Sean Bean on Curfew, Baptiste on the BBC and Pure on our radar

Created by the team responsible for the award-winning Peaky Blinders, Curfew is a high-octane new drama series featuring a high concept storyline and a top-notch cast. It’s set in a dystopian future where a night-time curfew has been put in place by the UK authorities to protect the population from a virus that’s sweeping the nation. Undaunted, a tech billionaire has set up a deadly street race in which 25 teams will set off from South London and won’t stop until they cross the nish line in the Scottish highlands. The teams are comprised of people from all walks of life, all of whom have their own reason for setting out on this adventure. With echoes of the Gumball Rally, the Warriors and Escape From New York, Curfew boasts an impressive cast including Adrian Lester, Miranda Richardson, Billy Zane and Sean Bean. Bean plays Errol Chambers, aka e General; a man who made his reputation pulling o high-stakes heists, and a guy who is determined to be the rst to cross the nish line. The Sheffield actor tells Insider about his latest project.

What was it that attracted you to Curfew?

Sean Bean: It’s something different and I thought it was quite relevant to what’s happening today. I wouldn’t say [we’re in] a police state, but it’s going in that direction. ings are getting quite militarised in America and you wouldn’t like to think that will happen here, but that’s what happening in our story. I always nd these dystopian tales and images quite fascinating – the comparisons to 1984 and stu like that. I’m just fascinated by that darkness – it seems to be a very subterranean society that people are living in. ere’s no communication, there’s just darkness and a curfew, but there are these few people who want to get out of it, who are eccentric and free thinkers, and I think many of them are involved in this race.

Why does The General enter the race?

I think e General is someone who wants to make a fresh start. He’s had a lot of tragedy in his life, he’s lost his children, and he wants to make a new life with his girlfriend Faith [played by Rose Williams]. She’s pregnant and they’re desperate to take this baby to a new place and start a new life. I don’t know if it’ll be a straight life, but probably an improvement on his past.

Did you get to do any of your own driving in the series?

I did quite a bit of stunt driving. I had great instructors, so I was in safe hands. They pulled o some amazing stunts but I got involved a little. I drove a Jag pretty fast actually. It was fun. It’s a big muscular machine and you can really throw it around. It’s just a real beast of a car and I really enjoyed that.

What three words best describe Curfew as a series?

Dangerous, exciting, ominous. And funny, as well!