Treasure hunter keen on Scots plot

THE star of TV’s latest big-budget show wants Scotland to be at the heart of the multi-million pound action-adventure series.

Hooten And The Lady comes from the makers of Death In Paradise and Dickensian.

It follows maverick adventurer Hooten, played by US star Michael Landes – whose father-in-law is legendary Scots photographer Harry Benson – as he chases hidden treasures.

The Sky 1 series, which also stars Ophelia Lovibond and Jane Seymour, is a globe-trotting affair.

“The world was literally our set,” reveals Michael, 43. “We went to Russia, Cambodia, Africa, Italy, all over the place.

“We got a special tour of the Kremlin. And in Rome we rode round on a Vespa with our own police escort – that was my favourite day!

“I was up 40 feet on wires and I got dragged behind a horse in the jungle.

“It reminded me of the action heroes I grew up watching, like Bruce Willis and Kurt Russell.

“They were a little un-PC and a bit rough around the edges.”

There are high hopes of a second series of adventures for Hooten and Michael’s pushing for a Scottish episode.

“We’ve only been to eight places so there are loads more countries to visit and I think Scotland would be wonderful,” he adds.

“Somewhere like Edinburgh must have so many relics to hunt.”

Michael’s wife Wendy is the daughter of Glasgow-born Harry, 86, who has photographed every American president since Dwight Eisenhower.

And he says Harry was the template for his screen action hero. “He’s been a scrapper since day one, finishing one job and hunting down the next. He’s a cheeky devil and Hooten’s like Harry.”

Hooten And The Lady, Sky 1, Friday,

9pm.