Emmerdale star Jason Merrells will co-star with Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who) in a new ITV thriller Safe House.
The four-part series will also feature Marsha Thomason (White Collar), Nicola Stephenson (Holby City) and Paterson Joseph (Peep Show, Law & Order: UK) and will be set in the wilderness of the Lake District.
The four-part drama tells the story of a married couple, Robert (Christopher Eccleston), a former detective, and Katy (Marsha Thomason), a teacher, who are asked by close friend and police officer Mark (Paterson Joseph), to turn their remote guest house into a safe house.
Their first ‘guests’ at the safe house are a family in fear of their lives after they are violently attacked. For Robert protecting the family resurrects fears and anxieties from a terrifying night 18 months ago, when he was protecting a star witness who was about to testify against her gangland husband.
Tragically, he was shot, and she was killed. As a consequence of running the safe house, Robert re-examines that night and uncovers a web of lies.
Inspired by a real couple, filming begins on Safe House today, with the possibility of further series if it's successful.
Safe House executive producer Jill Green said: “This brilliant idea for a psychological thriller has attracted a strong cast – and will keep viewers gripped.”
Jason announced he was leaving Emmerdale last week.
