FilmingcommencesonsecondseriesofcriticallyacclaimeddramaMarcellastarringAnnaFrielOriginalmulti-layeredITVcrimedramaseriesMarcella,writtenbyinternationallyrenownedscreenwriterandnovelistHansRosenfeldt(TheBridge)andstarringAnnaFriel(Broken,AmericanOdyssey)returnstoproductionthismonth(July2017).ReturningalongsideAnnaFrielastheleadMarcella,inthehighlypraiseddramaareRayPanthaki(OneCrazyThing),NicholasPinnock(Fortitude,Guerrilla),JamieBamber(Fearless,NCIS)andJackDoolan(WhiteGold).Newcastmembersarealsowelcomed;NigelPlaner(Episodes,ComicStripPresents,TheYoungOnes),KeithAllen(EddieTheEagle,MyMadFatDiary),SophiaBrown(Beauty&TheBeast,Clique,Disobedience),PeterSullivan(Cuffs,Critical,TheBorgias),JasonHughes(ThreeGirls,MidsomerMurders),VictoriaSmurfit(OnceUponATime,Trial&Retribution,TheBeach),YolandaKettle(TheCrown,LoveNina),JoshHerdman(HarryPotter)andHarrietCains(LineofDuty,SafeHouse).AnnaFrielcommented:“I’mthrilledtobereprisingtheroleofMarcellaandwanttothankITVforrecommissioningthispowerfulLondonbasednoirdrama.Thereactionfromeveryonehasbeenamazing,althoughtherealquestionIkeepbeingaskediswhetherthegreenparkawillbemakinganappearanceinseason2aswell?”Theeight-partseriesisonceagainsetincontemporaryLondonandthenewseriesunfoldsintheuniquestyleofRosenfeldt’sNordicstyle.Interweavingstorylinesandcharactersfromalldifferentwalksoflifeandbackgroundswillleadtheaudiencesonacomplexandemotionaljourneyandkeepthemguessinguntiltheveryend.Thestorybeginswiththediscoveryofabodyinsideawall.Thebodyissurroundedbytoysandsoftanimalsandaschoolblazer;adevastatedMarcellasoonworksoutthatthebodyisthatofschoolboyLeoPriestley,whowasabductedafewyearsbeforehandandafriendofMarcella’sson,Edward.Atask-forceisquicklypulledtogetherbynewlypromotedDCI,Timandweareintroducedtoanewmemberoftheteam,LeAnn.Inoneofthefirstmeetings,shestandsupforMarcella–somethingthatsheisnotusedtowithintheworkplace.Astheinvestigationprogresses,we’reintroducedtoanumberofnewcharacters–anoldpopstarRegandhismanagerandfriendAlan;edgybusinessmanVinceWhitmanandhischaritybosswifeMaya;apreviouslyconvictedcriminalPhilDawkins;brotherandsisterGailandEric;andBecky,thenewfiancéeofMarcella’sex-husband.Whilstthestorylinesentwine,Marcellaisstillbattlingwithherongoingsporadicfuguestateswhichshestrugglestocometotermswithandisgettingincreasinglyworriedabouttheeffectsitishavingonherandherfamilyaroundher.ThefirstseriesofMarcellawonmanyfans,achievedravereviewsandsentsocialmediaintomeltdownwhenitairedonITVin2016.Thelaunchepisodewastheseriesbestperformerwith8millionviewersanda29%shareofviewing.Theseriesaverageof6.8millionviewers(25%share)firmlyplacedMarcellaasoneofITV’stoprateddramaslastyear.Marcellahasbeenre-commissionedbyPollyHill,HeadofDramaandtheproductionwillbeoverseenforITVbySeniorCommissionerVictoriaFea.MarcellawillbeexecutiveproducedbyRosenfeldt,NicolaLarderandBuccaneerMedia’sfounderTonyWoodwhocreatedthejointventureproductioncompanyinpartnershipwithglobalentertainmentcompany,CineflixMedia.AnnieHarrisonBaxter(InTheFlesh,TheSecretofCrickleyHall,WildatHeart)isproducingtheseriesandChrisBallantyne(Broadchurch,BornToKill,TheLevel)isco-producing.ThefirstthreeepisodeswillbedirectedbyCharlesMartin(Stonemouth,TheReturned,Skins).
