Chasing Shadows - Another ITV Crime Drama

Well, it is but it's one that also has not one but two prominent Doctor Who actors as well (clearly ITV picked up on something from Broadchurch with David Tennant and Arthur Darvill) in the mix.

Noel Clarke, best known for playing Mickey Smith and writing/directing/acting in several of his recent movies has the role of DI Prior in Chasing Shadows, a four part drama from DCI Banks writer, Rob Williams. The series is due to begin filming soon for an eight week period in the South East and will focus on a missing persons field unit charged with tracking down serial killers who target vulnerable and impressionable people.

The second Doctor Who related person cast in a main role is River Song herself, Alex Kingston. The actress who has also recently guest appeared in both NCIS and Arrow will be playing the role of Ruth Hattersley. The character, an analyst from the Missing Person Bereau is described as maternal with being maternal and is in a partnership with the eccentric lead character of the four part drama, which is seemingly rocky as well, despite their dynamic looking good on paper.

As for the eccentric partner - he's played by none other than Reece Shearsmith (The League of Gentlemen, Psychoville and currently on BBC2, Inside No 9). Shearsmith's character, DS Sean Stone - a socially awkward intense misfit, sidelined by his bosses and paired with Ruth and whose eccentric behaviour tends to land him in trouble from time to time.

I have to admit, like most crimes dramas nowadays, it doesn't exactly sound particularly inspired and if it weren't for the Whovian connections, I probably wouldn't bother at least watching the first episode. Then again, if it's like Broadchurch, it might just pleasantly surprise me.

Press Release: http://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/reece-shearsmith-alex-kingston-and-noel-clarke-star-chasing-shadows#.UvzJhoG9YTA

Chasing Shadows will air on ITV later in 2014.