‘Line Of Duty’ Actor Stephen Graham To Star In BBC Drama ‘The North Waters’

Line Of Duty star Stephen Graham is set to star in gritty new BBC drama, The North Waters.

The new series - set in the 1850s and adapted from the novel by Ian McGuire - will follow disgraced ex-army surgeon Patrick Sumner (played by Skins star Jack O'Connell) as he joins a whaling expedition to the Arctic as a ship's doctor.

There, he works alongside Graham's character Brownlee, the Volunteer's Captain, and the ship's owner Baxter, played by Sir Tom Coutenay (from Dad's Army).

But things soon go awry when Sumner crosses paths with killer Henry Drax (Farrell).

Filmed in Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the ice floes of the Arctic Ocean, the four part series looks as freezing cold and frosty as it does mentally chilling.

The unit travelled as far as 81 degrees north to film some sequences amongst the ice, which is the furthest point north it is believed a drama series has ever been filmed.

Speaking about filming in such frosty conditions, the Line of Duty actor - who is also expected to appear in the upcoming series of Peaky Blinders - said: "Filming on the ship was an incredible experience and one that I will never forget.

"To be so privileged to see such beautiful animals like polar bears in their natural habitat - albeit it an ever changing one, sadly - was truly remarkable."

To whet your appetite a little more, the show's synopsis reads: "On board [Sumner] meets the harpooner Henry Drax, a brutish killer whose amorality has been shaped to fit the harshness of his world.

"Hoping to escape the horrors of his past, Sumner finds himself in a male-dominated world, on an ill-fated journey with a murderous psychopath.

"In search of redemption, his story becomes a harsh struggle for survival in the Arctic wasteland."

We're already sold.

The series will consist of three hour-long episodes and one ninety minute episode, written and directed by Andrew Haigh, who has also worked on critically acclaimed hits including Weekend and 45 Years.

It will also star Sam Spruell (Taken 3) as the ship's first mate Cavendish and Roland Moller (Land Of Mine) as harpooner Otto.

Meanwhile, Philip Hill-Pearson (War Horse) will appear as McKendrick while Kieran Urquhart (Humans) will star as Jones.

Featured Image Credit: BBC

Topics: TV News, TV Entertainment, Line of Duty

Joanna Freedman

Joanna is a journalist at Tyla with a particular interest in highlighting women's issues and telling inspiring first person stories. She's also their resident foodie, and loves covering exciting new beauty launches, too. Contact her at [email protected].

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