David Farnor | On 08, Oct 2021

Vigil has become the BBC’s most watched new drama in three years.

The six-part thriller from World Productions (Line Of Duty, The Pembrokeshire Murders, Save Me, Bodyguard) explores the aftermath of a crew member being found dead on board the Trident nuclear submarine HMS Vigil. Police in Scotland are called in to investigate. The catch? The UK’s nuclear deterrent must remain unbroken, so the submarine stays on patrol and Detective Chief Inspector Amy Silva must go aboard to begin an investigation. Although the death was written off as an accidental overdose, Amy suspects foul play. But when the crew close ranks in the face of Amy’s questioning, a new threat overshadows her inquiry.

Written and created by Tom Edge, with episodes by Ed Macdonald and Chandni Lakhani, it stars Suranne Jones as Amy, with the cast including Rose Leslie, Shaun Evans, Martin Compston and Paterson Joseph, as well as Anjli Mohindra, Connor Swindells and Stephen Dillane.

“A grippingly claustrophobic watch,” we wrote in our review of the series.

Viewers were certainly prepared to take the dive, with the first episode attracting an audience of 13.4 million viewers, making it the highest rated new drama launch across all UK channels since Bodyguard back in 2018. It grew its audience across the series on both overnight and 7-day consolidated viewing data.

Charlotte Moore, the BBC’s Chief Content Officer, says: “Vigil kept viewers hooked as Suranne Jones took them on a thrilling journey like no other. The series’ incredible success is testament to the power of the writing and a brilliant cast and crew.”

 

BBC One sets Vigil for Bank Holiday release

16th August 2021

BBC One thriller Vigil will premiere as a Bank Holiday double-bill this August.

The six-part drama from World Productions (Line Of Duty, The Pembrokeshire Murders, Save Me, Bodyguard) explores the aftermath of a crew member being found dead on board the Trident nuclear submarine HMS Vigil. Police in Scotland are called in to investigate. The catch? The UK’s nuclear deterrent must remain unbroken, so the submarine stays on patrol and Detective Chief Inspector Amy Silva must go aboard to begin an investigation. Although the death was written off as an accidental overdose, Amy suspects foul play. But when the crew close ranks in the face of Amy’s questioning, a new threat overshadows her inquiry.

Written and created by Tom Edge, with episodes by Ed Macdonald and Chandni Lakhani, it is directed by Bafta winner James Strong and Isabelle Sieb. Suranne Jones stars as Amy, with the cast including Rose Leslie, Shaun Evans, Martin Compston and Paterson Joseph, as well as Anjli Mohindra, Connor Swindells and Stephen Dillane.

You can see them in action on Sunday 29th August, when the first episode airing on BBC One at 9pm. Episode 2 will follow at 9pm on Monday 30th August. Episodes will then air weekly on Sundays, and will then be available on BBC iPlayer after broadcast.

 

Watch: First trailer for BBC One’s Vigil

3rd May 2021

The deeper you go, the darker it gets. Not the tagline for the latest season of Line of Duty, but the promise made by the trailer for new BBC One thriller Vigil.

Starring Suranne Jones, Rose Leslie, Shaun Evans, Martin Compston, Paterson Joseph and Connor Swindells, the series follows the mysterious disappearance of a Scottish fishing trawler and a death on-board a Trident nuclear submarine, which bring the police into conflict with the Navy and British security services. DCI Amy Silva (Suranne Jones) leads an investigation on land and at sea into a conspiracy that threatens the very heart of Britain’s nuclear deterrent.

The six-part series is written and created by Tom Edge (Judy, The Crown, Strike) with episodes by Ed Macdonald (The End Of The F***ing World) and Chandni Lakhani (Dublin Murders). The fictional drama is directed by Bafta-winner James Strong (Broadchurch, Vanity Fair, Liar) and Isabelle Sieb (Shetland, The Athena).

It co-stars Stephen Dillane (Game Of Thrones), Lolita Chakrabarti (Riviera), Daniel Portman (Game Of Thrones), Lorne MacFadyen (Grantchester), Stephen McCole (Save Me), Tom Gill (Peterloo), Lois Chimimba (Top Boy), Anita Vettesse (The Loch), Bobby Rainsbury (Call The Midwife), Cristian Ortega (Beats) and Lauren Lyle (Outlander), as well as Anjli Mohindra, Adam James and Gary Lewis.

The trailer was unveiled after the finale of Line of Duty Season 6, and teases a show that could well fill the gap left by the conclusion of the gripping cop drama. Here’s the new trailer:

 

First look: BBC One’s Vigil begins filming again

24th August 2020

A first look image has been released for BBC One’s new thriller Vigil, starring Suranne Jones, Rose Leslie and Shaun Evans.

