Wire in the Blood Returns
Robson Green Returns For A Fourth Season Of Wire In The Blood
BBC AMERICA co-produces a new season
Robson Green (Rocketman, Reckless) stars as Dr. Tony Hill in Wire in the Blood, based on Val McDermid’s best-selling novels. Whatever Tony’s trying to crack — Internet chat rooms, a deadly hypnotist, suicide cults, or DNA evidence — it’s riveting to watch this unassuming, fanatical clinical psychologist think. The way he answers a question from eight minutes ago, talks loudly to himself and doesn’t even notice he’s standing in a downpour is enough to make his colleagues crazy. But it’s all part of a brilliant process that’s impossible to explain — especially to detectives who want facts, not theories. Although Tony is one of the best profilers in the business, he’s often conflicted about his work and abilities. And this season, an old flame, the loss of a patient and the fear his tumor has returned will bring Tony straight to the edge. Wire in the Blood premieres Monday, October 2, 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.
In the first episode, Tony’s credibility is questioned when a rapist he helped convict is released on appeal. Things get even worse when Tony learns that Carol, the police detective he worked with, has left the force for South Africa, and her replacement, Alex Fielding (Simone Lahbib, Monarch of the Glen, Bad Girls), doesn’t want Tony anywhere near her case load.
When the body of a young woman is found in a barrel buried in a field, Alex believes the murder is isolated, but Tony is convinced that this body is linked to several cases of missing persons involving young women. He can’t prove it, but his theory is they were all lured to their deaths by a serial killer posting messages on a sado-masochistic internet site, where their own fantasies are being used against them. A battle ensues as Alex tries to shake Tony off as he doggedly pursues the case. Alex even threatens to have him arrested if he doesn’t stop snooping around. But if Tony stops, a young woman is more likely to die. Will Tony be able to convince Alex he can be trusted before it’s too late?
What The British Press Said:
“One of the best of the current generation of TV crime thrillers…” Financial Times
“… Green has matured into a first-class actor. His role as neurotic, obsessive criminal psychologist Dr. Tony Hill brings out the best in him.” Daily Express
“Wire in the Blood turned out to be brisk, creepy, unusually well characterized and directed with a good deal of style. Robson Green was especially impressive.” Sunday Telegraph
“Could this be the new Cracker? This is certainly a promising start.” Evening Standard
“… refreshingly quirky and unusually edgy.” The Times
“Robson Green should be congratulated. Wire in the Blood, was shocking in every respect yet not once did I reach for the remote control. This was a far slicker killer thriller than any I have encountered before - I watched every second.” Sunday Mirror
Cast And Production Credits
Dr. Tony Hill ....................... Robson Green (Rocketman, Reckless)
Detective Inspector Alex Fielding.......................Simone Lahbib (Monarch of the Glen, Bad Girls)
Detective Sergeant Kevin Geoffries ...................Mark Letheren (Frances Tuesday)
Detective Constable Paula McIntyre .................Emma Handy (Velvet Goldmine)
Assistant Chief Constable Eden ....................... Peter Sullivan (Sex Traffic)
Dr. Ashley Vernon ....................... Mark Penfold (Second Sight)
Producer ....................... Philip Leach
Directors ..... Andy Goddard (episode one), Declan O’Dwyer (episode two), A.J. Quinn (episode three), Peter Hoar (episode four)
Writers ....................... Patrick Harbinson, Guy Burt, Niall Leonard
Executive Producers ....................... Sandra Jobling (Coastal Productions)
....................... Kathryn Mitchell (BBC AMERICA)
Based on characters created by Val McDermid
Episode Synopses
Episode one
Tony Hill is having problems. A rapist convicted years ago, as a result of Tony’s first forensic psychological profile, is released on appeal and Tony is discredited. Carol won’t return his calls offering to help police investigations after a body is found in a barrel buried in a field. And his therapist thinks he’s resisting treatment because he clings to the dark side of his psyche.
Things get worse when Tony realizes that Carol has gone — left the Bradfield force for South Africa without even telling him. And her successor, Alex, doesn’t want Tony and his serial killer theory anywhere near her work. Alex assumes the body in the field is the dead wife of convicted matricidal farmer Darren. But then another body is found, a catalogue of girls going missing under similar circumstances emerges and Alex begins to realize Tony’s theory could be right after all.
A battle ensues as Alex tries to shake Tony off but he doggedly pursues the case. Tony realizes the missing young women are being lured via a sado-masochistic internet site. Their own fantasies are being preyed on by a killer who uses them until boredom sets in, and then discards them for the next victim. To catch the perpetrator Tony must tap in to his own dark fantasies and Alex must discard her prejudices to help him unlock a macabre final twist as they race to save the latest kidnapped girl.
Episode one premieres Monday, October 2, 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Episode two
Police are baffled when a prostitute’s murder matches in every detail a series of killings for which Derek Tyler has already been caught and jailed. Tony knows it can’t be a copycat, because in sexual homicides every killer has their own unique signature. But if this isn’t someone imitating Tyler’s atrocities than how are the killings happening at all? While Alex and her team struggle for a lead on the streets, Tony thinks Tyler holds the key. But there’s a problem — Tyler has remained utterly mute since the day he was arrested and, to crack him, Tony has to use every ounce of his psychological skill and imagination.
Tensions develop within the police operation as the vice-squad Detective Inspector disagrees with Alex’s running of the case. And things go disastrously wrong when one of the detectives becomes bait for the killer and is kidnapped without trace.
