BBC’s Upcoming Thriller Nightsleeper Casts Leads

Joe Cole (Gangs of London) and Alexandra Roach (The Light in the Hall) have been cast as the leads of the upcoming BBC thriller Nightsleeper.

Produced by Fremantle’s Euston Films, the real-time thriller is set on a sleeper train traveling from Glasgow to London that may be hurtling toward its final destination. Two people who have never met, one on the train and one not, must work together to save the lives of the passengers from the rapidly escalating events on board.

In addition to Cole and Roach, the Nightsleeper cast includes Alex Ferns (The Devil’s Hour), Sharon Small (The Bay), James Cosmo (Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan), David Threlfall (Shameless), Daniel Cahill (The Control Room), Lois Chimimba (Vigil), Gabriel Howell (The Fence), Katie Leung (Harry Potter franchise), Leah MacRae (Rosie Molloy Gives Up Everything), Ruth Madeley (Years and Years), Adam Mitchell (Mother’s Day), Pamela Nomvete (Andor), Scott Reid (Maxine), Sharon Rooney (Jerk) and Parth Thakerar (Gangs of London).

BAFTA award-winning writer Nick Leather (The Control Room, Mother’s Day) is writing the series and executive producing, alongside Kate Harwood, Euston Films’ managing director, and Gaynor Holmes for the BBC. Jamie Magnus Stone (Doctor Who, Ten Pound Poms) and John Hayes (Dublin Murders) are directing.

The six-parter series will debut on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Fremantle is handling global distribution.

“It’s a joy to be able to write for this cast of some of the finest acting talent in the U.K. today,” Leather said. “Our train is a real roller coaster, a white-knuckle trip through the heart of Britain, and I’m delighted to have them join us for the ride.”

“We are so excited to be carrying this brilliant, eclectic and precious cast on our train matched by tremendous talent in our security center in London,” Harwood said. “It’s ‘all aboard’ as we start shooting Nick’s thrilling scripts.”

Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, added, “I’m so pleased that Joe, Alexandra and this exceptional ensemble cast have all come aboard Nightsleeper as it speeds toward BBC One and iPlayer. Nick Leather has created an adrenaline-fuelled thriller like no other, and I can’t wait to see it brought to the screen.”