BBC One’s The Nest Sets Cast

Sophie Rundle (Peaky Blinders, Gentleman Jack) and Martin Compston (Line of Duty, Mary Queen of Scots) have been tapped to lead the cast of the new BBC One thriller The Nest.

In the five-part series written by Nicole Taylor, wealthy couple Emily (Rundle) and Dan (Compston), who’ve been trying for a baby without any luck, make a pact with a teenage girl named Kaya (Mirren Mack), who agrees to carry their child. Though their meeting seems like a happy coincidence, questions soon arise about how Kaya came to encounter the couple and if it really was by chance.

Also starring in The Nest are Shirley Henderson (Stan & Ollie, Happy Valley), Katie Leung (Strangers, Chimerica), David Hayman (Hatton Garden, Fisherman’s Friends), Fiona Bell (Shetland, Acceptable Risk), James Harkness (The Victim, Wild Rose), Bailey Patrick (London Kills, Good Omens), Kate Dickie (Game of Thrones, The Witch), Paul Brannigan (The Angels’ Share, Under the Skin) and Samuel Small (So Awkward, Game of Thrones).

Andy de Emmony (Lucky Man, Wipers Times) directs episodes one, two and three of The Nest—which starts filming next month in Glasgow—while Simen Alsvik (Lilyhammer, Ragnarok) will direct episodes four and five. The series is produced by Studio Lambert, with Taylor, Susan Hogg and Simon Lewis executive producing for Studio Lambert and Lucy Richer for the BBC. Clare Kerr (The Replacement, Shetland) produces.

Compston said: “I’m absolutely delighted to join the cast of The Nest. Nicole Taylor is one of the most exciting and original voices in writing today. I’m chuffed we’re finally working together. Combined with filming in Glasgow and going back onto BBC One in my native west coast accent makes it a dream scenario.”

Taylor said: “I am overjoyed to be filming in my hometown of Glasgow with a cast I have long dreamt of writing for. Martin, Sophie, Kate, Shirley, James, David… they’ve all been chatting away in my head for years as I’ve been writing (unbeknownst to them!) so I could not be more proud that they have agreed to join The Nest and make these characters real.”

Richer, senior drama commissioner for the BBC and executive producer, said: “Nicole Taylor’s extraordinarily brilliant and compelling scripts have drawn some of the U.K.’s finest talent and we are delighted to have Martin Compston and Sophie Rundle head up this wonderful ensemble cast.”

Hogg, head of drama at Studio Lambert, said: “Having worked with Nicole very closely on The C Word and Three Girls, I knew her characters would be extraordinary on the page. And now I’m absolutely thrilled to have the most amazing actors to bring them to life! Led by Martin and Sophie, our cast is simply perfect and we can’t wait to start filming in the vibrant and beautiful city of Glasgow.”