Village of the damned
SHERWOOD BBC1, 9pm TWO shocking murders, a fractured community and a manhunt are the focus of this gripping six-part thriller.
David Morrissey leads an impressive all-star ensemble cast including Joanne Froggatt, Robert Glenister, Alun Armstrong, Lesley Manville, Adeel Akhtar, Claire Rushbrook, Kevin Doyle, Lorraine Ashbourne, Phillip Jackson, Perry Fitzpatrick, Adam Hugill and Stephen Tompkinson.
Written by James Graham, it’s inspired in part by events in the Nottinghamshire mining village where he grew up. James says: “It’s hugely personal to me. I was deeply affected by the story and the real killings that inspired the series.
“I hope this will move and entertain and carry an audience through every week via all the questions and mysteries that this story throws up.”
We begin with a time of celebration as Tory councillor Sarah Vincent (Froggatt) gets married to Neel Fisher (Bally Gill), with many of the villagers in attendance.
But the unexpected murder of local resident Gary Jackson (Armstrong), a vocal former striking miner, brings tension and suspicion to the community.
Detective Chief Inspector Ian St Clair (Morrissey) is called in to investigate the crime, and discovers many suspects and motives. Further questions are raised when Gary’s arrest file points to a figure from Ian’s past, DI Salisbury (Glenister), who is brought in to support the investigation.
There’s a Broadchurch feel to the drama, since it involves a small community and everyone seems deeply suspicious.
But it’s not just a whodunit. It’s a why-dunnit that examines political events from decades ago.
Continues tomorrow night.