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Collateral: All star ensemble cast for first original TV work by playwright Sir David Hare

John Simm – set to rejoin Dr Who as The Master in the new series starting this month – stars alongside a trio of Britain’s top female actors in Collateral, a gripping, high-octane thriller set in present day London, from pre-eminent playwright David Hare.

A multi-talented playwright, screenwriter, director and producer, Hare wrote Oscar winning films The Hours and The Reader, and widely-acclaimed plays including Plenty and Skylight. He says:

“I’ve been writing drama for the BBC since 1973, but this is my first original series. I’m thrilled that it has such a stunningly gifted cast.”

Collateral is Sir David Hare's first original tv drama
Collateral is Sir David Hare’s first original tv drama

The cast includes a second time collaborator with Hare, Carey Mulligan (The Great Gatsby, Suffragette) following her role in the revival of Skylight. Mulligan plays Detective Inspector Kip Glaspie, who’s unconvinced that the fatal shooting of a pizza delivery man is a random act of violence. The in-demand actor will soon also star in Paul Dano’s directorial debut, Wildlife, alongside Jake Gyllenhaal.

Carey Mulligan stars as DI Kip Glaspie in Collateral
Carey Mulligan stars as DI Kip Glaspie in Collateral

Life on Mars star Simm plays politician David Mars (no news as to whether that was intentional) who’s dragged into the story via his erratic and agitated relationship with his ex-girlfriend Karen, played by former Dr. Who companion and fan-favourite Billie Piper (Penny Dreadful, Secret Diary of a Call Girl), recently winning awards for her theatre role in Yerma at the Young Vic.

Billie Piper is the troubled ex of John Simm's politician in Collateral
Billie Piper is the troubled ex of John Simm’s politician in Collateral

Nicola Walker (superb in Unforgotten and Last Tango In Halifax) is warm-hearted vicar Jane Oliver, who happens to be conducting an affair with the only witness to the incident and has to be on her toes to keep it a secret.

Nicola Walker is a vicar with something to hide in Collateral
Nicola Walker is a vicar with something to hide in Collateral

The four part drama is set over four days and explores the repercussions of the violent crime, with Hare’s electrifying writing acting as a moving spotlight asking crucial questions about the state of modern Britain.

Filming began this week with director SJ Clarkson (Dexter, Jessica Jones) at the helm. It will premiere on BBC Two and is co-produced by The Forge and Netflix. Executive Producers are creator David Hare, George Faber and Mark Pybus for The Forge, Lucy Richer for the BBC and SJ Clarkson.

British director SJ Clarkson was at the helm of some of the biggest tv shows in recent years
British director SJ Clarkson was at the helm of some of the biggest tv shows in recent years

It was commissioned by Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama, and Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content.

Wenger says: “Collateral is a highly imaginative, thought-provoking and utterly contemporary state of the nation thriller written by Britain’s foremost political dramatist. It is a great honour to welcome Sir David Hare back to the BBC and to be working with both he and The Forge on this outstanding piece of original work.”

Images: BBC except:

SJ Clarkson by Chris Jortiz

Carey Mulligan by Garry Knight