BBC announces new northern-set crime drama fronted by Game of Thrones star
Game Of Thrones star Staz Nair will front new BBC crime drama Virdee.
The actor, who played Dothraki warrior and Daenerys Targaryen's bodyguard Qhono in the hit HBO fantasy series, replaces Sacha Dhawan in the lead role of detective Harry Virdee.
On joining the Bradford-setshow, adapted from AA Dhand's novels, the Rebel Moon actor said it was an "honour" to take on the role.
"It’s an absolute honour to be taking on this vibrant and complex story about assimilating culture and what we’re willing to do to protect who and what we love," he said. "This show leads with vulnerability more than any detective drama I’ve ever seen, and it’s a privilege to be bringing AA Dhand’s hope for his city to life."
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The series, now filming in Bradford, will see Nair joined by Criminal Record's Aysha Kala as Saima Virdee, Harry's wife. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry actor Nina Singh will star as Tara Videe, Harry's niece and a crime reporter, while Crossfire's Vikash Bhai will play Harry's brother-in-law Riaz Hyatt.
Blinded By The Light star Kulvinder Ghir and Expats' Sudha Bhuchar will play Harry's parents Ranjit and Jyoti.
According to a press release, Virdee will follow "Detective Harry Virdee (Staz Nair), a cop disowned by his Sikh family for marrying Saima, who is Muslim. Harry struggles with the abandonment and now with his young son, Aaron, growing up and asking questions, thinks it might be time to attempt to reunite with his family. His personal life in chaos, he must now hunt down a serial killer targeting the Asian community."
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A synopsis continues: "When the murderer kidnaps a local police chief’s son and holds the entire city to ransom, Harry realises that he is going to need the help of his brother-in-law Riaz, a drugs kingpin who runs the largest cartel in the county. Pulled together in an alliance that could ruin them both, Harry must make a choice: save himself and his family, or save his city. He will not be able to do both."
Good Omens star Elizabeth Berrington joins the case as DS Clare Conway, with The Outrun's Danyal Ismail playing DS Amin.
The cast is rounded out by Tomi May, Andi Jashy, Hussina Raja, Ashkay Kumar, Madiha Ansari, Jason Patel, Conor Lowson, and Rupert Procter.
Multi-award-winning composer Hans Zimmer – behind the scores of titles such as Interstellar and The Dark Knight – will be co-composing the Virdee title theme.
Virdee is now in production with a release date yet to be announced.
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