ITV confirms Leicestershire star Richard Armitage's fate as Red Eye set to return
ITV has confirmed its airplane-based thriller Red Eye will return for a second series. However, it is set to come back on screens without its leading Leicestershire star.
Richard Armitage, who was born and grew up in Huncote, near Blaby, starred in the first series alongside Jing Lusi as Dr Matthew Nolan - a doctor accused of murdering a woman in China. Eight million viewers watched as Dr Nolan tried to avoid death on an extradition flight with many murders as a wider Chinese conspiracy was uncovered, reports the Mirror.
The series, while getting mixed reviews from some, was a big hit for ITV. They have now confirmed the series will return for a second outing, but without Richard in the cast.
READ MORE: ITV1 drama Red Eye with Leicestershire star Richard Armitage is as enjoyable as it is unrealistic
ITV said that Jing Lusi will reprise her role as DS Hana Li, tasked with solving a new conspiracy, alongside Lesley Sharp and Jemma Moore returning as Head of MI5 Madeline Delaney and journalist Jess Li respectively. However, Richard is nowhere to be seen in ITV's official confirmation of a second series.
Speaking ahead of the first series premiere, Richard, who has also starred in Netflix's Fool Me Once, said: “I hope that they will buy into the concept and also be shocked and jaw dropped by the claustrophobia and the extraordinary events that unfold as things run completely out of control. I hope they will ask themselves how they would respond if they were thrown into this situation. I'd like them to put themselves in Matthew Nolan's shoes.”
It clearly was a hit with many as Red Eye was a major streaming success too. ITV confirmed the series had been streamed 29.3 million times on ITVX, with writer Peter A Dowling looking at creating a new pulse-pounding conspiracy to draw in viewers. Further casting for the second series is yet to be announced.
Polly Hill, ITV's Head of Drama, expressed her delight at the success of Red Eye, said: "I am so delighted to see the success of Red Eye. It's incredible to get an audience of over eight million and a huge thank you to everyone involved for making such a brilliant and addictive thriller."
Red Eye executive producers Julie Gardner and Lachlan MacKinnon are equally excited about the show's return. They said: "We're thrilled to be embarking on another high-octane ride with Peter A Dowling, Polly Hill and her team at ITV. We're beyond grateful to the audience who embraced all the twists and turns of series one with such enthusiasm. Expect more thrills and spills to follow."
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