Cast announced for first of two films on The Great Train Robbery for BBC1

The BBC has announced the commission of two new 90-minute films ‘The Great Train Robbery’ written by Chris Chibnall for BBC One; The first titled, ‘A Robber’s Tale‘ and the second, ‘A Copper’s Tale‘.

The first film will star, Luke Evans (Tamara Drewe, The Three Musketeers), Jack Roth (Bedlam, Great Expectations), Neil Maskell (Utopia, The Football Factory), Paul Anderson (The Sweeney, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows), Martin Compston (Line of Duty, Monarch of the Glen), Del Synnott (The Silence, Murphy’s Law) and Jack Gordon (Panic Button).

The film tells the true story of the key men, led by Bruce Reynolds (Evans), who died last week, and their heist. Told from the perspective of the Reynolds, it details how a group of criminals teamed together with a corrupt solicitor to pull off a major theft that baffled and frustrated the police.

Starting from November 1962 and going through to the night of 8 August 1963 and its immediate aftermath, the first film tells the story of how the robbery was inspired, planned, rehearsed and executed. Beginning with a daring earlier robbery at Heathrow Airport, the film depicts how leader Bruce Reynolds led and strengthened that team to target the August Bank Holiday 1963 mail train from Glasgow.

The core team consisted of Reynolds’ childhood friend Charlie Wilson (Roth), ambitious Ronald ‘Buster’ Edwards (Maskell) and professional Gordon Goody (Anderson), with Brian Field (Synnott) being the key link between the robbers and the informant. Budding racing driver Roy James (Compston) was brought in as the getaway driver and Ronnie Biggs (Gordon) was later recruited to find the replacement train driver.

Film two of The Great Train Robbery, ‘A Copper’s Tale’, will be directed by James Strong (United, Broadchurch), and tells the story of Tommy Butler and the crack team of detectives he assembled in his relentless quest to ring the robbers to justice. The cast is yet to be announced.

Writer/Executive Producer Chris Chibnall says: “The Great Train Robbery has passed into modern folklore. How fantastic that such a magnificent bunch of talented young stars have come together for our first film, to tell how one gang planned – and almost got away with – the British Crime of the Century.”

Simon Heath, Executive Producer, World Productions, says: “We’re honoured to have secured such a brilliant group of talented young actors to portray the infamous Great Train Robbers.”

Ben Stephenson, Controller of BBC Drama, says: “In the first of two films, Chris Chibnall’s unique drama about morality sees the infamous crime from the view of Bruce Reynolds and his gang – this is a stellar cast who will bring this notorious story to life in a surprising and revelatory way.”

Executive producers are Simon Heath for World Productions and Polly Hill for the BBC. Julia Stannard (United, The Awakening, Public Enemies) is the producer.

‘The Great Train Robbery‘ from World Productions begins filming in March.