Man with a mission
Jason Watkins stars as the eminent scientist who got caught up in Climategate and nearly lost everything
When actor Jason Watkins’ name is attached to a programme, you can bet it’s going to be quality.
And the star of Des, W1A and recent hit McDonald & Dodds leads the cast in a gripping new drama this week.
A conspiracy thriller concerned with the potentially devastating impact climate change denial could have on humanity, The Trick tells the story of the Climategate affair.
In November 2009, the IT servers at the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) at the University of East Anglia were hacked and hundreds of emails were stolen. Days later, the stolen emails were shared online and an international media storm exploded.
Newspaper headlines screamed “Junk Science”, with stories suggesting the research was scientifically flawed and the case for global warming exaggerated.
The Trick charts Professor Phil Jones’s (Watkins) unjustified persecution and the ultimate exoneration of both himself and the science, while his wife Ruth (Victoria Hamilton) stands fiercely by Phil’s side throughout.
And Jason reckons that The Trick’s broadcast is pretty timely.
He said: “The timing couldn’t be better with the now overwhelming evidence that climate change is happening and it’s happening because of man’s intervention.
“I think those people who were sceptical of it now realise that it is absolutely real, tangible and needs to be addressed.”
Jason, who won a BAFTA for his leading role in The Lost Honour Of Christopher Jefferies, was also impressed with the script’s portrayal of how the scandal affected Phil and his family.
He said: “It’s a brilliant story of an individual and a family being put through the mill by forces beyond their control.
“They are a loving couple that had known each other since university.
“They had a whole life together doing good work. Phil was doing world-leading work before he was discredited as a professional and in his personal life, which was devastating for him and his family.”
Jason feels that the film goes some way to highlighting how Phil was never in the wrong. He said: “I really hope audiences grasp how Phil and his family are utterly exonerated from any wrongdoing in the way he went about his work.
“I think he was committed, thorough and illuminating on this subject.”
The actor also hopes that the programme will make the audience think seriously about how we are impacting our future.
He said: “When I watched the film for the first time, even after being in it, within a short space of time you are climbing up the walls wanting to hammer on doors and express how things have to change.
“For me, climate change is not political.
“It needs to be looked at and we need to look at the way we live our lives.”
Meena discovers Victoria’s lifeless body and holds her underwater.
Having spotted someone watching from afar, Meena rushes into the maze to find out what they’ve seen, ready to kill if she has to.
Ellis heads off to drop the survival challenge prize at the maze.
Meena toys with her victim like a cat with a mouse. Manpreet is in need of help. Still loved-up after her day with Ellis, Priya enters the maze carrying a bottle of champagne.
The stakes are high and it’s not long before tragedy strikes.
Gray receives the devastating news that his dad has died.
Billy gives Janine an ultimatum and threatens to expose her to Jay.
Tiffany hits it off with new boy Aaron when he interrupts her chat with Whitney to ask for directions.
Dana asks Harvey to make amends with those he’s hurt.
David, Shona and Leo prise open the manhole as a route to reach the residents trapped underground.
Meanwhile, Dev is at the hospital with Aadi, terrified he won’t survive the accident. He’s tormented over the split decision he had to make at the scene.
The village is left shaken in the wake of the survival challenge.
Many lives are changed forever.
Gray confides in Whitney, telling her that he didn’t expect to be so upset by his dad’s death. He unearths childhood memories in his dad’s things and kisses Whitney. Janine finds a way to get what she wants. Aaron gets Tiffany to go out with him after she tells Liam it’s too soon for her to date.