COLD Feet star James Nesbitt has admitted he felt ‘galled’ after being ‘snubbed’ for a Line of Duty role by Jed Mercurio.
The 56-year-old actor is from Northern Ireland, where the hit BBC crime drama is filmed.
Despite this, and his impressive body of work, James has never been considered for a role in the show, which is written by Jed.
Recalling the time he bumped into Jed, James told Radio Times: “I said, ‘Come on, Jed, when are we going to get a chance to work together?’
“Even though Line of Duty had been shot here for years I was never considered for it, which has always slightly galled me.”
Thankfully, James cheeky comment paid off and Jed sent him the script for new drama, Bloodlands, which his production company, HTM Productions was developing.
Jed acts as an executive producer on the thriller, which follows James’ character Detective Tom Brannick as he investigates a series of disappearances that took place during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
The disappearances are linked to ‘Goliath’, a mysterious assassin who also happens to be the murderer of Tom’s beloved wife, Emma.
Speaking about the role, James said: “I recognise a lot in Tom, there’s an affability, a quiet strength.
“He’s someone who has really been through a lot in the Troubles, one of the silent ones who never reveal what they’ve been through.”
Meanwhile, Line of Duty fans are eagerly awaiting series six, which wrapped filming late last year after being delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Adrian Dunbar, Vicky McClure and Martin Compston are all returning, with Our Girl actress Shalom Brune-Franklin joining the cast and Kelly MacDonald guest starring.
Bloodlands begins on Sunday, February 21 at 9pm on BBC One.
