A trip north to see Stephen Tompkinson on location between Manchester and Leeds.

He was filming the first full series of ITV1 drama DCI Banks after two pilot episodes last autumn.

Where I also spoke to co-star Andrea Lowe, who re-lives her own real life fire nightmare in the opening story.

And I learned how filming had to be stopped when it was feared the stars were in danger.

My feature is in today’s MEN and below.

Sitting in his trailer, Stephen also compared modern day detective Alan Banks to Gene Hunt.