ITV commissions new six part murder mystery thriller The Loch

The beautiful, haunting shores of Scotland’s most iconic loch is the stunning backdrop for new six-part drama, The Loch to be produced by ITV Studios. 

Acclaimed actors Laura Fraser (Houdini and Doyle, The Missing, Peter & Wendy), Siobhan Finneran (Happy Valley, Benidorm, Downton Abbey) and John Sessions (Upstart Crow, Florence Foster Jenkins, The Rack Pack) will take leading roles in the new series alongside Don Gilet (Brief Encounters, Holby City, EastEnders), Gray O'Brien (The Daniel Connection, Titanic: Blood and Steel, Coronation Street) and William Ash (The Tunnel, Moving On, Death in Paradise). 

In a community nourished and sustained by myth and bordered by untamed nature, the search for a serial killer becomes a matter of life and death for local detective Annie Redford who is trying to cope with her first murder case. When the body of local man Niall Swift is found at the foot of Carn Mohr Mountain and an isolated human heart on the loch shore, the town’s normality is shattered and the nightmare begins.  Chillingly, the beautiful scenery, undulating Highlands and vast expansive loch becomes a character in it’s own right adding a haunting depth to the community’s plight. 

Written by Stephen Brady (Fortitude, Vera, Silent Witness) and overseen by ITV Studios Creative Director for Drama and Executive Producer Tim Haines (Beowulf, Primeval, Sinbad), The Loch will introduce Annie and her family – husband Alan, a tour boat operator on the loch and their only child Evie, who at 18, is about to leave home for Australia.  The Redford’s are an ordinary loving family with an ordinary set of problems, yet the pressure of a murder investigation will undermine their stability and create tensions that threaten to disrupt and destroy their lives together. 

Within the tightly knit community, several local characters will come under suspicion as the monster lurking in their midst begins to terrify and rock the village to its core. Forensic profiler, Blake Albrighton, will assist on the case offering insights borne from the last four cases he’s helped crack with his distinctive way of working. 

Executive Producer Tim Haines commented: “Serial killers are monsters that lie beneath the surface of normal happy communities. Where better to hunt for one than in a place that has thrived off its own monster myth for centuries - Loch Ness.” 

The Loch has been commissioned by ITV’s Controller of Drama Victoria Fea and Head of Drama Series Jane Hudson. 

“The Loch is a gripping, tightly-plotted drama which focuses on how a serial killer terrifies a local community,” said Victoria. “Stephen Brady’s compelling scripts utilise the wilderness of Loch Ness perfectly.”

Working alongside Executive Producer Tim Haines, Alan J (Willy) Wands (Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, Stonemouth, The Field of Blood Whisky Galore!) will produce The Loch with Brian Kelly (Downton Abbey, Outlander, Dracula, Lewis) as lead director. Cilla Ware will also direct the series.The Loch will be distributed internationally by ITV Studios Global Entertainment.

The Loch will begin filming in the Highlands of Scotland in June 2016 and is supported by Creative Scotland’s Production Growth Fund.  

Natalie Usher, Director, Screen, Creative Scotland, said: 

“Creative Scotland is delighted to be working with ITV Studios on this thrilling murder mystery, set on the shores of Loch Ness. We can’t wait to see the results of the combined vision of writer Stephen Brady and directors Brian Kelly and Cilla Ware. The Production Growth Fund has allowed us to anchor another high-profile television production almost entirely in Scotland, further developing Scotland’s reputation as a key filming destination where productions can benefit from working with our world-class craft and technical talent.” 

May 26, 2017 6:51am ET by ITV Press Centre  

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