BBC thrillers really are just a superb TV genre within their own right, aren’t they? We were recently consumed with Red Rose and The Capture and lest we forget our new current TV obsession, Keeley Hawes’ Crossfire. Now, it seems like we’re in for a similarly suspenseful premise in Inside Man.

Until recently, not much was known about the upcoming series. However, we had some first-look images to satiate our ever-growing intrigue, and in them, we saw the star-studded ensemble (It’s A Sin’s breakout star Lydia West, Stanley Tucci and David Tennant) in action. Now, further plot details have finally been revealed and a chilling new trailer. 

On the face of it, it looks like an unlikely story following a prisoner on death row in the United States, a vicar in a quiet English town, and a maths teacher trapped in a cellar. 

What’s their connection, you may ask? Well, we don’t have long to wait till we get the answers as Inside Man has been confirmed to premiere on 26 September. With that, here’s everything you need to know about the new series.

Not much was known about the mysterious new thriller, and we have to say, we’re a fan of a series that keeps their cards close to their chests.

According to the synopsis, the story follows a US prisoner on death row (Tucci), who is seeking atonement as he faces execution. It continues: “On a train in England, a journalist (West) is looking for a story. In a quiet little village, a vicar (Tennant) is picking up his son’s maths tutor (Dolly Wells) from the station.

“All four are about to be entangled in a dilemma that could lead one of them to murder.”

And as the synopsis also states: “Everyone’s a murderer – you just need a good reason and a bad day.”

The major new series comes from Bafta and Emmy award-winning writer Steven Moffat (Doctor Who), who previously gave us some very small details about his new series. 

“Well, let’s keep it mysterious,” Moffat said when speaking to Radio Times about what viewers could expect from Inside Man. “I’m trying to think of anything I can say about it.”

It seems, though, that the new series will turn everything we knew about crime thrillers on its head. He said: “Most detective shows are whodunits. This one is more like a ‘who will do it’. Or possibly a ‘you done it’. Its central idea is anyone can be a murderer. And it won’t be the one you expect.”

Like we said, this series has a star-studded cast. Tennant plays Harry Watling, Tucci plays Jefferson Grieff, West plays Beth Davenport while Dolly Wells (Pursuit Of Love) plays Janice Fife.

The cast also includes Lyndsey Marshal (Dracula), Atkins Estimond (Hightown), Mark Quarterly (Cursed), Tilly Vosburgh (Maigret), Louis Oliver (Midnight Mass), Kate Dickie (The Witch) and Dylan Baker (Hunters).

And we finally have a glimpse of all the main characters in some rather chilling portrait shots, which have just been released by the BBC. Check them out here:

In other images (dotted throughout this article), we see a forlorn Tucci as the titular Inside Man, Tennant as a vicar and West possibly assisting Tucci in prison. 

We need little convincing that this show is set to be a hit among BBC thriller fans. Written and created by Moffat (who is also known for his work on Dracula and Sherlock), and executive produced by Sue Vertue for Hartswood Films, both have said: “This is the best ensemble we’ve ever had the chance to work with. It’s a rare privilege to see scripts come to life as beautifully as this.”

There is, and after watching it, you may not be able to trust anyone in the new series. Because from the looks of it, it seems as though many of the cast members are murderers themselves and not the quiet or well-meaning characters we previously thought.

We get a glimpse of a woman locked in a basement, a devastated-looking Tennant, blood-soaked hammers and an eerie camera focus on knives. As Tucci narrates: “There are moments that make murderers of us all. No one is safe from the worst that they can do. Cracks can open in the most ordinary life and swallow anyone at all.”

He continues: “All it takes is a good reason and a bad day. Everyone is a murderer – you just have to meet the right person.”

Watch the trailer for yourself here:

Ben Irving, commissioning editor of BBC Drama, says: “Steven Moffat has created another brilliantly original and darkly playful series in Inside Man and it’s no surprise that it has attracted such an extraordinary cast. This will be a ‘must-watch’ when it lands.”

The miniseries will consist of four 60-minute episodes and will be coming to our screens via BBC One and BBC iPlayer on 26 September. Let the countdown begin …

Images: BBC