Yahoo News Exclusive: The Tower's Gemma Whelan breaks down Line of Duty comparisons
The Tower finale spoilers follow.
The Tower star Gemma Whelan has spoken about comparisons between the show and Line of Duty, particularly after one key scene in the finale.
The ITV show, which follows the investigation into the deaths of a cop and a teenager who fall from a tower block, included an intense Line of Duty-style interview scene, where PC Lizzie Adama (Tahirah Sharif) was grilled by DS Sarah Collins (Gemma Whelan).
Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy, Whelan opened up about comparisons to the hit BBC police drama, and whether people have become more drawn to the technical side of police interviews that have been popularised by it.
Related: The Tower sets up season two with final cliffhanger
"I think we're definitely seeing more of the machinations of the police procedure, with the more intricate parts of it," she said. "And I think with the long interview scenes with Line of Duty – people love watching those.
"Ours is very different, obviously, but not dissimilar in the fact that my subject does not really give me very much. [Line of Duty star] Kelly Macdonald didn't give very much."
Whelan went on to explain: "So it's quite difficult to remember my lines, because often you'll say a line and there'll be a logical reply that you can then follow the conversation on from.
"But with this there's a little bit more than the 'no comment' kind of vibe. So I just had to learn 11 pages of dialogue, so much to bounce back from. But it's turned out very well, I hear."
Related: Killing Eve's Gemma Whelan opens up about challenge of filming ITV's The Tower
Elsewhere, Whelan has spoken on the "frustrating" element of having to deflect condescending comments from her superior DI Kieran Shaw (Emmett J Scanlan) on the series.
"It was very frustrating to play actually because I don't tolerate that kind of thing," she told us. "Most women don't, but Sarah just swallows it and gets on with it.
"Her lifestyle and her career is weaponised against her. Her career advancements and her personal life are, sort of, gaslit by this boss. She has retorts. She's come back and it doesn't bother her but it's good to see those elements being addressed."
The Tower is available to view on ITV Hub.
You Might Also Like
