Blackout (BBC-1 2012, Christopher Eccleston, Dervla Kirwan)

Crime thriller Blackout follows Daniel Demoys an alcoholic council official who believes he might have committed a murder whilst in the throes of a drunken binge.

From the BBC Media Release… Over the years he has gone from being an idealistic young man with a burning desire to make the world a better place, to a disillusioned and corrupt council official. His alcoholism has driven a wedge between him and wife, Alex, and their three children. The fallout from his alcohol fuelled actions prove agonising for all around him.

When Daniel wakes up after another drunken night, he realises that he might be responsible for a murder. A dramatic act of redemption buys him public adoration, so much so that he has become a candidate in the race for Mayor, persuaded by council official Jerry Durrans, and lawyer sister Lucy.

The public’s opinion of Daniel as a straight talking everyday hero couldn’t be higher. They are enthralled by his no nonsense determination not to treat the electorate like fools and by his openness about his personal problems and struggle with addiction.

As his public star rises ever higher and he tries to repair the damage done to his private life, he is painfully aware that it could all come crashing down at any moment. With Detective Dalien Bevan hot on his trail and determined to gain respect in the force, he could be just the person to do this.

With Daniel’s deepening relationships with Bevan’s ex-wife Sylvie, hospital nurse Donna, and the murdered man’s daughter Ruth, he finds himself in even more of a tangled web than he could ever have imagined.

production details
UK / BBC One – Red / 3×60 minute episodes / Broadcast 2 July – 16 July 2012

Writer: Bill Gallagher / Music: David Julyan / Producer: Matthew Bird / Executive Producers: Christopher Aird, Nicola Shindler / Director: Tom Green

cast
Christopher Eccleston as Daniel Demoys
Dervla Kirwan as Alex Demoys
Ewen Bremner as Jerry Durrans
Lyndsey Marshal as Lucy
Rebecca Callard as Ruth Pulis
David Hayman as Henry Pulis
Wunmi Mosaku as Millie Coswell
MyAnna Buring as Sylvie
Branka Katic as Donna
Olivia Cooke as Meg Demoys
Danny Sapani as Detective Griffin
Stuart McQuarrie as Eddie Dayton