Filming begins on new series of Single-Handed
ITV has announced that filming has begun on Irish police drama Single-Handed which will star Owen McDonnell along with Simone Lahbib, Matthew McNulty and Sean McGinley.
Simone Lahbib (Wire in the Blood, Monarch of the Glen), Matthew McNulty (Five Days, Lark Rise to Candleford) and Sean McGinley (Lewis, Closing the Ring) join Owen McDonnell, as police sergeant Jack Driscoll, to film a new series of SINGLE-HANDED. ITV and RTÉ have commissioned Touchpaper Television, part of the RDF Media Group, to make a brand new six part series of police drama SINGLE-HANDED which will film entirely on location in the wilds of Connemara for the next 12 weeks.
This series will see Jack Driscoll facing new challenges as he continues the lonely role of policing his rural terrain in the West of Ireland. Jack lives above the Garda station now. His deputy, Finbarr Colvin (David Herlihy) is opportunistic and venal which often leaves Jack working single-handed with back-up a very long way away. There are many occasions when there is no time for the due legal process; natural justice is what Jack has to impose. And that is when he is morally tested. The community is watching him…and judging him.
This series of SINGLE-HANDED promises yet more muscular, emotionally complex stories. While Jack continues to delve into the secret life – and past – of his Connemara community in order to solve crimes he also has cause to look into his own family secrets. Matthew McNulty joins the cast as Brian, a cousin Jack never knew existed. Brought up in England, Brian returns to Ireland to discover the truth about his family. Simone Lahbib is Brian’s girlfriend Gemma who joins him on his voyage of discovery and finds herself drawn to staying in Connemara for her own reasons. Sean McGinley is Costello, a retired Guard who has taken over Mallon’s bar but has more sinister ambitions and readily exploits former police colleagues in a bid to undermine Jack. And award-winning actor Stephen Rea (Father & Son, Ondine) guest stars in the first two-parter.
Following its transmission on RTÉ Television to large audiences and critical acclaim SINGLE-HANDED debuted on ITV1 as a three-part drama last summer. More than 4 million viewers tuned in for its premiere, and the drama received rave reviews for its subtle depiction of rural life set against the stunning landscapes of the west of Ireland. SINGLE-HANDED is made by Touchpaper Television, part of the RDF Media Group. It is written by Barry Simner (The Vice, Midsomer Murders,) Clive Bradley (City of Vice) and Colin Teevan (How Many Miles To Basra). Thaddeus O’Sullivan (Silent Witness, Into the Storm) will direct the first two-parter and Charlie McCarthy (On Home Ground, Joking Apart) the second.
It is produced by Clare Alan (The Vice, A Harlot’s Progress, Wild Decembers, A Most Mysterious Murder). Rob Pursey (The Vice, Being Human, Murderland, City of Vice) is the executive producer. RDF Rights own all international rights to the finished programme.