Suspect on Channel 4, is an eagerly anticipated detective series which spans eight tightly written two-handers. With episode one airing at 9pm this evening (June 19), viewers will be introduced to an ensemble cast of recognisable British talent.
Portraying veteran detective, Danny Frater, is none other than James Nesbitt, with his character turning up at a hospital mortuary to find his estranged daughter, Christina, dead in front of his eyes. After the autopsy revealed suicide as the cause of death, Danny refuses to accept the judgement, thinking that she was murdered, and sets out on a chaotic crusade to uncover the truth.
Learning about her increasingly dark and complicated life leads to Danny coming face-to-face with his own failings as a man and a father. Each episode seemingly uncovers a new character, and subsequent actor, who has their own tale to tell with regards to his investigation - hence why each episode is titled with the name of a different character from the show.
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Episode eight, the series’ conclusion, is called Danny and sees the main protagonist return to one key suspect to confront them with his discovery, before the tables are turned and one final clue results in a dramatic climax to the case. The 30-minute episodes will air back-to-back nightly, meaning episodes one and two are on Sunday, three and four on Monday, five and six on Tuesday and seven and eight on Wednesday.
While Nesbitt has the licence to shine throughout the series, a separate member of the cast comes to the forefront on each occasion. When asked how tough it was to assemble all these big names, Jo McGrath, executive producer, said: “I was always very confident we’d attract fantastic actors to this series because the schedule, format and the way it’s shot presents a real acting challenge and, in my experience, good actors really respond to roles that will challenge them.
“We cast the lead role first and, once Jimmy was in place, the rest of the cast came together relatively quickly.” Here are those actors also appearing in Suspect over the coming days.
Joely Richardson (Jackie)
Investigating a missing person case, detective Danny Frater learns that the body at the morgue is in fact Christina, his estranged daughter. Jackie Sowden, the pathologist and first suspect in the series, is convinced it was the result of a suicide.
However, Danny is determined to prove otherwise. Playing Jackie is daughter of Vanessa Redgrave Joely Richardson, who previously played Anita in the live action version of 101 Dalmatians, and Charlotte Selton in The Patriot.
Niamh Algar (Nicola)
Episode two goes by the name of Nicola. She is introduced after Danny encounters her trespassing, soon discovering that she is Christina’s wife and that his daughter was leading a secret life.
The Irish actress has had roles in The Virtues, MotherFatherSon, Pure, Raised by Wolves, Deceit, and The Bisexual.
Antonia Thomas (Maia)
Danny’s lead takes him to the murky Crimson Orchid lap dancing club under the duress of Maia, the manager. She was also Christina’s best friend.
Antonia is best known for leading roles as Dr. Claire Browne in The Good Doctor, Evie in Lovesick, and Alisha in Misfits. Appearances in Sunshine on Leith, the anthology series Small Axe, and The Musketeers are also on the 35-year-old’s portfolio.
Sacha Dhawan (Jaisal)
Next up to come under the spotlight is drug dealer Jaisal, an old acquaintance who may have some vital information about Christina’s last known whereabouts. Sacha Dhawan starred as the iconic Doctor Who antagonist The Master on the BBC.
Previous roles have also come in Iron Fist, The Boy with the Topknot, The Prince, Dracula, Sherlock, and Mr Selfridge, as well as having played Orlo in the first two seasons of The Great.
Sam Heughan (Ryan)
Ryan is Danny’s ex-police partner and is discovered to know more about Christina’s death than he is letting on. A new suspect’s name is revealed following a tense car journey across London which set them both on a collision course with death.
Scottish actor Sam Heughan is the man tasked with bringing the character to life, after featuring in To Olivia, The Spy Who Dumped Me, and SAS: Red Notice, as well as playing Jamie Fraser in the time-travelling drama Outlander since 2014.
Richard E. Grant (Harry)
Illustrious business mogul Harry Carr dines alone at his horse racing track before Danny arrives with a gun, accusing Harry of being responsible for his daughter’s death. Carr soon turns the tables on Nesbitt’s character, forcing him to question his personal failures as a father.
Richard E. Grant is well-known for a number of roles, including his Oscar-nominated performance in Can You Ever Forgive Me?. Viewers may also have seen him in Withnail & I, Gosford Park, The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard, Everybody's Talking About Jamie and Girls, even recently partaking in a scene in the Disney Plus series Loki.
Anne-Marie Duff (Susannah)
The penultimate episode sees the final goodbye to Christina, which is met with Danny meeting ex-wife Susannah. On the brink of accepting the suicide verdict, Danny spots something which changes everything.
Anne-Marie Duff has become more recognisable courtesy of recent portrayals as Erin Wiley in Netflix's Sex Education and Ma Costa in His Dark Materials. She also played Violet Miller in the film Suffragette, and Julia in the John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy.
Ben Miller (Richard)
The only character not to have an episode dedicated to them, Richard is Danny’s boss, the Detective Superintendent. One half of the BBC comedy sketch series The Armstrong and Miller Show, Ben Miller is a recognisable comic figure in British television.
He also recently played Lord Featherington in Bridgerton season 1, as well as roles in Paddington 2, Professor T and Johnny English.
