Lennie James: From Walking Dead to unlikely hero

A new Sky Atlantic mini series set in south east London shows a man wrongfully arrested and accused of kidnapping his own daughter.

The six-part show was written by The Walking Dead actor Lennie James, who also stars as the show's lead man.

Save Me is pure British drama, tailored for an age where audiences have grown increasingly sophisticated, according to its star.

"Our audiences have become very sophisticated, there's so much television now that audiences can often guess what's about to happen," James told Sky News.

"I guess I just found a way to cheat."

Save Me follows south east London native Nelson Rowe, an avid drinker and womaniser whose life is turned upside down when he is accused of kidnapping his 13-year-old daughter, whom he barely knew.

It was produced by the same team behind Line Of Duty, the BBC show in which James also starred.

"I think one of the dangers we can get in - in this fantastic time for TV - is ending up making television about television," James said.

"I wanted to tell this particular story to set a thriller in a real place, and also to celebrate that place. Save Me is as much a celebration of south east London, and that other side of London, as it is a tale of this man's search for redemption."

Although he has starred in many British shows, it was in the US where Lennie James found international recognition from shows like Jericho and The Walking Dead.

But he has now moved on from the mother show of zombies, to a very successful offspring.

"Actually I'm going to Austin to film Fear The Walking Dead, because I've moved to that other show. The zombies love me.

"When I'm there and it's the zombie apocalypse I believe it as much as I do when I'm on Save Me and I'm in the middle of Lewisham."

All six episodes of Save Me will be available on Sky Atlantic from Wednesday 28 February.