Jed Mercurio’s Explosive New Drama Is Dropping Very Soon

No stranger to police dramas, Line Of Duty’s Vicky McClure is to reunite with Jed Mercurio in ITV’s new thriller Trigger Point. And from the looks of the first official Trigger Point trailer, it looks to be an explosive watch (excuse the pun).

Set in contemporary London, the six-part series centres on a bomb disposal squad known as ‘EXPO’ where, ITV notes, “officers risk their lives daily”. McClure stars as “troubled” bomb disposal operative Lana Washington, and knowing Mercurio’s previous form, viewers can expect more than a few tense moments. Ahead of its release, here’s everything you need to know about ITV’s new drama Trigger Point.

Trigger Point is the debut series by upcoming screenwriter Daniel Brierley, mentored by Mercurio himself. Brierley says he’s excited to share the “unknown story of the brave EXPO officers who risk their lives every day to keep us safe.”

As well as a great line-up of actors, including Adrian Lester, the series is also being produced by Mercurio’s company, HTM Television — so all signs point to it being the next big TV crime success. Here’s what we know so far:

Trigger Point Plot

As ITV ominously shares: “Death is always just a heartbeat away” for the bomb disposal squad. The cases they tackle are mainly linked to terrorism, and the main character Lana Washington (McClure) suspects a bomber is specifically targeting her unit. Puns aside, it looks set to be an explosive watch.

Per ITV’s synopsis, Vicky McClure will play “reckless and out of control” front-line officer Lana Washington, who is an experienced bomb disposal operative, and director Mercurio promises that the character “is very different” from Line of Duty’s Kate Fleming.

“It’s a thriller. And we know how great Vicky is in all the roles she does. And this character of Lana Washington is very different from Kate Fleming,” Mercurio explained to Radio Times. “But fundamentally, it’s a bomb disposal thriller, and there are high levels of jeopardy. And behind it, there’s a kind of mystery conspiracy thriller. So those are all the elements … We just try to make the best piece of work we can.”

Meanwhile, Mercurio also teased a “mystery” hook at the heart of the story. Speaking to Radio Times, the series creator explained how Trigger Point attempts to approach the terrorist threat “in a credible way,” adding that the main hook of the drama “is the mystery of who is behind this.”

“That’s really the mystery side of the story. So we have the danger, the excitement and all the tension from the fact that in every episode our main characters are dealing with devices that might blow them up,” he added.

ITV’s synopsis explains Vicky McClure’s role further, revealing that “Lana is ex-military and pushed to breaking point dealing with a series of improvised explosive devices which threaten the capital during a terrorist summer campaign.”

It continues: “Under extreme pressure and searching for answers, Lana can’t help but become suspicious that the bomber is premeditatedly targeting her unit. It’s a terrifying thought, but against all odds how does she prove it and discover the bomber’s real identity?”

Trigger Point Trailer

ITV’s newly released Trigger Point trailer teases to high-risk action, with Lana Washington pushed to her limits during tense, near-death bomb disposal scenes. In the fast-moving video clip, it appears the team of EXPO officers aren’t always successful in stopping the threat. Between the panic commands from officers and bomb timers ominously ticking in the background, Trigger Point has all the makings of a nail-biting thriller.

Trigger Point Release Date

The explosive Trigger Point is scheduled to begin on Sunday, January 24 at 9 p.m. on ITV.

What Do We Know About Vicky McClure’s Character?

Per ITV’s synopsis, Vicky McClure will play “reckless and out of control” front-line officer Lana Washington, who is an experienced bomb disposal operative, and director Mercurio promises that the character “is very different” from Line of Duty’s Kate Fleming.

“It’s a thriller. And we know how great Vicky is in all the roles she does. And this character of Lana Washington is very different from Kate Fleming,” Mercurio explained to Radio Times.

“But fundamentally, it’s a bomb disposal thriller, and there are high levels of jeopardy. And behind it, there’s a kind of mystery conspiracy thriller. So those are all the elements… We just try to make the best piece of work we can.”

ITV’s synopsis explains Vicky McClure’s role further, revealing that “Lana is ex-military and pushed to breaking point dealing with a series of improvised explosive devices which threaten the capital during a terrorist summer campaign.”

It continues: “Under extreme pressure and searching for answers, Lana can’t help but become suspicious that the bomber is premeditatedly targeting her unit. It’s a terrifying thought, but against all odds how does she prove it and discover the bomber’s real identity?”

Trigger Point Cast

Still fresh from that pretty controversial Line of Duty ending, it’s safe to say McClure is thrilled to star in the new series. Tweeting about her new role, McClure said that it’s “Not lost on me how lucky I am to land great roles with great people!!”

Starring along side her is Adrian Lester, who will play Joel Nutkins, a colleague of Lana Washington. The characters are both ex-military, and pretty close, having served together in Afghanistan.

“I’m really looking forward to partnering with Vicky on this great new series,” Lester said of the project, via Stylist.“Jed Mercurio’s material is always great. This series is ambitious and challenging which is why it’s exciting to be a part of the team,” he added.

Also on board is Mark Stanley (Honour) as DI Thom Youngblood, Warren Brown (Luther) as Karl Maguire, Kerry Godliman (After Life) as Sonya Reeves, Cal MacAninch (Des) as Lee Robins SCO19, Manjinder Virk (Midsomer Murders) as Samira Desai SO15 and Ralph Ineson (The Capture) as Commander Bregman.

Trigger Point begins on Sunday, January 24 at 9 p.m. on ITV.

This post will be updated with additional plot and cast details as more information on Trigger Point becomes available.