TV thriller will be ‘Nottingham talent fest’
CITY FORMS BACKDROP WITH VICKY MCCLURE IN LEAD ROLE
NOTTINGHAM forms the backdrop for homegrown star Vicky Mcclure’s next big project – four-part psychological thriller Without Sin.
The ITV drama explores the relationship which develops between a grieving mother and the man she believes murdered her daughter.
Bafta and RTS award-winning Nottingham actress Vicky – who has starred in Line Of Duty, This Is England, Broadchurch and the forthcoming Trigger Point – will play the leading role of Stella Tomlinson, whose 14-year-old daughter Maisy is found dead at their family home with the bloodied, hooded figure of Charles Stone standing over her.
Acclaimed film and television actor Johnny Harris, star of The Salisbury Poisonings, Medici, Troy: Fall of a City, will feature alongside Vicky as Charles.
Without Sin is being produced by Left Bank Pictures, famed for Quiz, The Crown, and Behind Her Eyes and coproduced by Build Your Own Films, a production company run by Vicky and her partner Jonny Owen,
The show is written by Nottinghamborn Frances Poletti (Charlie Says, Miss Todd), who created the series for Vicky and Jonny, reuniting the pair on screen for the first time since 2010’s This Is England ’86.
The Nottingham-based drama focuses on Stella’s life three years on from the death of her teenage daughter and how she is still hostage to her grief.
The loss of her beloved only child has created deep divisions in her life, as she struggles on a daily basis to come to terms with the horrifying past.
Wracked with guilt and remorse at the events of that night, she chooses to live a nocturnal existence as an Uber driver. She is estranged from husband Paul, who still lives in the family home.
When contacted by restorative justice officers, and in an attempt to move on, Stella and Paul reunite to listen to a taped recording of Charles, who they believe wants to atone for his sins and apologise for murdering their daughter.
Following this development, Stella returns to her roots on the Millfields estate.
Surrounding herself with the people she trusts and holds dear – her mother Jessie and best friend Remy – she decides to take things with Charles one step further.
Stella agrees to visit the prison alongside a restorative justice mediator and come face to face with her daughter’s killer.
But nothing could prepare her for what Charles has to say next.
Without Sin was commissioned by ITV head of drama Polly Hill.
She said: “Without Sin is a brilliantly compelling story while carefully dealing with a mother’s grief at the loss of her daughter.
“Vicky and Johnny as Stella and Charles will be addictive viewing.
“I’m delighted to be working with Build Your Own Films and Left Bank Pictures to bring this to ITV this year.”
Executive producers are Andy Harries, Sian Mcwilliams, Vicky Mcclure and Johnny Harris, while the drama will be produced by Guy Hescott and directed by Al Mackay.
On behalf of Build Your Own Films, Vicky added: “We are absolutely delighted that a hugely successful company such as Left Bank Pictures wanted to work with us, sharing the same beliefs with BYO’S vision to create equality of opportunity.
“I am also thrilled to be working once again with my good friend, and one of the UK’S finest actors, Johnny Harris, along with members of Nottingham’s Television Workshop.”
“To be filming in my home town is a dream come true.”
Andy Harries, chief executive officer for Left Bank Pictures, said: “It’s a privilege to be working with Vicky and Johnny and to be able to reunite them in a very strong story set in Vicky’s home town of Nottingham, and written by local writer Fran.
“It’s a proper Nottingham talent fest.” Without Sin is currently being filmed in Nottingham and Shrewsbury.
A parking bay suspension has been introduced between Southey Street and Forest Road East in Nottingham while filming is under way and residents in the area have spoken about their excitement.