THE INVISIBLE ENEMY

Five country coppers tackling a global conspiracy plot might seem far-fetched, but compelling new thriller Paranoid may not be so far from the truth...

When the stabbing of a GP in the middle of a children’s playground brings murder to rural Cheshire, you might be tempted to think you’ve tuned into Midsomer Murders. But by the end of the first episode of ITV’s compelling new thriller Paranoid there are two more unexpected deaths, and what seems like a random attack by a mentally ill man is clearly part of something much, much bigger.

The show, from the production team behind Happy Valley and Scott & Bailey, aims several notches higher than your average whodunnit. As the storyline, created by Lark Rise To Candleford writer Bill Gallagher, becomes ever larger taking the team to Germany, it becomes clear that the murders are something to do with a shadowy industry that affects all of our lives – and something of a personal obsession for the writer. ‘Bill wanted to write a conspiracy thriller showing that there is, perhaps, a larger malevolent force in the world at the moment,’ says producer Tom Sherry. ‘What he’s done cleverly is invested the audience into these characters we can all recognise. When you see this force acting against them, the story becomes less predictable and more human.’

Central to the story is long-serving police officer Bobby Day, played by Robert Glenister. ‘The appeal for me was the scale of it. It starts off quite parochial; a murder in a rural environment. Then it develops into something more complicated and completely global. The nature of the killings seems so random you don’t know who’ll be next. You don’t know where to look and you no longer know who to trust,’ says Robert.

Even before the growing body count Bobby was struggling with anxiety and panic attacks. This gets worse as the investigation continues. Then he meets the Quaker Lucy Cannonbury (Lesley Sharp), who witnessed the first murder and protected the victim’s son from the knifeman. She recognises Bobby needs help and draws him into her world but she has her own secrets.

‘Lucy has been through a version of what Bobby is going through,’ says Lesley. ‘She found her salvation and is a voice of calm. But there’s an air of mystery about her and that’s not surprising because what transpires about Lucy is really unexpected.’

The police team, presided over by increasingly beleaguered Chief Inspector Niles ( Neil Stuke), also includes sparky Nina Suresh, played by Indira Varma. As well as trying to solve this mysterious crime spree she’s going

through her own personal crisis after her boyfriend of four years leaves her, shattering her dreams of becoming a mother. On the rebound, she pounces on her bright, younger colleague Alec Wayfield, played by newcomer Dino Fetscher.

‘I’m not usually a massive fan of police dramas,’ says Game Of Thrones actress Indira. ‘But Paranoid is very character-driven. Nina’s a lit- tle bit bonkers. She’s mouthy, not always likeable, a bit of a nightmare. But she redeems herself with her honesty. Everyone goes through a crisis at some point in their life and that’s partly what Paranoid is about. Human beings trying to make the best of their lives while trying to solve several murders.’

Paranoid, Thursday, 9pm, ITV.