Nightsleeper

A real time drama, the series is set on the fictional Heart of Britain sleeper train travelling to London from Glasgow. Two people who have not met before must work together to try to save the lives of the passengers.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/04/joe-cole-cast-in-bbc-drama-nightsleeper-peaky-blinders-gangs-of-london-1235333557|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423234245/https://deadline.com/2023/04/joe-cole-cast-in-bbc-drama-nightsleeper-peaky-blinders-gangs-of-london-1235333557/|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 April 2023|accessdate=April 24, 2023|website=Deadline Hollywood|title= 'Peaky Blinders' Joe Cole To Lead Real-Time BBC Drama 'Nightsleeper'|first=Jesse|last=Whittock|date=April 23, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2023/nightsleeper-first-look|title=First pictures released of Alexandra Roach and Joe Cole in BBC real-time thriller Nightsleeper|publisher=BBC}}

• Joe Cole as Joseph Roag (Joe), a former Metropolitan Police Detective Inspector on the run after being accused of theft
• Ruth Madeley as Chrissy Doolan, a disabled human rights solicitor
• James Cosmo as Fraser Warren, an elderly retired train driver for Heart of Britain and Sophie's father-in-law
• Katie Leung as Rachel Li, a lifestyle trends reporter
• Sharon Small as Liz Draycott MP, the Secretary of State for Transport
• Alex Ferns as Arran Moy, a belligerent accountant in first class
• Daniel Cahill as Danny Geoghan, an oil rig worker with a satellite phone
• Leah MacRae as Sophie Warren, Fraser's daughter-in-law
• Scott Reid as Billy McCloud, one of the train customer service crew
• Sharon Rooney as Yasmin Brown, one of the train customer service crew
• Adam Mitchell as Max "Mouse" Ellis, a young boy who befriends Joe
• Lois Chimimba as Erin Connolly, a hotel worker and student

• Alexandra Roach as Abigail 'Abby' Aysgarth, the acting Technical Director of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)
• David Threlfall as Paul 'Pev' Peveril, former Technical Director of the NCSC fired for whistleblowing
• Pamela Nomvete as Nicola Miller, the Director of GCHQ
• Parth Thakerar as Saj Sidhu, a technical expert at the NCSC
• Jasmine Naziha Jones as Zed Hylton, a technical expert at the NCSC
• Jonjo O'Neill as Mark Hudson (Hud), a senior Security Service field officer
• Micah Balfour as Leon Parhill, a technical expert at the NCSC

• Remy Beasley as Meg Hooton, Abby's friend

{{Episode table|background=#294F76|overall=|title=|director=|writer=|airdate=|viewers=|country=U.K.|episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 1

|Title = Episode 1

|RTitle = {{cite web |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2022/bbc-drama-nightsleeper |title= The BBC commissions new suspense thriller Nightsleeper from Fremantle's Euston Films |website=BBC Media Centre |date=December 8, 2022 |access-date=December 24, 2023}}

|DirectedBy = Jamie Magnus Stone

|WrittenBy = Nick Leather

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|9|15|df=yes}}

|Viewers = 5.88

|ShortSummary = A policeman Joseph (Joe) is travelling by a night train from Glasgow to London. He noticed that someone tried to overtake control of the train. He calls Abby, the deputy of cybernetics safety but whole British rail transport system is under attack.

|LineColor = 294F76

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 2

|Title = Episode 2

|RTitle =

|DirectedBy = Jamie Magnus Stone

|WrittenBy = Nick Leather

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|9|16|df=yes}}

|Viewers = 4.66

|ShortSummary = Joe thinks of various dangerous ways to leave the train, and Abby starts to realise how many obstacles is waiting soon for her.

|LineColor = 294F76

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 3

|Title = Episode 3

|RTitle =

|DirectedBy = Jamie Magnus Stone

|WrittenBy = Nick Leather

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|9|22|df=yes}}

|Viewers = 5.21

|ShortSummary = After realising that someone in the vehicle might be cooperating with hackers, Joe redirects his attention at other passengers while Abby forces the train of the main rail.

|LineColor = 294F76

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 4

|Title = Episode 4

|RTitle =

|DirectedBy = John Hayes

|WrittenBy = Laura Grace

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|9|23|df=yes}}

|Viewers = 4.84

|ShortSummary = Mark Hudson's (Hud) attempt to stop the train starts to look disastrous, and Abby reveals that Joe could be in an even bigger danger.

|LineColor = 294F76

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 5

|Title = Episode 5

|RTitle =

|DirectedBy = John Hayes

|WrittenBy = Laura Grace

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|9|29|df=yes}}

|Viewers = 5.32

|ShortSummary = Hud and Miller question Abby, and Joe is trying to recover from a shooting event while deciding whether to trust Saj or other passengers.

|LineColor = 294F76

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 6

|Title = Episode 6

|RTitle =

|DirectedBy = John Hayes

|WrittenBy = Nick Leather

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|9|30|df=yes}}

|Viewers = 5.30

|ShortSummary = Abby is convinced that she knows how to stop remaining wagons but as Joe is out of contact and time is running out {{Mdash}} is it maybe too late?

