Those tuning into ITV's latest drama starring one of the country's best-loved actresses were stunned to see a Grease icon had also been cast. Maryland started on the channel on Monday night (May 22), which its star Suranne Jones has previously said was inspired by her dreams.
The three-part series, which airs across three consecutive nights, follows distant sisters Becca and Rosaline as they head to the Isle of Man. But this is no holiday; they've received upsetting news that their mother's body was discovered on the island. The girls have no idea why or what she was doing there in the first place.
Gentleman Jack star Suranne and screenwriter Anne-Marie O’Connor, who was behind comedy shows Trollied and Hullraisers, created the show and are both executive producers. And Suranne previously told The One Show the idea for the drama had come to her in her dreams.
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Suranne, who has also fronted BBC dramas Vigil and Doctor Foster but will also be remembered for starring in Coronation Street in the early noughties, plays Manchester-based Becca. Her sister Rosaline, who had moved to London, is played by House of the Dragon and Nurse Jackie actress Eve Best.
But as viewers tuned into the first episode, it was acting royalty Stockard Channing, best known for her role as Rizzo in the musical film Grease, who came as a surprise. The 79-year-old star, who has appeared in The Good Wife and The West Wing, plays Cathy, a larger-than-life island-dweller.
And following her first appearance on-screen, Maryland viewers flocked to social media. @GarethDaviesVoC asked: "Have I just seen Rizzo from Grease on Maryland? #maryland," to which @DavidMackayy replied: "Yes, she’s amazing." @TvandFilmsUK wrote: "It’s Rizzo from Grease!!!! #Maryland."
@LilySmith38 shared: "Watching #maryland on ITV and Stockard bloody Channing is on the screen.. WHAT?!" @jolaurenx posted: "Not every day you see Rizzo pop up in an itv drama is it? #Maryland." @ThatGirlKatie80 shared: "Ok, so #Rizzo is in #Maryland on #ITV. Me and my mum had a bet, her adamant it wasn't, but once again, my eagle eye wins!"
@MermaidMinge typed: "LOVE seeing stockard channing on #MaryLand. What a queen." @ShellzJackson screamed: "GUYS ITS STOCKARD FLIPPING CHANNING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! #Maryland." @CavoloChe echoed: "OH MY! Stockard Channing klaxon! #Maryland." @AndySP01 added: "Rizzo ageing well and still hiding the Hickey from Kinnicky #Maryland."
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