SUSPECT: CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR NEW CHANNEL 4 CRIME DRAMA

Channel 4 has commissioned eight-part crime thriller Suspect (w/t) from Eagle Eye Drama. The 8x30' series is an adaptation of the Danish series Forhøret by Christoffer Boe.

The 8 x 30’ drama stars James Nesbitt, Joely Richardson, Anne-Marie Duff, Richard E. Grant, Ben Miller, Niamh Algar, Antonia Thomas, Sacha Dhawan, Sam Heughan and Imogen King.

When veteran detective, Danny Frater (James Nesbitt), turns up at a hospital mortuary for what he thinks is a routine ID check on a young woman’s body, he gets a devastating shock; the corpse turns out to be his estranged daughter, Christina (Imogen King).

Danny is traumatised by the news that according to the post-mortem report, she’s taken her own life. Danny and Christina had a complicated father-daughter relationship in recent years, but he refuses to accept that she would have ended her own life. He sets out on a mission for the truth, retracing her last days and hours, in an agonising crusade to discover what really happened to his only child.

James 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."

Channel 4 Head of Drama, Caroline Hollick, who commissioned the series, says: "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."

Jo McGrath, Executive Producer and CCO of Eagle Eye Drama, commented: "Suspect has a distinctive narrative architecture which is both incredibly intimate and very intense, which represents an exciting challenge for any actor and I’m sure that’s one of the reasons we have attracted such a high calibre, talented cast."

The series is produced by Eagle Eye Drama and distributed worldwide by Fremantle.