|LineColor = 294F76

}}

}}

It was revealed in December 2022 that the BBC had commissioned the series written by Nick Leather who is also executive producer alongside Gaynor Holmes for Euston Films.{{Cite web|website=Deadline Hollywood|accessdate=April 24, 2023|title= 'PhoneShop' Creator Phil Bowker Strikes Deal With Tiger Aspect; Latest Paramount+ Launches; BBC 'Nightsleeper' Drama|first=Max |last=Goldbart|date=December 8, 2022|url=https://deadline.com/2022/12/phoneshop-phil-bowker-banijay-hires-global-briefs-1235193173/}} Executive producers also include Kate Harewood and Neomi Spanos. Jonathan Curling is producing.{{Cite web|website=Variety|accessdate=April 24, 2023|url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/global/euston-films-nick-leather-nightsleeper-bbc-1235453028|title=Euston Films Sets Nick Leather-Penned Suspense Thriller 'Nightsleeper' at BBC (EXCLUSIVE)|first=K.J.|last=Yossman|date=December 8, 2022}} The series is directed by Jamie Magnus Stone and John Hayes.{{Cite web|first=Craig|last=Williams|title=BBC commissions new suspense thriller set on Glasgow to London sleeper|date= December 9, 2022|website=Herald Scotland|url= https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23180226.bbc-commissions-new-suspense-thriller-set-glasgow-london-sleeper/|accessdate=April 24, 2023}}

In April 2023 it was revealed that Joe Cole and Alexandra Roach would lead the cast.{{Cite web|url=https://www.televisual.com/news/roach-cole-board-nightsleeper-shoot-starts-in-glasgow|date=April 24, 2023|accessdate=April 24, 2023|website=Televisual.com|title=Roach, Cole board Nightsleeper, shoot starts in Glasgow |first=Pippa|last=Considine}} That same month other cast members were revealed including David Threlfall, Ruth Madeley, Alex Ferns, Sharon Small, James Cosmo, Lois Chimimba, Gabriel Howell, Katie Leung, Leah MacRae, Adam Mitchell, Sharon Rooney, Pamela Nomvete, Scott Reid, Daniel Cahill, and Parth Thakerar.{{Cite web|url= https://rts.org.uk/article/joe-cole-and-alexandra-roach-lead-new-bbc-thriller-nightsleeper|website=rts.org|accessdate=April 24, 2023|date=April 24, 2023|title= Joe Cole and Alexandra Roach to lead new BBC thriller Nightsleeper|first=Ella|last=Christian-Sims}}

Filming took place in Glasgow in April 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/23474430|date=April 24, 2023|title=Still Game and Two Doors Down stars in BBC thriller set in Glasgow|first=Rebecca |last=Newland|accessdate=April 24, 2023|website=Glasgow Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23476309.nightsleeper-glasgow-filming-begins-new-bbc-one-drama/|website=Herald Scotland|accessdate=April 24, 2023|date=April 24, 2023|title=Nightsleeper: Glasgow filming begins on new BBC One drama}} The opening scene was filmed in Glasgow's Central Station. Filming was also done in and outside Victoria Station, London. The interior scenes of the National Cyber Security Centre were filmed at the City of Glasgow College's Riverside Campus.{{Cite web |title=Nightsleeper Filming Locations: Find That Location |url=https://findthatlocation.com/television-show/nightsleeper |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=findthatlocation.com |language=en}} The interior train scenes were shot at Pioneer Studios, near Glasgow, featuring a full-scale train set built specifically for the production. To mimic the movement of the train, LED video walls were installed, creating a dynamic and realistic backdrop.{{cite news|author=Jon Hornbuckle|title= Where Was 'Nightsleeper' Filmed? Filming Locations Behind The BBC Train Thriller|url= https://www.timeout.com/news/where-was-nightsleeper-filmed-filming-locations-behind-the-bbc-train-thriller-091524|date=15 September 2024|work=TimeOut|accessdate=15 March 2025}}

The series premiered on BBC One on 15 September 2024 and had its BBC iPlayer streaming release on the same day.{{cite web|website=Radio Times|accessdate=22 November 2023|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/nightsleeper-first-look-pictures-exclusive-newsupdate/|title= Joe Cole, Alexandra Roach in first look at BBC thriller Nightsleeper|first=Morgan|last=Jeffrey|date=22 November 2023}}

The Guardian's Lucy Mangan gave the "fantastically dreadful" series two stars out of five, saying that the plot became "increasingly ridiculous and even within the elastic definition we apply to these capers, absurd" and the dialogue "increasingly abysmal", and calling Joe Cole's performance "expressionless to the point of distraction".{{cite web |last1=Mangan |first1=Lucy |author-link=Lucy Mangan |title=Nightsleeper review – fantastically dreadful |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/sep/15/nightsleeper-review-fantastically-dreadful |website=The Guardian |access-date=17 September 2024 |date=15 September 2024}}

Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Keith Watson gave the series three stars out of five, saying that "[f]or all its adrenalin-rush moments [...] the basic premise makes about as much sense as the rail ticket pricing system", that the cliffhanger moments were "the TV equivalent of rubber-necking: you know you should look away but you really can't", and that the series was best enjoyed by suspending disbelief. In Watson's estimation, Joe Cole "does a kind of low-rent Speed-era Keanu Reeves turn" but nevertheless made "a fine action hero", while the passengers aboard the hacked train were "little more than clichés with issues, their backstories inserted to fill in the bits between chases/near misses/staring at the rail-route map."{{cite web |last1=Watson |first1=Keith |title=Nightsleeper, BBC One review: derail your critical faculties to enjoy this daft thrill ride |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/nightsleeper-bbc-one-review/ |website=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=17 September 2024 |date=15 September 2024}}

In Radio Times, David Craig gave the series two stars out of five, saying it was "laden with cliché in terms of dialogue and plot structure [...] taking several staples out of the bland conspiracy thriller playbook" and "compromised by the sheer volume of jokes, which go beyond comic relief to almost rendering this show an outright comedy-drama." Craig devoted several paragraphs of his review to criticising what he saw as the use of the passengers to "shoe-horn" a social unity narrative "in a clunky, cringe-inducing manner". Craig would finish his review by saying the series felt "like a show that couldn't decide what it wanted to be", with "shades of a self-aware train-set action-comedy, dashes of a nervy cyber thriller, and attempts at hard-hitting social commentary on political polarisation and marginalisation. Blended together, it makes a strange concoction".{{cite web |last1=Craig |first1=David |title=Nightsleeper review: Ham-fisted thriller is like Red Eye, but dafter |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/nightsleeper-review-bbc/ |website=Radio Times |access-date=17 September 2024 |date=15 September 2024}}

Reviewing the series for the Herald, Alison Rowat gave the series two stars out of five, saying that it was "six hours of bum-numbing nonsense that makes the Father Ted remake of Speed [...] look like The Taking of Pelham One Two Three" and "[e]very now and then a too silly by-half twist comes along, or a slab of terrible dialogue, and the action screeches to a halt."{{cite web |last1=Rowat |first1=Alison |title=Nightsleeper review: Worse than the nightbus to London |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/24588145.nightsleeper-review-worse-nightbus-london/ |website=The Herald |access-date=18 September 2024 |date=16 September 2024|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240916215148/https://www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/24588145.nightsleeper-review-worse-nightbus-london/|archive-date=16 September 2024}}

Writing in The Times, Carol Midgley gave the series three stars out of five but found it "very schlocky" and said that "[t]he implausibilities started from the opening frame."{{cite web |last1=Midgley |first1=Carol |title=Nightsleeper review — this train thriller is barely staying on the rails |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/nightsleeper-bbc-review-joe-cole-zrwhz8lqp |website=The Times |access-date=18 September 2024 |date=15 September 2024 |url-status=live|url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240915212506/https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/nightsleeper-bbc-review-joe-cole-zrwhz8lqp |archive-date=15 September 2024}}

In a more positive review, Gerard Gilbert of the i gave the series four stars out of five (albeit appearing to have reviewed the first episode only), calling it "a high-speed blast from start to finish" and saying that the train-borne setting was original and "fruitfully explored" and that the action onscreen "moved at a suitably unrelenting pace but was laced with dry humour."{{cite web |last1=Gilbert |first1=Gerard |title=Nightsleeper review: A high-speed blast from start to finish |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/nightsleeper-review-blast-start-finish-3263143 |website=The i |access-date=18 September 2024 |date=15 September 2024}}

Digital Spy's Janet Leigh, whilst not carrying out a proper review as such, said that the plot twist in the final episode was representative of the series' issues with plot twists as a whole, "each one losing more and more intrigue as the story progressed. The show overplayed the whodunnit aspect so much that [...] the identity of the real culprit landed without excitement." Likewise, the impending train crash was deprived of narrative weight due to the "many, MANY hair-raising moments that came before" and due to it being "extremely obvious" that the characters were not "about to meet their end in grisly fashion." Leigh concluded that the series "did manage to maintain a sense of urgency and pace in spite of the flaws but perhaps was a little too eager to prove itself as a gripping mystery thriller."{{cite web |last1=Leigh |first1=Janet A |title=Nightsleeper's ending twist points to where the show went wrong |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a62240840/nightsleeper-ending-twist/ |website=Digital Spy |access-date=17 September 2024 |date=17 September 2024}}

{{reflist}}

• {{IMDb title|24133138}}
• {{BBC Programme|m002265y}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nightsleeper}}

Category:2024 British television series debuts

Category:2024 British television series endings

Category:Television shows set in Glasgow

Category:Television shows filmed in Scotland

Category:2020s British crime drama television series

Category:British thriller television series

Category:British English-language television shows

Category:BBC crime drama television shows

Category:Television series by Fremantle (company)

Category:Television series by Euston Films