Robbie Coltrane and Julie Walters take centre stage in Channel 4’s latest drama ‘National Treasure’, which tells the story of a popular comedian who is suddenly faced with accusations of historical sex offences from decades earlier.
Screenwriter Jack Thorne, whose other credits include ‘Skins’ and ‘This Is England ‘90’, masterminded the four-part drama, which takes inspiration from the real-life events of Operation Yewtree, and Channel 4 have secured an all-star cast for the project.
‘Harry Potter’ legend Robbie plays comedian Paul Finchley, while Julie takes on the role of his wife of over 40 years, Marie - but they’re not the only faces viewers will recognise.
The supporting cast consists of actors who have appeared in shows including ‘Mr Selfridge’, ‘Blackadder’ and ‘Waterloo Road’.
Get to know the rest of the cast a little better here…
Tim McInnerny plays Karl Jenkins
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Channel 4
His character: Karl may have been Paul’s comedy partner for decades, but that doesn’t mean their friendship has always been full of laughs. Instead, it’s described as “deeply and mutually loyal but also built on long-standing resentment and jealousy”.
Previous credits: ‘Blackadder’ fans will recognised Tim as the show’s Captain Kevin Darling, and in 2011, he popped up in ‘New Tricks’. Eagle-eyed ‘Game Of Thrones’ viewers will also have seen that he was in two episodes of the most recent series.
Andrea Riseborough plays Danielle ‘Dee’ Finchley
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Channel 4
Her character: Paul and Marie’s only daughter is a recovering addict, and mother of two, who is forced to reflect on her own past when the accusations come to light.
Previous credits: Andrea was nominated for a TV Bafta for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in the 2009 drama ‘The Long Road To Finchley’, and more recently landed roles in ‘Birdman’, ‘Brighton Rock’ and ‘Never Let Me Go’.
Kerry Fox plays Zoe Darwin
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Channel 4
Her character: Zoe is Paul’s barrister, who will take centre stage as the case heads to trial.
Previous credits: New Zealand-born actress Kerry has landed a number of film and TV roles over the years, appearing in ‘New Tricks’, ‘Midsomer Murders’ and ‘Vera’ on the small screen, as well as ‘Burning Man’ and ‘A Trap For Cinderella’, to name just two of her big screen productions.
Babou Ceesay plays Jerome Sharpe
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Channel 4
His character: “Straight-talking and savvy” lawyer Jerome is representing Paul, but can he get him off the hook?
Previous credits: Babou’s film and TV career began 10 years ago, when he landed a part in ‘Severance’. Since then, he’s popped up on a number of popular shows, including ‘Luther’, ‘Law And Order UK’, ‘Casualty’ and ‘Silent Witness’.
Kate Hardie plays Rebecca Thornton
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Channel 4
Her character: Rebecca is the first woman to step forward and accuse Paul of rape, stating that the crime took place in the early 1990s.
Previous credits: The actress landed her first TV role back in 1984, and in the years since she’s worked on a variety of different projects. In 1987, she played a student nurse in ‘Casualty’, before starring in 1994 series ‘Smokescreen’, alongside Timothy West.
Nadine Marshall plays DI Palmer
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Channel 4
Her character: The police officer is in charge of leading the investigation into the historical sex offence accusations.
Previous credits: Nadine is one of the lesser-known ‘National Treasure’ stars, but this is far from being her first job. At present you can catch her in Sky Living’s ‘The Spa’.
The third and final series finds Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson pitted against serial killer Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan). With Spector captured and injured in the final scene of the second series, it’ll be interesting to see what writer Allan Cubitt does in this final run to round things off in a satisfying conclusion to a memorable trilogy.
Our Loved Boy (BBC One)(02 of12)
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The story of Damilola Taylor and the aftermath of his senseless death, as told through the eyes of his grieving family in this feature-length drama. Their quest for justice sits alongside their personal battles with a cast led by Babou Ceesay and Wunmi Mosaku, in a story told with the support of Damilola’s tireless father Richard Taylor OBE.
The Missing Series 2 (BBC One)(03 of12)
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Writing brothers Harry and Jack Williams (who also wrote ‘One of Us’) are back on more familiar ground of the trauma surrounding a missing child. No James Nesbitt in this one, instead we have David Morrissey and Keeley Hawes as a couple whose lives are overturned when their missing daughter returns after 11 years. The thing we’re most looking forward to? The return of Tcheky Karyo reprising his role of the compassionate detective Julien Baptiste.
Close To The Enemy (BBC Two)(04 of12)
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‘One Day’s Jim Sturgess leads the cast in this six-part series set in a bomb-damaged London hotel in the aftermath of World War II. Sturgess’s Captain Callum Ferguson is an intelligence officer whose job is to persuade a captured German scientist to lend his skills to the RAF’s task of developing the jet engine. All is not as it seems.
Tutankhamum (ITV)(05 of12)
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Max Irons and Sam Neill star in this four-part mini-series, re-telling the story of Howard after and his discovery of the tomb of the most fascinating of Egyptian pharaohs. With Irons as Carter, Sam Neill plays his supportive patron Lord Carnarvon, who defies all doubt to keep Carter’s dreams of discovery alive.
Broadchurch (ITV)(06 of12)
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David Tennant and Olivia Colman return for the final series of this haunting series, joined once again by Jodie Whittaker and Andrew Buchan as grieving parents Beth and Mark Latimer. Following the mistakes of the second series, writer Chris Chibnall instead focuses on a brand new case, with detectives Alec Hardy and Ellie Miller investigating a sexual assault, while the close Dorset community must once again deal with the unwelcome attention foisted on them.
The Halcyon (ITV)(07 of12)
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The title refers to a five-star hotel in the centre of 1940 London society at a time of falling bombs and heightened emotions and fears. Steven Mackintosh and Olivia Williams lead a cast that also includes Kara Tointon and Alex Jennings.
Paranoid (ITV)(08 of12)
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Arguably the jewel in ITV’s winter schedule, this is an eight-part series exploring what happens when the murder of a mother in a school playground proves to be far less clear-cut than at first appeared. Neil Stuke, Indira Varma and Robert Glenister star.
Tina and Bobby (ITV)(09 of12)
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The lady who can currently do no wrong, Michelle Keegan, stars as the wife of the revered England football captain, as they became the most recognisable couple of their generation. As the country got swept up in World Cup euphoria and by the Moores in particular, this most normal of couples must face some huge challenges. Alongside Michelle is Lorne MacFadyen as Bobby - Patsy Kensit and David Bamber also appear.
National Treasure (Channel 4)(10 of12)
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Robbie Coltrane gives an ironically compelling turn as a huge entertainment star caught up in an historic sex allegation. As the police work their way through his complex life, those closest to the ‘national treasure’ must deal with the effects of secrets uncovered and loyalties tested. Julie Walters, Andrea Riseborough co-star.
Humans (Channel 4)(11 of12)
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After the surprise phenomenon of Series 1, Gemma Chan and co return for a second series of compassionate sci-fi, exploring what happens when robots become loveable.
The Young Pope (Sky Atlantic)(12 of12)
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Following a rapturous reception to its debut episode at the Venice Film Festival, Jude Law brings his troubled Pope Pius XIII to screen. The first American pope in contemporary times, the pontiff is a man of a great power who nevertheless fears losing those closest to him, and even being abandoned by his God. Alongside Jude, Diane Keaton, Ludivine Sagnier and James Cromwell star.