New thriller Save Me
Suranne Jones and Lennie James on their thriller about a charming chancer accused of kidnapping his daughter…
Two of TV’S top talents come together this week as Suranne Jones and Lennie James star in gritty new six-part drama Save Me.
Created and written by Lennie (Line of Duty), who plays the series’ anti-hero Nelson ‘Nelly’ Rowe, it is about a man who must prove his innocence when he’s accused of kidnapping his estranged teenage daughter, Jody.
Ducker and diver Nelly’s world is turned upside down when he’s arrested. And with Jody’s mother Claire (Doctor Foster’s Suranne) convinced of his guilt, Nelly must set out to save his daughter and clear his name.
TV Times caught up with Lennie, 52, and Suranne, 39, to learn more…
What are your characters like? Lennie: Nelly is that geezer in the pub who, about 15 years ago, all the men wanted to drink with and all the women wanted to get next to – he just never did anything with it. These days, Nelly is resourceful and loyal but he’s also a bully, a liar and a drinker and is kind of flawed. Suranne: Claire grew up around the South East London council estate where Nelly still lives. They had an intense summer of love together, which resulted in a child. Then Claire moved away, got married and is very much ‘new money’.
They’re thrown back together when Jody’s abducted. How do they feel about seeing each other? Lennie: Claire’s the love of Nelly’s life but it was an impossible love. They met when he was a dazzling fella and if he was smarter he would have held on to her, but he wasn’t. Suranne: Nelly drags her back to her old world; the one she’s been trying to get away from. But he has a charm that she can’t resist and they go on a journey they didn’t expect…
What happens? Lennie: Nelly sets out to prove he didn’t kidnap Jody and to find the person who did. It explores the effect this has on him and Claire, and the ripples it causes in the community.
Suranne, you won the National Tv award for Best drama performance for Doctor Foster. Could you have predicted that? Suranne: I don’t think you can ever predict anything, you just have to make shows you love and hope for the best!