THRILLSEEKERS

JED MERCURIO, 66, on how Bloodlands goes from script to screen…

What do you think makes Bloodlands stand out in the sea of crime thrillers?

When I first read Chris Brandon’s script, I thought it was a really interesting and riveting piece about a character, DCI Tom Brannick, who represented the conflicts of his own land. How he had an internal struggle between peace and justice and burying the past as a way to bring people on a hopeful journey towards the future. That was something that was happening at a great emotional cost to him as it happens at a great emotional cost to many of the people who lived through the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

How has this season evolved from the first run?

Chris is very adept at writing thrillers and digging into the emotional and psychological layers of the characters he creates. The most valuable discussions we’ve had are about how you move from a first to a second series and what your objectives are in terms of achieving the two things you need to achieve with returning dramas; which is first to hold on to your existing audience and reward their loyalty, but also present something that is attractive and accessible to a new audience, so that you’re able to grow the show.

What’s your role on this series?

It’s a position where I’m giving observations and responding to what Chris does – we’re not co-writing or anything. It’s very much Chris’ show and I’m just always delighted by the material he presents to us. He writes brilliant dialogue and fantastic characters that just jump off the page. It’s an incredibly easy and privileged position for me to be in.