FILMING on series two of the multi-award-winning and six-time BAFTA-nominated BBC drama The Responder has begun in the region.
The hugely successful first series was written by ex-Merseyside Police officer Tony Schumacher, whose time in the force included spells working on patrols in St Helens.
Filming for the first series saw numerous scenes shot in St Helens, with Taylor Park and Eccleston Park among the locations.
Star readers snapped pictures of the show's lead, Hollywood actor Martin Freeman, filming in the park and on street locations.
According to the BBC, The Responder "held a mirror up to the emotional extremes of life on the front line of British policing – sometimes darkly funny, sometimes painfully tragic, always challenging".
Series one was released on the BBC in January 2022 and attracted 9.6m viewers (episode one 28-day figure), making it one of the year’s biggest new dramas.
Sold widely, with Fremantle handling global distribution, it quickly became one of Europe’s biggest dramas.
The second series is also penned by Schumacher and will see actors Martin Freeman, Adelayo Adedayo (Unsaid Stories; Timewasters), MyAnna Buring (The Salisbury Poisonings; The Witcher), Warren Brown (Ten Pound Poms; Luther), Josh Finan (Baby Reindeer; The Gentlemen), Emily Fairn (Mary & George; Black Mirror – Demon 79), Philip S McGuinness (The Batman; The Alienist), Faye McKeever (A Confession; Little Boy Blue), Mark Womack (The Vanishing Man; Playing the Field) and Amaka Okafo (Bodies; Greatest Days) reprise their roles.
Joining them will be exciting new additions to the cast, Adam Nagaitis (The Terror; Chernobyl), Bernard Hill (Wolf Hall; Lord of the Rings (Theoden) Titanic) and Ian Puleston-Davies (Tin Star; Pennyworth).
Series two joins Chris Carson, played by Freeman, six months later.
The BBC announcement about the new series states: "Chris is attempting to rebuild his life, and his relationships, desperate to avoid the corruption that nearly sucked him under.
"He is trying to be a better police officer, a better man, and most importantly, a better father to his daughter Tilly.
"All whilst still dealing with the relentless trauma of being a night response officer. Chris wants a day job. Chris needs a day job. But is he prepared to risk everything to get one?"
Schumacher said: "Throwing myself back into the world of The Responder has been such a ride over this last year or so.
"Gathering the characters old and new around me has been a delight, and finally getting to see these people brought to life by so many incredible people fills me with genuine excitement.
"I just can't wait for you to see them too!"
Filming will take place in and around Liverpool City Region with support from the Liverpool Film Office.
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