03 500

“IT was a very physical role, lots of running, hanging off bridges and climbing fences, hard work.

“But I must say I absolutely loved it.”

John Simm talking about his lead role as Det Sgt Marcus Farrow in Prey, a three-part ITV thriller written by Chris Lunt.

I spoke to John on location during filming on a cold and wet day at the start of January.

And again later when he had returned from making the first episodes of Intruders in Vancouver and was about to begin work on The Village 2.

While Chris and I chatted at ITV’s new Trafford / Media City HQ on January 6 – the official first day in that site’s history after the move from Quay Street in Manchester.

A fresh and exciting TV writer – currently bound for Hollywood – at the dawn of a new era for ITV in the North West.

You can read my interviews via the link to the ITV press pack / production notes below.