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James Nesbitt joins new Jed Mercurio drama

New Irish crime drama gets an acclaimed TV producer.

James Nesbitt (The Missing, Cold Feet) will star in Bloodlands, a new Irish crime drama executive produced by Jed Mercurio (Bodyguard, Line of Duty).

When a car containing a possible suicide note is pulled out of Strangford Lough, Northern Irish police detective Tom Brannick (James Nesbitt) quickly connects it to an infamous cold case with enormous personal significance. Bloodlands follows his dogged hunt for a legendary assassin, an explosive cat-and-mouse game where the stakes have never been higher. Filming will take place in and around Belfast and Strangford Lough. The series is created by newcomer Chris Brandon.

James Nesbitt says: “It’s great to be back making a drama in and about Northern Ireland, which now has a film and television industry as good as any in the world. We have compelling scripts from a brilliant young writer who was raised in County Down, which are very exciting and psychologically complex. I can’t wait to start.”

Chris Brandon says: “I’m absolutely delighted that the first opportunity I get to tell a story on this scale, it is one that is so close to home and the people and places that raised me. On top of that, to be telling it with James Nesbitt, Jed Mercurio and the incredible team at HTM is a total privilege.”

Jed Mercurio, Executive Producer for HTM Television, says: “It’s been incredibly rewarding to discover Chris Brandon’s work and to witness the development of an outstanding new voice in contemporary television thriller writing, added to which everyone at HTM Television is honoured an actor of James Nesbitt’s brilliance will star in our debut production.”

Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama, says: “In Bloodlands Chris has crafted a cracking contemporary thriller which manages to be both completely gripping while shining a light on to the legacy of the troubles in contemporary Northern Ireland. We are thrilled to be working with Chris, Jimmy, Jed and the team at HTM to bring this visceral story to BBC One.”

An Australian broadcaster is yet to be confirmed but BBC First would be a front-runner I suspect…

3 Responses

    1. He’s on the record as saying he’s been approached by Moffat but was then (2016) too busy with preparing/filming LoD4. Not sure if Chibnall has issued the same invitation.

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