Ross Kemp on return to acting in "empowering" Channel 5 drama Blindspot
The four-part thriller is Kemp's first acting credit since his last EastEnders stint in 2016.
Upcoming Channel 5 drama Blindspot marks Ross Kemp's first acting role since his final EastEnders appearance as the iconic Grant Mitchell seven years ago.
Kemp takes on the role of police detective Tony Warden in the four-part thriller, which sees Beth Alsbury star as Hannah Quinn, a disabled woman with a wry sense of humour who works monitoring the CCTV on an estate.
Tony and Hannah come into contact after the latter becomes convinced that a missing woman has been murdered, after which she begins to butt heads with the apathetic and possibly corrupt copper.
By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com to promote his new factual series Deep Sea Treasure Hunter, Kemp explained that it was the "empowering" nature of the script which appealed most about the project.
"The script, it was the story – I thought it was clever, in terms of what the story is about, about people being watched and how people interpret being watched," he explained. "We are the most watched nation in the world – we're always being looked at."
Read more:
- Ross Kemp doesn't rule out EastEnders return as Grant: "Never say never"
- Ross Kemp recalls moment he was "starved of oxygen" on Deep Sea Treasure Hunter
And he added that the people involved in the project also played a key role in persuading him to sign up for the series.
"Jordan Hogg [the director] has got cerebral palsy, and Beth [Alsbury, playing the series lead] is obviously in a wheelchair... I thought it was quite enabling, without ramming it down your throat," he said. "I just liked it from a point of view that it was about empowering somebody in a chair."
The cast for the series – which will debut later in 2023 – also includes Crystal Clarke (Sanditon), Sue Vincent (Waterloo Road), Kiran Landa (Line of Duty), Michelle Bonnard (House of the Dragon), Haylie Jones (Stay Close), Milán Bartha (Moon Knight) and Lewis Conway (The Canterville Ghost).
Although Kemp was originally known primarily as an actor, he has since become an award-winning documentary filmmaker, producing a number of series including Ross Kemp on Gangs and Ross Kemp: Extreme World for Sky.
If you're looking for something to watch, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide or visit our Drama hub for all the latest news.
Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
