ITV has commissioned a new six-part ‘cold case’ thriller from Mainstreet Pictures – the independent production company founded by channel’s former drama commissioners Laura Mackie and Sally Haynes.
The Forgotten, written and created by Chris Lang (Undeniable, A Mother’s Son, Torn), focuses on a murder carried out 39 years ago.
With the discovery of a young man’s skeleton underneath the cellar at a property in Arlington Crescent, an historical police investigation begins to turn back the years.
The modern day police team – DCI Cassie Stuart and DI Sunil ‘Sunny’ Khan – gradually unravel deep-rooted and long-forgotten secrets, which will have a dramatic impact on their investigation and the lives of four potential suspects – Robert Grieves, Frank Philip Cross, Lizzie Wilton and Eric Slater.
The slow revelation of these secrets as Cassie and Sunny hunt for the killer will alter the dynamic of the families and their loved ones forever.
But who is the murdered boy and why was he staying in 27 Arlington Crescent? What happened in 1976, which was the catalyst for his murder? Who did he come into contact with who eventually bludgeoned him to death? And what of his family? The pain and despair of his bereft, inconsolable mother grieving for a lost child as she still searches for answers nearly 40 years later.
With integrity, grit and compassion, Cassie and Sunny begin to unpeel the layers of the investigation only to intriguingly discover each of the potential suspects has a past they’d sooner stay buried. Reputations could be lost, relationships fractured irrevocably and beliefs and opinions challenged. Essentially, we discover the people we thought we knew aren’t who they appear to be and this has a destabilising and devastating effect on all concerned.
The drama is set in different corners of the country, from the outer London suburbs, to the Essex coast, Westminster and the Fens. With each of the characters’ stories running parallel, the multi-stranded narrative weaves suspicion and curiosity, connecting each of the principle characters.
The focus of the police investigation will be the red-bricked Victorian house in Arlington Crescent, a multipurpose property, formerly a private home, British Rail records office, flats, a hostel for homeless young men and women and DHSS office.
The Forgotten has been commissioned by ITV’s Director of Drama Steve November and Controller of Drama Victoria Fea.
“The Forgotten will look at how an historic police investigation affects the lives of all those touched by it,” said Steve. “Chris Lang’s scripts are wonderfully compelling as the mystery deepens and the police hunt for the killer intensifies.”
Laura Mackie, Managing Director of Mainstreet Pictures commented:
“We’re delighted to receive our first commission from ITV”, said Laura. “The Forgotten explores the idea of how well do you really know a person even though you’ve lived a lifetime with them. Sometimes they turn out to be someone completely different, all with their own secrets and lies. Chris’s scripts are rich, multi-layered, intriguing and emotional.”
The Forgotten will begin filming from mid March 2015, casting will be announced later this year.