All the experts have diagnosed Tyler as a schizophrenic who heard imaginary voices telling him to kill. But Tony realizes that Tyler’s inner “voice” was a real one. He is the victim of brainwashing — and whoever controlled him is now controlling another killer and has their colleague, Paula, within their power. When it becomes clear that whoever is doing this has access to information about the police investigation, Tony confronts his one and only suspect and is almost killed in the process. Will his intervention save both Paula’s life and Alex’s career?
Episode two premieres Monday, October 9, 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Episode three
Saving student Kurt from leaping to his death makes Tony ponder why someone might want to take their own life. He’d like to help Kurt feel better, but Kurt doesn’t stick around in therapy long enough to debate the issue. He disappears to hook up with a new group of “friends” and Tony is left feeling inadequate.
Meanwhile a businessman and his accountant die in a horrible fire — apparently victims of deliberate arson. Were they murdered by jealous partners? There seems no reason for the deaths. But these are not the last pair of corpses found in Bradfield, and Alex turns to Tony for help. Masonic symbolism leads the investigation to a local lodge but to no avail. Then Tony makes a breakthrough — the ways in which each of the pairs of victims has died bears uncanny resemblance to the deaths of Christian saints. This is a suicide cult. Someone is breeding murderous martyrs and the deaths will continue until Tony and Alex find the source.
A local vicar with links to many of the victims looks the most likely candidate, but when he kills himself, Tony realizes he’s merely an ordinary cult member sacrificing himself to show his loyalty — and remorse. He builds a profile of the true leader for Alex and her team and piecing together the ways in which the cult members were recruited enables them to arrest their man.
For a moment the team are jubilant, but then Tony realizes that the group of new “friends” Kurt has found is actually a murderous cabal. Kurt must be found and stopped before he uses his knowledge of biochemistry to wreak havoc. Tony has to use every skill he has as a therapist to save the day.
Episode three premieres Monday, October 16, 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Episode four
Tony’s first case with the police comes back to haunt him when Jason Eglee, convicted of murder on Tony’s evidence, comes up for parole. Jason appears to be a reformed character after years of therapy in prison, but Tony’s not convinced. He manages to sway the board to his view, until Eglee’s distraught mother attacks him before collapsing and dying. To the press and public Tony has blood on his hands, and Eglee is released as a compassionate gesture.
When a girl is murdered in the same circumstances as Eglee’s former victim, Tony is in no doubt that Eglee is starting a new spree. But Eglee has a cast iron alibi in the form of his therapist Ozick — who has tapes of their session on the night of the murder. Even worse, when Eglee is persuaded to give a blood sample, he’s found to be innocent — the DNA evidence from over ten years ago does not match his.
Tony’s confidence begins to crumble and, as pro-Eglee reporter hounds him for an expose, Alex decides she can no longer permit him to work for the police. Life gets even worse when he encounters old flame Karen — intent on trying to restart their relationship and so unstable that Tony’s rejection is devastating. Now even Tony feels guilty and fears he has lost the empathic perception on which he relies.
But although everyone has lost faith in Tony, his acuity hasn’t deserted him. As the murderer gears up to take another victim, Tony suddenly realizes how the killer was able to take on a double identity and also create a false alibi. Now all Tony has to do is persuade Alex to believe him so they can catch the killer before another young woman dies.
Episode four premieres Monday, October 23, 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Interview With Robson Green
On how the four latest are the best – and scariest – episodes yet:
“I feel that this series is our strongest so far, and we are always pushing the budget so each episode has a filmic quality. I am very proud of it, and I hope our viewers will be terrified and intrigued by it. One of the episodes is full of religious imagery – hanging, beheading and drowning with a millstone around the neck. The killer is someone who’s besotted with the artist Caravaggio. Like the slaying of John the Baptist, whose head was served on a plate, this is how one of the victims ends up. It’s full of symbolism and it’s like a feature film in the way it’s shot and lit. But when Michael, the actor, turned his head round on the plate and said, ‘hello Robson’ it was terrifying! It’s nightmarish stuff and I was a bit scared to pick up the new scripts because of what they might reveal. But the feedback we’ve had from around the world is that people enjoy being scared by the films and want us to push the boundaries a little bit further, without being gratuitous of course. Our aim, through the writing, performances, design and effects, is to create a chilling atmosphere.”
On doing a series based on serial killings:
“Murder is destructive, dark and horrible. The consequences are visually unpleasant. Our program is fictional, but what we have to say is important. As long as it’s not a gore fest, we don’t shy away from the reality of what we’re talking about, which is destructive behavior. I don’t go around celebrating the violence but I enjoy experiencing the reasons why people behave as they do. It’s an interesting learning curve for me – the most educational piece I’ve ever been part of.”
On the new character, DI Alex Fielding, played by Simone Lahbib:
“She really doesn’t want him on board but in the end thanks him for being there. Tony and Alex have to learn to trust each other and work together to solve the murders and their new relationship brings a new energy and warmth to the series.”
On his soft-treading hero, Dr. Tony Hill:
“Tony’s far more outside the university now and more involved in the police work, as a volunteer. But he’s on the periphery. When the crime is solved he disappears. He’s never applauded for what he does and he doesn’t stand out in a crowd. Just like a surgeon who performs something profound in hospital or someone who’s carried out an amazing engineering feat. You wouldn’t look at them twice.”
On the appeal of Wire in the Blood:
“I can understand why it is a very successful program because its themes are universal and what Tony has to say is very interesting. It’s unusual though, because he’s a clumsy character, not your clichéd lead. He travels to work on a bicycle and has his life in a blue polythene bag.”
On his hobby, organic gardening:
“I’ve got a greenhouse with melons, eggplants, marrows, peppers and chili. I have a real thing about it and I hate it when a plant dies – life in the fast lane, eh!”
