Viewpoint
ITV, MONDAY-FRIDAY, 9PM
WHAT IS IT? Noel Clarke (Bulletproof, Star Trek Into Darkness) leads an all-star cast in the brand new drama series, which is being shown across five nights. Based on an idea by Fleabag and Emmy awardwinning director, Harry Bradbeer (Killing Eve, No Offence) and co-created and written by Edgar award-winner Ed Whitmore (Safe House, Manhunt), the gripping story follows a tense police surveillance investigation into a tight knit Manchester community and explores whether it is ever possible to observe the lives of others with true objectivity and zero effect.
WHAT’S THE STORY? Clarke plays surveillance detective DC
Martin Young, who sets up his observation post in the home of single mum and secret voyeur,
Zoe Sterling, played by Alexandra Roach (No Offence, Black Mirror). Zoe’s windows command a panoramic view of Westbury Square, and more importantly provides a direct sightline into the home of missing primary school teacher, Gemma Hillman, played by Amy Wren (Tutankhamun,
The Last Kingdom); the home she shares with boyfriend and prime suspect in her disappearance, Greg Sullivan, played by Fehinti Balogun (Informer).
NOEL CLARKE SAYS: “It’s more like an episode of True Detective in that it’s a slow burn. It’s the sort of show where you’re with Martin trying to figure out who did it. If he gets spotted or puts a foot wrong the whole operation is blown. When he’s watching, as an audience member that is what you’re watching. What did he see, what does that mean, how does that help or not help and I think that’s what I hope will draw people in.
“I spent a lot of time in a room looking through a window and it was a chance to really be still. It was a chance to imagine what it would be like to just watch people and I think it would be an interesting job, being a surveillance detective.
“During filming, the apartments we were staying in were opposite a big hotel that had hundreds of windows, and when I was on my exercise bike I could see what people were doing in their hotel rooms. The things I saw during my four months there could fill a TV show.
“I never thought about that before and I probably wouldn’t have been so observant if I hadn’t been doing this job but I sat there watching all sorts.
“It made me think if you just sit somewhere and watch, you will always see something interesting happen.
“That is the key to surveillance, people will always make mistakes and when they make mistakes you are watching.”