A strange detective series about two cities

IN ITV Choice’s genre-busting thriller, The City and The City, acclaimed actor David Morrissey, takes on the role of Inspector Tyador Borlú of the Extreme Crime Squad.

Well known for his characters Sam Webster in The Missing and the Governor in The Walking Dead, Morrissey chose to be part of this new four-parter because of it’s intriguing detective story.

The show, a small screen adaptation of China Mieville’s novel by Tony Grisoni, is directed by Tom Shankland (House of Cards, The Missing), and tells the story of a foreign student’s body being discovered on the streets of the city of Besel. While on the case, Borlú uncovers evidence that the murdered girl came from Ul Qoma, a city that shares a dangerous and volatile relationship with Bes el.

“The concept is strange. It is a detective story told in this city, which is actually two cities that share the same footprint, but there are very strict regulations about the fact that one city cannot see the other city’s populace. It is a fish out of water tale. It is a man who has to go into another city and abide by their rules. The audience will have to get used to the rules, but once they do, there is something quite fun about seeing how these two worlds are realised,” says Morrissey about his role.

“Something has happened to him in the past, and it has closed him off and really thrown him. He is quite a locked up person, and during the investigation, the thing that is really torturing him starts to come back. So you realise that the case he is on has a deep, personal meaning to him. He is pursuing this girl’s killer, but also his own past, and trying to make sense of what has happened to him,” he adds.

Morrissey’s involvement with the show came about when Grisoni told him he was writing the adaptation. Morrissey’s interest grew, wondering how Grisoni was going to bring Miéville’s book to life.

“Eighteen months later, I got sent the script, with a letter from Tony and Shankland saying they wanted me to play the lead, and when I read the script, I thought it was fantastic. But I still had big questions about how they were going to realise this strange world that China had created,” he says.

But Shankland talked him through the ideas, concepts, design board and photographs. “I think he is a wonderful director and one I have wanted to work with for a long time,” says Morrissey.

The City and The City was filmed on location in Manchester and Liverpool, Liverpool being Morrissey’s home city.

“My affection for Liverpool is deep-rooted. It was wonderful to work there and see the city in good shape. You can see the history of the city being preserved and then this whole new modern city being built around it as well, so it felt wonderful to be back there.”

The City and The City starts on ITV Choice (DStv 123) on July 17 at 8pm.