‘Peaky Blinders’ Joe Cole to Direct BBC Real-Time Drama ‘Nightsleeper’

Peaky Blinders And Gangs of London Star Joe Cole has been cast to star in a BBC real-time thriller series night sleep

He stars alongside Alexandra Roach (The light in the hall) in the drama directed by Nick Leather (The control room, mother’s day). Filming is in Glasgow, Scotland.

The BBC first announced the show in December, as we reported here. Set on a night train from Glasgow to London, the real-time drama follows a government agency desperately trying to intervene as events on board rapidly escalate. Two strangers (Cole and Roach) are forced to team up to save the lives of an unlikely group of passengers as the train speeds toward “what could literally be its final destination.”

Also Alex Ferns (The devil’s hour), Sharon Klein (The Bay), James Cosmo (Jack Ryan by Tom Clancy), David Threlfall (shameless), Daniel Cahill (The control room), Lois Chimimba (oh), Gabriel Howell (The fence), Katie Leung (Harry Potter), Leah MacRae (Rosie Molloy gives it all up), Ruth Madeley (years and years), Adam Mitchell (mother’s day), Pamela Nomvete (Andor), Scott Reid (Max), Sharon Rooney (shock) and Parth Thakerar (Gangs of London).

“It’s a pleasure to write for this cast of some of Britain’s finest acting talent,” said Leather. “Our train is a real rollercoaster ride, a vibrant journey through the heart of Britain and I’m thrilled they’re riding with us.”

The six-part series is for BBC One and BBC iPlayer and comes from Fremantle-owned Euston Films, the drama indie behind wreck, The sister And Dublin Murders.

Euston managing director Kate Harwood will executive produce for the BBC alongside Leather and Gaynor Holmes. Jamie Magnus Stone (Doctor WHO, Ten pounds of poms) and John Hayes (Dublin Murders) are the directors of the series. Leather wrote the scripts and Laura Grace worked on episodes 4 and 5. Producer is Jonathan Curling (The sister, Baghdad Central) and Fremantle handles global distribution.