BBC One Confirms New Supernatural Drama

Colin Morgan has been confirmed to play the lead role of Nathan Appleby in a new mystery drama called The Living And The Dead.

The original six part series for BBC One, created by Ashley Pharoah (Life On Mars, Ashes To Ashes, Moonfleet), also stars Charlotte Spencer (Glue, Stonemouth, Line Of Duty), as Charlotte Appleby, Nathan's wife.

Set in Somerset, 1894, The Living And The Dead sees a young couple – Morgan and Spencer – inherit a farm. Determined to start a new life together, their presence in this isolated corner of England soon starts to unleash strange, unsettling and dangerous supernatural phenomena that will start to threaten their marriage.

At the heart of the series, is the love story of Nathan and Charlotte Appleby; they are deeply in love with each other but put under extraordinary pressure, they will have to fight to save their marriage and their home.

Filming has already commenced on the drama in the West Country.

Colin Morgan said: "The Living And The Dead is one of those scripts that you read and are instantly compelled and engaged by. It's intelligent, chilling and engrossing. It's going to be very special and I can't wait to start working on it with the wonderful creative team."

Charlotte Spencer added: "It's always been a dream of mine to appear in a period drama and they don't come better than this – fantastic, original scripts and, in Charlotte Appleby, a superb character who's strong, passionate and gutsy. Couple this with an incredible director, crew and cast, I can't wait to get started!"

Ashley Pharoah commented: "I am completely thrilled that Colin and Charlotte are joining us on our adventure. The characters they play – Nathan and Charlotte Appleby – dominate the series and I couldn't be more excited to see what they do with them."

Faith Penhale, Head of BBC Wales Drama Production, said: "Colin Morgan and Charlotte Spencer are two of Britain's most exciting and talented stars and I can't think of anyone better to bring to life Nathan and Charlotte Appleby, the beautifully drawn couple at the heart of Ashley's bold and brilliant new series for BBC One."

The executive producers are Ashley Pharoah and Matthew Graham for Monastic Productions, Faith Penhale, Head of BBC Wales Drama Production, and Katie McAleese for BBC Wales Drama Production.

Eliza Mellor (Poldark, Death Comes To Pemberley) is producer and director Alice Troughton (Cucumber, In The Flesh) will launch the series.

Commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Controller of BBC One, and Ben Stephenson, previous Controller of BBC Drama Commissioning, The Living And The Dead is a BBC Wales Drama production in association with Monastic Productions and co-produced with BBC America.

It will be distributed internationally by BBC Worldwide.

www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre

(JP)