Simon Pegg joins a stellar cast in Channel 4’s upcoming psychological drama, ‘Hunting Alice Bell’, alongside Alexandra Roach.
Simon Pegg Joins Alexandra Roach in Channel 4’s ‘Hunting Alice Bell’
EXCLUSIVE: Simon Pegg and a host of other British acting talent are joining Alexandra Roach in Channel 4’s psychological drama Hunting Alice Bell.
Cast and Crew Details
Pegg, Ralf Little, Amanda Abbington, Emily Barber, and Christina Bennington are part of the cast, with Roach in the lead role. Rudi Dharmalingam is also featured in the lineup.
The series is based on a long-gestating script from British comedian and broadcaster David Baddiel, collaborating with his frequent writing partner Peter Bradshaw. It is produced by iZen Studios-owned Clapperboard Studios in association with Sphere Abacus, which is also the international distributor.
Writing and Production Team
Alongside Baddiel and Bradshaw, writers include Polly Buckle and Kate Vergese, with Paul Walker directing. Executive producers are Mike Benson and Rachel Gesua for Clapperboard Studios, along with Baddiel, Bradshaw, Buckle, Jonathan Ford, and Will Stapley. The production is managed by Tamryn Reinecke.
Plot Overview
According to the synopsis, Alice Bell is a former nurse and the lover and accomplice of a notorious anaesthetist serial killer. Living in Britain under a new identity, her life unravels when Fran Da Silva is accused of being Alice Bell online, leading to mob hate against her. Fran and other accused women unite to clear their names, but as they fight for their innocence, the question arises: could one of them be lying about their identity?
Roach (Nightsleeper) plays Fran, while Abbington (Sherlock) portrays Julie. Barber takes on the role of Vanessa (MobLand), O’Rourke (God’s Creatures) plays Ros, and Bennington (Halo) is Charlotte. Dharmalingam (The Lazarus Project) plays Nick, Little (Death in Paradise) is Graham Hunter, and Pegg portrays Jason Nash.
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Inspiration Behind the Series
Baddiel revealed that the idea for Hunting Alice Bell stemmed from real cases of UK women terrorized by public suspicion of being national hate figures. Initially pitched as a feature, the project evolved into a six-part drama focusing on how destructive rumor-mongering, intensified by social media, can incite mob rage.
“Technology has created a whole new spin on the idea of mistaken identity. In today’s culture, anyone can be who they want to be, but that also means anyone can have their identity stripped away by the collective judgment of society,” Baddiel explained.
Production Insights
Rachel Gesua, Senior Executive Producer at Clapperboard, stated: “Hunting Alice Bell is a story for our times, exploring the consequences when the online mob targets ordinary women. David, Peter, and the writing team have crafted a bold and provocative drama filled with unforgettable characters, brought to life by an extraordinary cast. We are thrilled to collaborate with Channel 4 and Sphere Abacus on this compelling drama.”