The image, featuring Suranne and Shaun in character as DCI Amy Silver and Chief Petty Officer Elliot Glover, was taken earlier this year before production was paused in line with Covid-19 guidelines. It’s been unveiled today as filming resumes on the six-part series near Glasgow.

The six-part series is written and created by Bafta-nominated writer Tom Edge (Judy, The Crown, Strike) with episodes by Ed Macdonald (The End Of The F***ing World) and Chandni Lakhani (Dublin Murders). The fictional drama is directed by Bafta-winner James Strong (Broadchurch, Vanity Fair, Liar) and Isabelle Sieb (Shetland, The Athena).

It follows the mysterious disappearance of a Scottish fishing trawler and a death on-board a Trident nuclear submarine, which bring the police into conflict with the Navy and British security services. DCI Amy Silva (Suranne Jones) leads an investigation on land and at sea into a conspiracy that threatens the very heart of Britain’s nuclear deterrent.

Also announced are a wave of new cast members, including Stephen Dillane (Game Of Thrones), Lolita Chakrabarti (Riviera), Daniel Portman (Game Of Thrones), Lorne MacFadyen (Grantchester), Stephen McCole (Save Me), Tom Gill (Peterloo), Lois Chimimba (Top Boy), Anita Vettesse (The Loch), Bobby Rainsbury (Call The Midwife), Cristian Ortega (Beats) and Lauren Lyle (Outlander). They join the previously announced cast, which includes Anjli Mohindra, Martin Compston, Paterson Joseph, Connor Swindells, Adam James, and Gary Lewis.

Together with independent health and safety consultants, in full consultation with industry partners, and in accordance with all current government guidelines, the Vigil production team will adhere to comprehensive production protocols to ensure that the series is produced in a safe and responsible manner during this time of global pandemic.

 

Vigil: Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie star in new BBC thriller

18th January 2020

BBC One has ordered Vigil, a new thriller starring Suranne Jones, Rose Leslie and Paterson Joseph.

Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama and Charlotte Moore, BBC Director of Content have commissioned the six-part series from World Productions, the makers of Line Of Duty and Bodyguard. Written and created by Bafta-nominated writer Tom Edge (Judy, The Crown, Strike) with episodes by Ed Macdonald (The End Of The F***ing World) and Chandni Lakhani (Dublin Murders).

The series will star Suranne Jones (Gentleman Jack, Doctor Foster), Rose Leslie (Game Of Thrones, The Good Fight), Shaun Evans (Endeavour, Whitechapel), Anjli Mohindra (Bodyguard, Bancroft), Martin Compston (Line Of Duty, Mary Queen Of Scots), Paterson Joseph (The Leftovers, Peep Show), Connor Swindells (Sex Education, Jamestown), Adam James (Belgravia, Doctor Foster), and Gary Lewis (His Dark Materials, Billy Elliot).

The mysterious disappearance of a Scottish fishing trawler and a death on-board a Trident nuclear submarine bring the police into conflict with the Navy and British security services. DCI Amy Silva (Suranne Jones) leads an investigation on land and at sea into a conspiracy that threatens the very heart of Britain’s nuclear deterrent.

Jones says: “Tom Edge has created a thrill of a story, set in a world I knew nothing about. The cast and crew World Productions have put together to tell this story is so exciting. Amy Silva is a brilliantly complex character, thrown into a highly charged situation where her authority is weakened. We watch as she navigates her own personal trauma and loss, all at a time when she’s questioning her relationships and life choices. It feels fresh and relevant and I can’t wait to start filming.”

Leslie says: “I was weaned on BBC drama and it is thrilling to be back working at a place that feels like home with Tom Edge’s complex and gripping script. It will be a real honour to work with Suranne and I am looking forward to be filming back in Scotland.”

Edge adds: “I’m completely thrilled to be making this series with the talented people at World Productions and BBC Drama. The ‘Continuous At Sea Deterrent’, better known as ‘Trident’, has been a contentious part of national life for half a century now, a stock of nuclear missiles kept hundreds of feet below the sea surface. But this world has rarely been explored on screen. I can’t wait to take a BBC One audience down with us, into the pitch-black icy waters of the unseen Atlantic, where tomorrow’s geopolitical struggles are already being played out.”

The fictional drama will be directed by Bafta-winner James Strong (Broadchurch, Vanity Fair, Liar) and Isabelle Sieb (Shetland, The Athena).

The drama will be set and filmed in Scotland.

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