New BBC thriller Nightsleeper hailed as the next 'Bodyguard' by viewers

BBC viewers can't get enough of Nightsleeper, the new edge-of-your-seat thriller series that follows the intense drama aboard a hacked sleeper train travelling from Glasgow to London.

The heart-racing six-part drama, which debuted on BBC this week, plays out in real-time and delves deep into the crisis management of a government agency as they scramble to prevent chaos on the hijacked locomotive.

Peaky Blinder star, Joe Cole, has taken on the role of Joe Roag, an off-duty police officer who teams up via phone with Abby Aysgarth, played by Alexandra Roach, the Acting Technical Director at the National Cyber Security Centre, in a nail-biting quest to thwart disaster before the train hits its potentially devastating destination.

Audiences have strapped in and are already flooding social media with their takes on the high-tension narrative rollercoaster, reports the Express.

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One viewer lauded: "Been looking forward to Nightsleeper for ages and... high octane thriller that just flew by! Brilliant direction, writing, music. Think the BBC has found its next Line of Duty/Bodyguard," while another offered: "Actually, it's no more absurd than any overblown Hollywood action movie, but it has lots of enjoyably parochial British references in it too. It doesn't take itself totally seriously."

"I have only seen two episodes so far but Nightsleeper is the best thing I've seen on the BBC for ages!" gushed another fan. "Real edge of seat stuff and a twist already! I don't understand why there are so many bad reviews, I guess you can't please everyone. I think it's fab."

Not everyone was convinced however. One viewer said the show was "hilariously awful", but swiftly added that: "I'm addicted and need to know what happens next!"

Meanwhile, Joe, who stars in the nail-biting drama, had some intriguing insights to offer about the series while chatting with Metro. He confessed his initial thoughts upon reading the script were all about the escalating troubles for the characters.

"I thought the writers might run out of ideas, but it got progressively more bonkers, which is perfect really and what you want and it's certainly something I'd tune into if I was a viewer," he said.

The actor also disclosed how his role heightened his sensitivity to the dangers of hacking in the modern age. In terms of the realism of the show's premise, he reflected: 'Yeah, I mean, it was interesting. I was just talking to somebody the other day about they like, 'Do you think this could happen?', Just about if this could happen in real life, although I don't think it would be in this capacity, it's a bit scary isn't it?"