6 part series Dark Heart begins tonight at 9pm on ITV. As well as the interview with Tom Riley shared online by The Metro newspaper, the dead tree and e-edition of today's paper carries 3 great promotional posters for the series.
Tune in for 9pm on ITV for part 1 of the 2 part episode. Watch part 2 at the same time tomorrow night.
Tom Riley stars as DI Will Wagstaffe, a man haunted by the murder of his parents when he was 16 years old.
Set in London and produced by Silverprint Pictures, the series is written for ITV by acclaimed screenwriter Chris Lang whose work includes award-winning drama Unforgotten, Torn, Undeniable and A Mother’s Son. Dark Heart is inspired by characters created by novelist Adam Creed, who has written a series of books featuring Will Wagstaffe. Tom is joined in the series by Charlotte Riley (Peaky Blinders, Close To The Enemy), Miranda Raison (Murder on the Orient Express, Silk) and Anjli Mohindra (Bancroft, The Boy with the Topknot) and guest cast include Claire Goose (The Coroner, Unforgotten, Waking The Dead), Alex Carter (Cuffs, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks), Clare Foster (Taboo, Sherlock, The Crown) and Paul Kaye (Game of Thrones, Three Girls).
Whilst devoting his life to his work, DI Will Wagstaffe, also known as Staffe to his colleagues, battles personal demons. He’s haunted by the unresolved murder of his parents, which affects both his private and professional life including his on-off romance with sometimes girlfriend, Sylvie (Miranda Raison). His closest relationship is with his sister Juliette, (Charlotte Riley) and young nephew Harry, who stays with him when Juliette has troubles with her boyfriend. With no parents and no significant partner of his own, Juliette and Harry mean everything to Staffe. Determined and tenacious, Wagstaffe is an exceptionally good police officer, in spite of the fact he’s been known for pushing the boundaries of what’s considered acceptable policing.
Episode 1
DI Will Wagstaffe is at London City Airport when his travel plans are put on hold. His colleague, DC Josie Chancellor calls to inform him of a gruesome murder. Staffe, along with Josie, DS Dave Pulford and DS Rick Johnson, are confronted by a horrific scene. RAY COLLINS, a man in his early-forties, has been brutally murdered. As the team investigate further, they learn that the victim was arrested two and a half years ago on suspicion of sexually assaulting his young step daughters, Holly and Jasmine. He was remanded in custody for three weeks but there wasn’t sufficient evidence and Collins was released. Returning home that evening, Staffe discovers his sister Juliette and nephew Harry at his house. Juliette and Harry are Staffe’s world, he picks up on something that really bothers him and he knows their unscheduled stay means she’s in more trouble with new boyfriend Paolo than she’s letting on.
As the story unfolds, Staffe and his team delve deeper into the morally complex crime. But pressure builds as it’s not long before a lawyer, Guy Dawlish is brutally attacked. Dawlish’s assault bears the same hallmarks of Ray Collins’ murder, but the similarity doesn’t end there, he was arrested two years ago over allegations of child sex abuse. There was insufficient evidence so he also wasn’t charged. But just as a pattern begins to emerge, a historical case throws Staffe’s theory of a single serial killer on its head. The suspected paedophile in this instance was John Statham. Like Collins and Dawlish he was attacked with unusual brutality. However this case appears to be closed. The father of the child Statham allegedly abused, Nico Cashell, is serving time for assaulting Statham and is adamant of his own guilt. With the anniversary of Staffe’s parents murder drawing closer, knowledge of the fact that their killer is still at large weighs heavy on his mind. Little does he know that elsewhere in London, Mark Regis, walks free of child abuse charges on a technicality. Is the depraved killer preparing for their next victim?
