David Morrissey stars as a taxi driver who makes a terrible decision

David Morrissey (The Walking Dead, The Deal, The 7.39)  is to lead the cast of new three-part thrilling BBC One drama, The Driver, co-written by BAFTA-winning writer, Danny Brocklehurst (Clocking Off, Exile, Accused).

David Morrissey stars as taxi driver Vince McKee, following a family mystery, Vince blames himself and his inadequacies and, out of this crisis, he accepts an offer to start driving for a criminal gang. But it is ultimately a redemptive story about a man who, under incredible circumstances, gets a second chance. Claudie Blakeley (What Remains, The Nightwatch) plays his wife, Ros, and Sacha Parkinson (Coronation Street) as their daughter Katie.

The Driver also stars Ian Hart, acting with David Morrissey for the first time since their breakthrough performance in One Summer, Colm Meaney in his first UK television acting role since Police drama Strangers in 1982, plus Shaun Dingwall (Charles II: The Power And The Passion, Above Suspicion) and Lee Ross (Eastenders, Dramarama).

Writer Danny Brocklehurst says: “The Driver is a passion project for me and I’m proud of the way it is both a character drama and a thriller. As with all my work there is a strong emotional core and it explores ordinary lives pushed into extraordinary situations. I’m thrilled to be making such a powerful drama for BBC One. The majority of my work has been here and as writer you are given incredible authorship, which is a fantastic thing.

“I have always wanted to work with Dave Morrissey, one of the UK’s finest actors, and I’m delighted to be finally getting the chance. The entire cast is amazing and it is a privilege to have them on board.”

David Morrissey plays Vince and is an executive producer. He says: “I am very excited to be staring in The Driver and to be working with such a great cast, which includes Ian Hart, Colm Meaney and Claudie Blakley. It is the first production with my own production company, Highfield Pictures alongside RED Production Company up in Manchester. Written by Danny Brocklehurst, it is the story of a mini cab driver who tries to turn his life around with the help of an old friend. Needless to say, things don’t go exactly according to plan!”

Charlotte Moore, Controller of BBC One, says: “The Driver is a gripping tale of an ordinary life turned upside down and it’s wonderful to announce David Morrissey returning to BBC One after his fine performance in this week’s critically acclaimed hit The 7.39.”

RED Production Company’s founder and executive producer Nicola Shindler adds: “We’re really excited with the cast we’ve assembled and we are going to make something original, funny and thrilling at the same time. This feels unlike any other script we’ve worked on because of the clever combination of real, family human dilemmas tied into high-end thrills.”

The drama is co-written by Jim Poyser with Brocklehurst, co-produced by new production company Highfield Pictures and award-winning RED Production Company for BBC One and is directed by Jamie Payne (Doctor Who, The White Queen, The Hour). Producer is Jolyon Symonds, David Morrissey will executive produce for Highfield Pictures. Nicola Shindler is executive producer for Red Productions and Polly Hill, BBC Head of Independent Drama for BBC One.

Filming on The Driver starts in and around Manchester this week and will transmit on BBC One later this year.