First Drama Commission for BBC Scotland’s New Digital Channel

Expectation and Happy Tramp North are co-producing the four-part series Guilt for BBC Scotland and BBC Two.

Set in Edinburgh, Guilt follows two disparate Scottish brothers who, while driving home from a wedding together one night, accidentally run over and kill an old man on a darkened street. Though they decide to cover their tracks and believe they’ve gotten away with it, the brothers find their lives rapidly falling apart as their actions begin to catch up with them. Mark Bonnar (Catastrophe, Line of Duty, Unforgotten) and Jamie Sives (Chernobyl, Frontier, Game of Thrones) star.

The series will premiere on BBC Scotland’s digital channel and follow on BBC Two later this year. Guilt will be internationally distributed by BBC Studios.

Bonnar said: “I am hugely excited to be a part of Guilt and to be working with Neil again. The moment I read the first scene I was totally hooked. Neil has managed to write a captivating and breathless thriller which, even in its darkest, most dramatic moments, maintains a pitch-black sense of humor. I don’t want to resort to hyperbole, but IT IS a total rollercoaster ride!

Added to that, to be standing shoulder to shoulder with Jamie Sives, whom I’ve known since we were at Leith Academy together, aged 11, is joyful beyond words. In fact, Edinburgh plays a central role itself and I’m looking forward to revisiting some old haunts…I can’t wait to get started!”

Sives said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be involved in what I’m sure will be a cracking drama. Neil has written brilliant scripts for Guilt and I can’t wait to get tangled up in the web he has so expertly woven. Our director, Rob McKillop, is a special talent and everyone I’ve met so far on this project has been so enthusiastic about it. I’m also over the moon at the prospect of working with Mark Bonnar. Mark and I went to high school together. It’s really quite surreal to think that he and I sometimes walked to school together and now we’re about to lead up a terrific new drama together and in the year of the launch of BBC Scotland’s brand-new channel. It doesn’t get any better. I’ve been wanting to work with Mark for ages.”

Happy Tramp North Executive Producer Neil Webster said: “We’re very excited and proud to be co-producing the first drama for the new BBC Scotland channel. Neil Forsyth has crafted an incredibly gripping story with a brilliantly off-kilter sensibility that puts everyone—the characters and the audience—well and truly through the wringer.”

Kirstie Macdonald, creative director for drama at Expectation added: “As soon as I read Neil Forsyth’s script, I was bowled over by the dynamic world he had created and the brilliant characters of brothers, Max and Jake. I am delighted to be working with Happy Tramp North on the first drama commission for BBC Scotland’s new channel and to be bringing two of Scotland’s most talented actors Mark and Jamie home to film the project.”

Gavin Smith, scripted commissioning executive at BBC Scotland, said: “To be filming our first original drama locally for the new channel and have Mark and Jamie starring with Robbie directing, highlights our commitment to Scottish talent. We’re really thrilled to be working with Happy Tramp North and Expectation to bring this ambitious project to life.”

Gregor Sharp, commissioning editor for BBC Comedy, added: “We’re delighted to be supporting this hugely exciting project—Neil Forsyth’s scripts are packed with tension, moral ambiguity, and off-beat humor and we can’t wait to see this fantastic array of talent bring them to life.”