PARTNERS IN CRIME

Sharon Horgan leaves comedy behind for a spell in the interrogation room in the new series of Criminal .... and she’s a tough nut to crack

SHARON Horgan discovers that falling foul of the law is no laughing matter as she stars in the upcoming series of Criminal on Netflix.

The Co. Meath actress and writer, best known as a leading lady of comedy, takes on a completely new direction in the drama.

Criminal sees a host of guest stars take centre stage in episodes shot almost entirely in a police interrogation room. The first season featured Doctor Who actor David Tennant as a sinister doctor and Hayley Atwell as a combative murder suspect.

In the new series, Sharon faces off against a tough interrogator who is intent on breaking her character, who is accused of being a paedophile hunter.

The episode pits cop against criminal and is full of dramatic twists and turns that will have viewers on a knife edge as the interrogator is out for justice over an accused who believes she is a justice warrior.

Kit Harington, Sophie Okonedo and Kunal Nayyar are also in the hot seat for four new episodes.

Speaking to RadioTimes.com and other press, Criminal’s cast of series regulars — Katherine Kelly, Lee Ingleby, Rochenda Sandall and Shubham Saraf — insisted that this year’s guests all deliver something that audiences haven’t seen from them before.

‘Most of our guest actors... they’re probably known for a certain character… even perhaps a particular genre as well,’ said Kelly, who returns as detective inspector Natalie Hobbs.

‘[But] there’s a lot more flavours in them and they want to show that they can absolutely do that — I find it really thrilling to watch people transform.’

The new series of Criminal picks up with the same interrogation room set-up as before — with just the hallway, the statement room and ‘behind-the-mirror’ where all the action lies.

■ Season two of Criminal is on Netflix from September 16