ITV has commissioned an 8-part thriller from MediaCityUK’s Red Production Company.
Paranoid stars Indira Varma, Robert Glenister, Neil Stuke, Lesley Sharp and Kevin Doyle, and will be set in the fictional town of Marshwell in Cheshire.
The conspiracy thriller tells the story of a female GP, who is murdered in a rural children’s playground, with an abundance of eyewitnesses. Detectives believe it will be a straightforward investigation, but it gets increasingly complicated and takes them across Europe.
“Paranoid lays bare the human and emotional story of a group of detectives hell-bent on capturing a killer, but there are unexpected twists and turns every step of the way,” said producer, Tom Sherry (Prey, Ordinary Lies, Scott & Bailey).
It’s been written by Bill Gallagher, who’s credits include The Paradise, Conviction, Love Life and Lark Rise to Candleford.
Nicola Shindler will be executive producer, alongside Gallagher. Mark Tonderai (The Five, House at the End of the Street, Whisper of Fear) directs.
“We’re really excited to be working with Bill Gallagher again,” said Shindler.
“He’s created a conspiracy thriller the audience won’t be able to look away from. It’s edgy, suspenseful and hugely ambitious as filming takes place in Cheshire and Germany.”
It was commissioned for ITV by director of drama Steve November and controller of drama, Victoria Fea.
“Paranoid is a taut, compelling eight part series with all the hallmarks of a classic psychological thriller,” said November.
“Bill has written some incredibly well-defined characters who embark on a terrifying murder investigation as it becomes evident from the outset that malevolent forces are at play.”
Filming begins in Cheshire and the surrounding areas later this month, with crews also shooting in Cologne and Dusseldorf.
Red’s parent company, StudioCanal holds the international distribution rights.
